No, No, Nanette Question- Page 8

[alterego]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 8:36am

I love that story! She also was "keeping company" with a bikie gang when in Melbourne.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 8:38am

That's an even better story!

Posted: 7/9/06 at 9:58am

Miss DeCarlo should write a book! She sounds like a hoot!

[alterego]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:01am

She did about 15 years ago apparently, I've never seen it though. Cyd Charisse also did one.

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:17am

I just googled Miss DeCarlo and she wrote an autobiography entitled "Yvonne" that was published in 1987. Did anybody read it?

[alterego]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 9:01pm

I'd love to read it. I never seen the Cyd Charisse bio either.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 9:52pm

Another question. Did anyone see the show when Martha Raye was in it? I believe that she played Pauline ( someone called Joy Hodges was Sue at that stage) but as Pauline did the 'Happy Tap'. Is this true?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 9:53pm

What's the age range for Pauline?

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:35pm

I didn't get to see Martha Raye as Pauline but I remember when she took over, they did give her the "I Want To Be Happy" tap number. I had friends who saw it and said she was terrific.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:42pm

I didn't see Martha Raye either, but I do have the souvenir programme from when she was in it. Yes, they did give her "I Wanna Be Happy".

When she joined, the billing changed. She and Benny Baker and Bobby Van and Helen Gallagher were the leads and the Ruby Keeler part became supporting.

I don't think that Debbie Reynolds would sit still for that...

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:50pm

No,Miss Reynolds would never stand for that! Of course,there's no way she wouldn't be doing the "I Want To Be Happy" tap number either. I can already picture her doing it - On the Tonys!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/9/06 at 10:55pm

Only slightly threadjacking here, why on earth haven't the "Broadway's Greatest Treasures" people put the number that they did on the Tony's (Ruby tapping "I Wanna Be Happy") on one of their DVDs!?!?!

So much of that last one was lame. Any one of us could have put together a better one than that.

Posted: 7/9/06 at 11:02pm

I agree Sondheimboy2 - That latest Broadway Treasures had some questionable inclusions.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 2:41am

I desperately want those 'Broadway's Greatest Treasures' people to unearth the Happy Tap. On the same telecast Helen Gallagher and Bobby Van did 'You Can Dance...'. So where is it?!?

I wonder if they gave Martha a brighter costume than her maid outfit for the Happy Tap. It would look a bit strange her in grey/black dress while the chorus were in pink, red, blue. orange etc.

Sondheimboy2 Are there any production photos in the souvenir brochure? (Martha Raye)

[wildcat]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:04am

I remember The American Dance Machine (Lee Theodore's company devoted to preserving classic choreography from musicals) did the entire "You Can Dance With Any Girl" number on their TV special back in the 80s. I remember Janet Eilber was the woman but I can't recall her partner.

Harking back to the production when Ginger Rogers played Sue and took the "Any Girl" number for herself, it was because she claimed Donald Saddler lifted the entire choreography from her movie "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" anyway, so it was her number FIRST!!

[alterego]

Posted: 7/10/06 at 3:20am

Wildcat re: Ginger Rogers I remember reading that in the Listner In or was it Scene?

Posted: 7/10/06 at 7:14pm

The wonderful June Allyson passed away Saturday. I just read she starred in The National Touring Company of NANETTE. Did any of you get to see her? I'll bet she was a lovely Sue.

[alterego]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 2:24am

June Allyson? That didn't even make the papers or news here. That is sad.

<<< June Allyson in NO, NO, NANETTE Chicago 1971. Updated On: 7/11/06 at 02:24 AM

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 6:44pm

Yes there are pictures of Martha Raye in the brochure.

Actually, it's kinda cool. It's one of those that are the size of a record album and it's lavishly illustrated by Hillary Knight. There are drawing of all of the characters with a photo of the performer where the head should be (makes it practical for cast changes). All the photos are black and white, so I can't tell you what color Martha's costume was.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 7:25pm

Am I the only one who doesn't understand how one person's head can possibly hold the amount of knowledge that wildcat's does?






I bet he can't do simple math.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 10:30pm

It's not that difficult Rathnait62 to understand how we have such a knowledge of theatrical history.

It's called having a mis-spent youth.

And in my case, adulthood, too.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 10:38pm

Are you saying perhaps he had a wicked childhood?

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 1:17am

No, I mean that instead of going playing outside, getting fresh air and sunshine, we are usually indoors immersing ourselves in any and everything concerning theater, preferably musical theater...

[alterego]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 1:30am

Sondheimboy2 what I was wondering was if she changed just for the tap number.

I got the joke Rath.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/12/06 at 5:09pm

To my mind Yvonne DeCarlo just seems wrong for the role oif SUe but it was whittled down to a few dozen lines so that Ruby Keeler only ahd to remember how to dance.

Sad news about June Allyson's passing. Decca's CD of TEXAS LI'L DARLIN' also includes the soundtrack selections from the movie YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM IT with June and Jack Lemmon. Not a great movie but pleasant score.