The 1983 revival was the first show I saw on Broadway (by one day). I was there for a week of seeing shows, and we took a chance on it, since it was still in previews. I liked it better than 42nd Street, which we saw 3 days later.
And Natalia Makarova was brilliant.
Actually, so was everyone else. The show felt very authentic in style, look, and sound. It was directed by George Abbott himself (with help, since he was almost 96 years old).
Lara Teeter, Christine Andreas, Dina Merrill, George S. Irving, and George de la Pena were all first-rate. I still remember the "dance off" choreography on the title number (between the hoofers and the ballet dancers) that stopped the show, plus the thrilling Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, and the hilarious Princess Zenobia Ballet.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22