On the Twentieth Century
On the Twentieth Century
On the Twentieth Century#1
Posted: 11/13/10 at 11:18am
Although I have never seen a professional production of the show, I have loved the score for many years. A revival with Kristin Chenoweth as Lily Garland (originally played by Madeline Kahn) could work. Thoughts?
Updated On: 11/13/10 at 11:18 AM
On the Twentieth Century#2
Posted: 11/13/10 at 12:22pmRoundabout is apparently in talks with Hugh Jackman to do a reading, which of course presumably could lead to a revival somewhere down the line.
On the Twentieth Century#2
Posted: 11/13/10 at 12:50pm
The score is pure musical comedy perfection. I love it too.
Hugh Jackman wouldn't have been my first choice for Oscar, but he could be great.
Now cast Megan Mullally as Lily Garland and Andrea Martin as Letitia Primrose!
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
On the Twentieth Century#3
Posted: 11/13/10 at 12:56pm
This production requires a highly skilled director. The tone has to be perfect or it falls flat. Chernobyl would be wonderful but I'd be more concerned with who's directing a production of the show. 
On the Twentieth Century#4
Posted: 11/13/10 at 1:15pm
This is my favorite musical. I've been saying for AGES that Chenoweth should be in a revival of this. I'd love to see Kevin Kline (who won a Best Supporting Actor Tony for playing Bruce Granit in the original Broadway production) come back to it playing Oscar.
On the Twentieth Century#5
Posted: 11/13/10 at 2:11pmNo to Cheno, yes to Kline. Yes to Andrea Martin.
On the Twentieth Century#6
Posted: 11/13/10 at 3:10pm
The show needs a director who understands screwball comedy. It needs to move fast.
I think Michael Blakemore would be a good choice.
His best work has always been comedy/farce (Noises Off, City Of Angels, Kiss Me Kate, Blithe Spirit).
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/5/09
On the Twentieth Century#8
Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:22pmThe Actors Fund benefit a few years back showed that this show still holds up if done well. I think Chenowith would be great in this part. Douglas Sills was terrific in that benefit.
On the Twentieth Century#9
Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:34pm
I'm on the Michael Blakemore bandwagon.
This would be the perfect vehicle for Rachel York, as Lily, to finally get the fame she deserves. And Andrea Martin would be great as Letitia, or I could see Georgia Engel in the role.
Joined: 12/31/69
On the Twentieth Century#10
Posted: 11/13/10 at 10:14pmChenoweth would be wonderful. And in addition to a great director- you need one hell of a designer- that's an awful lot of set!
On the Twentieth Century#11
Posted: 11/14/10 at 12:07am
OTTC was one of the fastest shows I have ever seen on Broadway. It fairly galloped across the stage and the train (in all of its many incarnations, from small model to thundering locomotive ) was amazing.
Here is a fantastic clip, albeit with Judy Kaye (I saw it with the divine Madeline Kahn), John Cullum and the then-sex-symbol Kevin Kline. Enjoy....
http://www.bluegobo.com/content/production.php?id=2881404
On the Twentieth Century#12
Posted: 11/14/10 at 7:20amAfterthought: I could also see Harriet Harris as Letitia.
On the Twentieth Century#13
Posted: 11/14/10 at 9:48amI'd love to see Carol Burnett return to the stage as Letitia.
On the Twentieth Century#14
Posted: 12/15/10 at 3:21pmRock Hudson did the National Tour. Did anybody see him as Oscar? How was her? I don't recall him being much of a singer.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
On the Twentieth Century#15
Posted: 12/15/10 at 3:45pm
ROCK HUDSON WAS AWFUL.
He was so bad, they catually CUT his 11 o'clock number, "The Legacy". He simply didn't have the ability to put the number over in the proper style.
Thank goodness, there was Judy Kaye, Imogene Coca and the late Patrick Quinn to somewhat salvage the evening.
Joined: 12/31/69
On the Twentieth Century#16
Posted: 12/15/10 at 3:52pmI was quite young but was blown away by Rock. He got CHEERS upon his entrance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
On the Twentieth Century#17
Posted: 12/15/10 at 4:01pm
As for the set design issue, the Shaw Festival did a production in about 2003 or so that used minimal scenery on a small stage in a small theatre, and the show still worked. It may not have worked wonderfully, fabulously, brilliantly, but work it did. By the way, the production was unmiked.
A good show, one that is strongly written, can be done on a virtually bare stage with only the props absolutely called for in the script.
The original design was wonderful, but it isn't a deal breaker.
I do hope Roundabout stays clear of a new production. After Bye, Bye Birdie they ought to shut up the musical department.
On the Twentieth Century#18
Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:19pmThanks everyone for all the great comments (and the pics!). Glad to know so many people love this show as well. And, yes, Andrea Martin would be a hoot....and Kevin Kline as Oscar? A dream come true!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
On the Twentieth Century#19
Posted: 12/16/10 at 12:06pmGoodspeed Opera House did a delightful and engaging production about ten or twelve years ago, and that is a tiny stage. The cast was excellent, especially Mark Jacobi as Oscar, and the train effects were first rate.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
On the Twentieth Century#20
Posted: 2/16/11 at 8:36pmAny news on the reading? Someone tweeted that it was scheduled for this week?
On the Twentieth Century#21
Posted: 2/17/11 at 1:04am
I adore this show ever since I got the original cast album, AS AN 8-TRACK CASSETTE! (I know I'm dating myself, but it's not as if anyone else is...)
I wish that there was a more complete recording of it. Did anyone out there see the British production with Julia MacKenzie? I read somewhere that they actually cut a couple of the songs. Anyone know which ones?
P.S. - Kevin Kline is still sexy.
On the Twentieth Century#22
Posted: 2/17/11 at 8:01am
I recently saw a production at one of the better fringe theatres in London - the Union - in which the train was nicely simulated by the actors contriving various combinations of luggage. Sounds tacky but it was effective.
The problem of the production was a not sufficiently bigger-than-life Oscar Jaffe. I came away with the thought that a great Oscar is the key to the thing, more so even than a great Lilly Garland. So the Hugh Jackman talk is very encouraging.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
On the Twentieth Century#23
Posted: 2/17/11 at 9:11am
My hubby and I loved this show. It's one of the few that didn't find him fast asleep by the middle of the second act. Kevin Kline made a fabulously clueless "himbo" boy-toy, and John Cullum was the perfect faded impresario, his outward bluster hiding desperation in a very funny way. I saw Judy Kaye, as I recall Madelyn Kahn's leaving the production fairly early in the run. Kaye nailed all her big numbers: "Babette," "Veronique" and especially "Never." I also enjoyed the Actors Fund concert staging a few years ago. What a cast: Doug Sills, Marin Mazzie, Chris Seiber, JoAnne Worley and Cheyenne Jackson in the train crew chorus.
While I picture Hugh Jackman more the Granit type, he's sort of at that awkward age: too mature for the himbo, but not quite mature enough for Oscar Jaffe. Still, I think he could nail the latter with the right makeup and look. I hope it happens.
Updated On: 2/17/11 at 09:11 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
On the Twentieth Century#24
Posted: 2/17/11 at 11:43pm
Andrea Martin confirmed the reading, via Twitter --
http://twitter.com/iamandreamartin
>>@msobrien9 just watched "Idol". Did fabulous reading tday of On The Twentieth Century with @KChenoweth & Hugh Jackman 4 Roundabout Theatre
about 1 hour ago via web in reply to msobrien9<<<
Updated On: 2/17/11 at 11:43 PM
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