On the Twentieth Century- Page 2

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/18/11 at 3:45am

^ WOW! Now I am genuinely excited.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 5/7/11 at 8:05am

"Did anyone out there see the British production with Julia MacKenzie? I read somewhere that they actually cut a couple of the songs."

Yes - I did, albeit through the eyes of a child. Stranded Again was cut and the show opened with the title song. Life Is Like A Train opened Act II rather than being at the end of the show, as on the OBC. I loved the score, the sets and the way the show moved.






Updated On: 5/7/11 at 08:05 AM

[koam]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 5:46pm

I saw the Orig Broadway Cast and had the album. "Life Is Like A Train" was the opener for the 2nd act in those. The porters performing in front of the act curtain...right out of the intermission.

[koam]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 5:53pm

Suggestion for the producers: Chenoweth has the star power for Lily...but you'll need a great understudy (remember Judy Kaye for Madelyn Kahn).... take a good look at

https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Michaela_Lieberman/

she's a natural to play Lily Garland
Michaela Lieberman

[AMH]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 7:28pm

I would love to see a revival of this show! TWENTIETH CENTURY, with Carole Lombard and John Barrymore, is one of my favorite films.

I saw the Orig Broadway Cast

Very, very cool! I wish Madeline Kahn would've stayed through the run of the show; she's so great on the cast recording.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 9:54pm

"I wish Madeline Kahn would've stayed through the run of the show; she's so great on the cast recording."

I saw the OBC many, many times. (For the year that it ran, it was one of the few "big Broadway musicals" of the type that out-of-town guests want to see when they visit NYC.)

Madeleine Kahn was famously erratic. I was a HUGE fan of hers until I saw her wander through the last preview in the most lackluster fashion. (Apparently she was better the following night for the critics. When the associate producer, Ruth Mitchell, complimented Kahn on the great, opening night performance, Kahn reportedly snapped, "Well, I hope you don't expect me to do that 8 times a week!")

By comparison, Judy Kaye was a revelation. I saw her at least 8 or 10 times and she was never less than brilliant! In fact, I learned something very important from seeing both women: it's not enough to be highly skilled; a star also needs to act like she wants to be there.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 9:57pm

Chenoweth, Kline, Martin, Blakemore. Ideal.

[AMH]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 10:07pm

I've read of Madeline's behavior in that show, as well as in other performances. Even so, she had brilliant comic timing and was such a talented musical comedy star.

I learned something very important from seeing both women: it's not enough to be highly skilled; a star also needs to act like she wants to be there.

I completely agree with this. Although I absolutely adore Madeline Kahn, I wish she would have had a more positive attitude in her projects.

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 11/26/11 at 10:16pm

For me, AMH, the difference was between a confusing, depressing flop (with an indifferent Kahn) and a smash hit (with a joyous Kaye). I know Kahn was good on opening nights and got good reviews and a Tony nom; but I've often wondered if the show would have run longer if Kaye had been starring when the critics saw it.

(But I'm not kidding that nobody loves Kahn more than I in PAPER MOON, WHAT'S UP, DOC?, and BLAZING SADDLES. And they say Marlon Brando was only brilliant in STREETCAR about one showing per week.)