On the Twentieth Century

[sondheimfan2]

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

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 12:22pm

Roundabout is apparently in talks with Hugh Jackman to do a reading, which of course presumably could lead to a revival somewhere down the line.

[Cosmic Explorer]

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!

[morosco]

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.

[king_duncan]

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.

[Paul Bland4]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 2:11pm

No to Cheno, yes to Kline. Yes to Andrea Martin.

[Cosmic Explorer]

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).

[morosco]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 7:52pm

Michael Blakemore would be perfect!

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/13/10 at 8:22pm

The 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.

[madbrian]

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.

Posted: 11/13/10 at 10:14pm

Chenoweth would be wonderful. And in addition to a great director- you need one hell of a designer- that's an awful lot of set!

[allofmylife]

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

Updated On: 11/14/10 at 12:07 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 7:20am

Afterthought: I could also see Harriet Harris as Letitia.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/14/10 at 9:48am

I'd love to see Carol Burnett return to the stage as Letitia.

[noradesmond]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 3:21pm

Rock Hudson did the National Tour. Did anybody see him as Oscar? How was her? I don't recall him being much of a singer.

[Jon]

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.

Posted: 12/15/10 at 3:52pm

I was quite young but was blown away by Rock. He got CHEERS upon his entrance.

[WOSQ]

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.

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 12/15/10 at 5:19pm

Thanks 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!

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/16/10 at 12:06pm

Goodspeed 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.

[jo]

Posted: 2/16/11 at 8:36pm

Any news on the reading? Someone tweeted that it was scheduled for this week?

[sondheimboy2]

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.

[mallardo]

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.

[mamaleh]

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

[jo]

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