PETER PAN Question RE: Distant Melody- Page 2

[justoldbill]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 7:45am

One thing Mary Martin had was a special and unique charisma whenever she had her moment downstage with the audience ("That's Him", "A Wonderful Guy", etc.). I experienced that feeling first-hand watching her singing "What Is A Woman?" in I DO! I DO!. A Mary Martin show almost always had this sort of moment. It was her special magic and one would have been a fool not to provide one for her. "Distant Melody" (and "I Gotta Crow") got this done. In spades.

[buddy 11432]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 10:29am

Agree with JUSTOLDBILL. As anyone who has ever heard "Mysterious Lady," knows, it is obvious the song showcases Mary Martin's ability to sing high notes. Since Martin & her husband picked the song writers, all of Peter's songs take Mary's voice into consideration. The same thing happened with almost of her musicals after becoming a star with "Leave It To Me" in the late 1930s. Of course, Rodger & Hammerstein has a large say in the two musicals Martin did for R&H.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 11:19am

>>>"Could anyone please elaborate more on the Papermill production?"<<<

Well, it drew lots more from Barrie's play and novel. I remember a brief scene with the fairies taking showers--done with large flowers and twinkling lights. Also, it was the first time I'd seen the Marooner's Rock "death is an adventure" scene inserted in the musical.

The aforementioned "Distant Melody" was really quite charming. Peter, Wendy and the boys were in the underground home and above them--in a tree--Peter's mother appeared in silhouette, holding the infant Peter in her arms. She sang the lullaby in a sweet lyric soprano. It was also very refreshing to see a male Peter.

My only complaint about the production was that it was performed in two acts and there was no intermission after the flying sequence. The audience absolutely needs that intermission to recover from the aerial ballet before the show can continue. (It's like in JCSS: "Could We Start Again Please?" doesn't get the audience recognition it deserves because it follows right on the heels of the riotous "King Herod's Song". Lots of people who've seen JCSS don't even know "Could We Start Again Please?" was performed because they're still coming down from the high camp they've just witnessed in "Herod")