Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

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Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 9:23am

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

50 years ago today this flop opened at the Alvin.

The show musicalized the popular Kaufman & Hart play THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, with music by Laurence Rosenthal and Book/Lyrics by James Lipton (yes, that James Lipton!). The cast included Clive Revill as Sheridan Whiteside, Elizabeth Allen as Maggie Cutler and Dolores Gray as Lorraine Sheldon and ran only 76 performances before shuttering.

Production Photos

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Playbill Cover

You know a show is in trouble when the leading man and the director are switched out by the time it gets to Broadway. George Sanders had to withdraw due to sickness in his family, but I don't think Morton Da Costa left as voluntarily.

Despite advertisements in the program the RCA Victor Cast album was never recorded, but the title song got quite a few covers by RCA stars, including a famous rendition by Marilyn Maye:

The score was presumed lost in a fire for 30 years, but in the late 90's it was discovered and an all-star studio album was released:

Did anyone see it back then or have fond memories of the studio album?

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

Updated On: 3/28/17 at 09:23 AM

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:18am

1 - that is a pretty bad photo of Elizabeth Allen. She looks hard.

2 - I enjoy parts of that studio recording, but everyone on it sounds vocally aged and careful not to hurt their aged voices. The arrangements sound very different from what can be heard on "unofficial" original recordings from Boston and Broadway. The brightest moment may be Carol Burnett's take on "Putty In Your Hands" (not much like the version that was in the show), but you can't help wondering what it would have been like if she had the chance to record it when she was younger and in stronger (less careful) voice.

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:22am

I saw this show twice and really enjoyed it. I could not get the title song out of my head for weeks...thought I was going to go insane. I was only a kid, but I was surprised that it got such bad reviews. One specific thing I remember was that Dolores Gray had two songs (that I recall)...the title song and Putty in My Hands, or something like that. They both sounded like the same song, which was an enjoyable melody trying to repeat the Hello Dolly / Mame title song anthem that Jerry Herman was so good at, but didn't quite make it.

The cast was good, the sets and costumes were good, I remember the direction as being very sleek. Other than the two songs referenced, I don't remember the score. Probablyy better as a comedy, but I did enjoy it.

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 10:47am

I do not know what is up with the formatting but it won't let me post multiple video links, so here is Maye's version of the title song at least:

It is quite infectiously catchy, probably the best song in the score too based on what I've heard.

I agree Allen is not looking great in that photo, I guess out of town tryouts really got to her LOL.

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:09am

Jarethan wrote "I remember was that Dolores Gray had two songs (that I recall)...the title song and Putty in My Hands, or something like that. They both sounded like the same song..."

Yes, it's very strange that a composer would write two songs for the same character in which the same interval is repeated over and over in both (the interval for the words "Sherry" and "putty" are both a whole step, and are both, I think, mi-fa in their respective keys).

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 11:52am

newintown said: "Jarethan wrote "I remember was that Dolores Gray had two songs (that I recall)...the title song and Putty in My Hands, or something like that. They both sounded like the same song..."

Yes, it's very strange that a composer would write two songs for the same character in which the same interval is repeated over and over in both (the interval for the words "Sherry" and "putty" are both a whole step, and are both, I think, mi-fa in their respective keys).

Thanks for confirming what I always thought was a strange combination for the same character. Nevertheless, the show itself was more enjoyable than a lot of musicals I have seen.

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 1:46pm

My profile picture is from this show so I thought I should weigh in...that image has always seemed to me to embody the essence of flop musical comedy. Besides the title song, "Maybe It's Time For Me" and "Imagine That" are also great songs and might work well in a cabaret setting. I tend to associate this score with "How Now Dow Jones" in that they are both by composers better known for their work in Hollywood. Agree that the studio cast is a disappointment.

Remembering SHERRY! 50 Years Later

Posted: 3/28/17 at 2:57pm

Sherry! is an example of a WHY musical. It adds nothing to the play. I remember hearing the title song on the radio. Listening to it today, the music is bland and the lyrics are weak. The show is not worth remembering.

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