Remembering WAIT A MINIM! on its 50th Anniversary

It opened on Broadway 50 years ago today at the John Golden Theatre.

An import from South Africa, the Broadway run was only one stop in a decade long worldwide tour that had already included several African countries as well as London and would go on to Australia, New Zealand and others as well.

A revue satirizing the customs and conventions of many many countries and cultures from South Africa to America to London to Japan, the score was made up of a hybrid of traditional folk songs and original numbers. Controversial topics including segregation both in the US as well as the show's birth country and war were covered in addition to the more comical bits (one number has a woman sing "chastity belt tra-la-la-la" and cultural dancing.

The score is a lot of fun and a very interesting listen but sadly has not been seen on CD. Being under Universal's jurisdiction a digital release will probably never happen at this point unless it's picked up by Bruce Kimmel or something.

Production Photos:

Did anyone see it? Either on Broadway or elsewhere?

This was the first show I ever saw that I hated from beginning to end. Maybe I was too young to appreciate 'special' material.

I barely remember it, but I do remember being bored out of my mind.

The photos make it look like a high school talent show.

You have to admit that is was 'special' and would not likely have broad appeal. I remember the audience hardly applauding during the curtain call, which validated that I was not the only one who was bored.

Lovely to hear a positive opinion on it. I think it looks and sounds to have been marvelous. Like you said extended runs in multiple countries over 6 years certainly bodes better than a few sour memories. I wonder if anyone has ever though about reviving it?

The title is a pun on the British term for a half note (minim) for anyone who like me had no idea what it meant.

Bluegogo used to have "The Gumboot Dance" video, from Ed Sullivan, I believe.

Since taken down.

These pictures make it look racist as hell.

What do you want? Quotas? Maybe you're about separation but I'm not. <---- me channeling Dave19

"A revue satirizing the customs and conventions of many many countries and cultures from South Africa to America to London to Japan, the score was made up of a hybrid of traditional folk songs and original numbers."

Oh, boy. Cringe. So much cringe. Of course most if not all of the actors were white. Of course.

I saw Wait a Minim on tour (in Wilmington, Delaware the night after MLK was killed) and liked it a lot. The show ran exactly a year in NYC and then another season on the road in the US. I saw most of the original cast but alas, not Dana Valery.

There is a song in Act Two that is a send-up of an English madrigal that is very funny. A woman is locked into a chastity belt and then the key is lost. This was racy material in 1968 for a high school senior. This song would be a great piece of material for current cabaret. There are many characters within the song and it would be a clever and fun challenge to play them all differently, male and female.

The race issue was handled well again for the 60s. The show was originally done in South Africa under apartheid. Actors of different races were not allowed to appear on stage with one another and audiences were segregated as well. Wait a Minim sort of got around this by putting a key in the program. Characters of color would wear a specific style of hat of which there were more than one. Each performer played at least one person of color.The absurdity of apartheid were highlighted when whites playing Black would have scenes with one another that were essentially the same as whites. There were also scenes between Black and white which was just Not Done. This was very subversive in South Africa, but the authorities could do nothing because no laws were violated.

Why the show was not integrated outside South Africa is something I don't know.

The cast recording is very enjoyable and would be welcome, but perhaps only to a limited market.