Robert Daniels' 4/22 Sparkling Variety Review of Broadway By The Year 1949

[do_re_milla]

Posted: 4/24/04 at 8:36pm

A few quotes:

"The latest concert in the appealing "Broadway by the Year" series celebrated the musicals of 1949.

...

Unmiked performances included "A Cockeyed Optimist" and "A Wonderful Guy," delivered with spunky elan by Karen Ziemba, and richly textured renditions of 'Some Enchanted Evening' and 'This Nearly Was Mine' by Martin Vidnovic, re-creating the sublime grandeur of Ezio Pinza."

.....

Siegel's nostalgic concerts always reveal some tasty forgotten rarities. Alongside the more memorable and durable Broadway scores of that season, there was a revue called 'Along Fifth Avenue' that starred Nancy Walker, Carol Bruce and Jackie Gleason. Amusing highlights: a sultry Huffman singing 'Call It Apple Fritters'; portly Lennie Watts' zany sombrero serenade 'Santo Dinero'; and a big-city serenade called 'Skyscraper Blues,' ably crooned by baritone Robert Westenberg.

...

The appealing dancing team of this season's "Never Gonna Dance," Nancy Lemenager and Noah Racey, re-created a sparkling song and dance from 'All for Love" called "No Time for Nothin' but You.'

...

Ziemba also paired with her 'Never Gonna Dance' co-star Racey in a jaunty dancing stroll for 'Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk.' Ziemba, skedded to play Miss Adelaide in 'Guys and Dolls' come June at the New Jersey Paper Mill, brightens the boards with her spirited presence. A capacity aud adored her every move.

...

Another plum recall was Marc Blitzstein's 'What Will It Be?' from 'Regina,' a musicalization of Lillian Hellman's 'The Little Foxes.' Schaffel re-created a worthy moment from a show that ran for a paltry 56 perfs."

Yummy.

Milla