#1
Posted: 4/15/07 at 12:44pm
I was listening to the wonderful Original Cast Recording of TENDERLOIN. The show had a brief run in 1960. It was about the efforts of a crusading minister wanting to clean up the vice and corrupt Tenderloin district of New York.
I LOVE the score, but I was always bothered by the book. Reverend Brock (The minister) seemed like a fusty old killjoy who wanted to get rid of all the fun. I much prefered the "sleazy" people of the Tenderloin. They were far more interesting than that old coot Brock and their ensemble numbers were a blast! Only problem was that old man Brock was the focus of the show, so he had to be in the positive light.
One would have to wonder if the book were re-written to reflect more upon the ensemble than the Reverend would the show had been successful? Heck, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE I TEXAS went that route and look at how well it did! TENDERLOIN has a great Bock and Harnick score with "My Gentleman Johnny", "Little Old New York", "The Picture of Happiness", "Good Clean Fun", and the show's biggest hit song "Artificial Flowers".
Think it could work?
I LOVE the score, but I was always bothered by the book. Reverend Brock (The minister) seemed like a fusty old killjoy who wanted to get rid of all the fun. I much prefered the "sleazy" people of the Tenderloin. They were far more interesting than that old coot Brock and their ensemble numbers were a blast! Only problem was that old man Brock was the focus of the show, so he had to be in the positive light.
One would have to wonder if the book were re-written to reflect more upon the ensemble than the Reverend would the show had been successful? Heck, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE I TEXAS went that route and look at how well it did! TENDERLOIN has a great Bock and Harnick score with "My Gentleman Johnny", "Little Old New York", "The Picture of Happiness", "Good Clean Fun", and the show's biggest hit song "Artificial Flowers".
Think it could work?
Praying Decca Broadway will put "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" on CD!
Updated On: 4/15/07 at 12:44 PM
