The Ultimate Gwen Verdon Role?

OK, I just got home from a show (and drinks afterwards). Glad this thread is still going

The feather boas in Charity and Chicago were nearly the death knell of Verdon's voice. Not only did a feather get caught around her vocal chords during Charity, but when it happened again during Chicago early in the run, it was so serious she had to have vocal surgery and leave the show (I don't remember reading about her having polyps, but it is CERTAINLY possible that that was also the case).

Thankfully, Liza Minnelli (who was at the height of her popularity at the time) agreed to step in and replace Verdon until she could return as a favor to Fosse (who directed her "Liza with a Z" special) and Kander and Ebb (her best friends). Not only did it save the show from a premature closure, it suddenly turned it into a hot ticket overnight and is the reason that it ran for two years.

I remember reading how much she loved "Redhead." It's such a shame that none of us will ever know what her performance in that show was like, given that no film footage of even clips of it exist (as far as I know). I've heard that her dance performance in that may have been her greatest work ever, but unfortunately it's lost to the ages now.

She did re-create some of the choreography of it for "Fosse" but one wishes that someone at some point had sat down with her with a video camera or something (she'd have made an amazing subject for a documentary) and had her recreate all of the choreography of the entire show (apparently her memory for choreography was such that she could remember every single step and move and detail of all of the staging and dances of every show she'd been involved in going back to Jack Cole -- she was always the dance captain for all of the shows she did with Fosse .... as well as a few she wasn't even in).

As far as Redhead, New Girl In Town and Can-Can being revived, I've written about (on another thread) that even those who remember New Girl (Hal Prince specifically) say it had a decent score that didn't really fit the book and that the book itself (by George Abbott) so simplified the O'Neill play it was based on (Anna Christie) to the point that Prince calls it a "dumbell musical." Redhead has a mediocre score and book -- what made it electrifying apparently was Fosse's work for Verdon ..... which is now lost. Can-Can was revived in the early 80s with ballet choreographer Roland Petit replacing the original Michael Kidd dances and Pamela Sousa in the Verdon role -- it ran for exactly 5 performances. None of these shows could or will ever be revived on Broadway.

And Roxie_Hart -- nice website

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I've had the extreme honor of working with Gwen. I know for a fact that REDHEAD was her favourite role. Hands down. As far as the choreography being lost, well it most certainly is not. In the original workshop of what would eventually become FOSSE there were several numbers from REDHEAD including "Erbie Fitch's Twitch," "Dream Dance," "Chase," and my favourite "The Pickpocket Tango." Also numbers from NEW GIRL IN TOWN were in it is well. This was all recorded for the shear fact that it needs to be preserved for posterity's sake. I know that some people feel that these shows won't be revived but I disagree. Goodspeed actually did a rather successful REDHEAD several seasons ago.
http://www.goodspeed.org/past_productions/1998/redhead.htm

I've had Gwen demonstrate some of the movement to me so I can say from first hand account how wonderful she was in this role and I wish that I could have seen her do it on Broadway.

As far as her voice is concerned, what would she be without that rasp? I think of it as her signature, kinda like Tina Turner. And for her looks, well I think she was just as beautiful in her later years as she was when she was young. I can only pray that I age as wonderfully as she did without plastic surgery.

As for REDHEAD, NEW GIRL IN TOWN and CANCAN be revived, never say never. Yes, the revival of CANCAN sucked the big one but let's not forget the very popular tour with Chita and The Rockettes. Had that transferred to the Great White Way I think it would have done very well indeed. It's all bout timing and I have no doubt that there will be a time and place on Broadway again when these wonderful works will be brought back.

Gwen was a star. She could act, sing and dance. She had a delightful personality and was the biggest advocate and supporter for her last husbands work. She has passed the torch to Annie and I just hope that it continues to get passed from generation to generation.

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Updated On: 7/8/05 at 12:33 PM