Thoughts on ENTER LAUGHING at the York

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:07pm

This one's for WithoutaTrace, king of the flops.

ENTER LAUGHING is a musical by Joseph Stein and Stan Daniels, based on the hit play by Joseph Stein, which was suggested by the "autobiography" of Carl Reiner. It had a 16-performance run on Broadway in 1976 with Robert Morse, Kaye Ballard, and George S. Irving under the title "So Long, 174th Street." The York's Musical in Mufti series produced their concert version of the show last year, in multiple engagements, and was sold out each and every time. This is the first mainstage production of their season, largely sold out at this point, according to the box office.

EL is not a great musical, it probably worked much better as a play, but it's certainly an enjoyable "forget your troubles, come on get happy" piece and this production, directed by Stuart Ross, with musical direction by Matt Castle (Doyle's COMPANY), is by and large one of the best things I've seen all year.

And giving the performance of the year, in my opinion, is George S. Irving, who reprises his role as Marlowe after the Broadway production, the acting teacher of David Kolowitz, the geeky, gawky Jewish nerd from the Bronx (wonderfully played by Josh Grisetti). Irving is in his mid-80s and he still has more personality and charisma than many of the actors working on Broadway today. His big number in the 2nd act, in a dream sequence where he recounts the number of female celebrities who want to sleep with David, brought down the house.

In fact, this production really is perfectly cast. Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker have great chemistry as Mother and Father (though neither of them can really sing), and Janine LaManna, Robb Sapp, and the entire ensemble is just exquisite.

The first act is slow, but the second act certainly picks up a great deal, and the scene where they're finally on stage performing is just a laugh riot, like most of the show. The score is so-so, but very hummable and simple.

I'd love to see Roundabout or MTC or LCT pick this up for a run, perhaps in one of their Off-Broadway spaces. But since chances are they won't, get thee to the York.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:42pm

Thanks, YankeeFan! I saw this show at the York's Musicals in Mufti series in September 2007, and I agree that George S. Irving was the best person in the cast. The rest of the show was just eh for me. I have not yet decided if I'm going to see this fully staged production yet, but will post my thoughts if I do. I'm glad you enjoyed Irving's performance!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 8:50pm

What ws the original title of this musical? It wasn't ENTER LAUGHING. It was "Goodbye Something or other"

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:11pm

So Long, 174th Street.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 9:19pm

I really hope I get a chance to see this.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 9/6/08 at 11:15pm

George W. Irving wasn't in the York production I saw last year. Richard Kind had the role and it was one of the best things he ever did.

Kind & Grisetti were the best things about this not-all-that-good musical.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:02am

I love the So Long, 174th St. cast recording, especially Loni Ackerman belting the crap out of "Men." Truly thrilling if you haven't heard it.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 7:30am

>It had a 16-performance run on Broadway in 1976 with Robert Morse, Kaye Ballard, and George S. Irving under the title "So Long, 174th Street."<

Kaye Ballard only did the recording. She didn't play her role on stage. In fact, as originally written and performed for So Long's Broadway run, the role was a Jewish father. Lee Goodman played the role of 'Papa'.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/7/08 at 1:50pm

Mah bad.

[lildogs]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 2:12pm

I saw this opening night and was really surprised by how much I liked it.

I do have a friend in the cast, so in the interest of full disclosure, there you go.

I agree with Yankee that the first act is slow but it's also quite long--about 90 minutes really! Wow! I was ready for half-time for sure, but not from boredom.

The show is hokey and vaudevillean, but I like that kind of stuff and pretty much all the cast is good to great and the staging is about the same.

The songs are pretty good considering the show's reputation and obscurity.

Josh is really terrific and very Bolger-like and Irving is indeed a show-stopper.

I think alot of people would really like this show, especially older audiences and tourists. NYCers? Not so sure, but I think they'd like it more that they'd expect.

And "Men" is a great number--easily the best in the show, and the actress who sang it reminds me of Lyn Greene, who played Young Dorothy on GG. That's a compliment, btw.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:10pm

Originally as written there were a set of parents, but the role of the mother was written out just when they were leaving for a tryout in Philly. She was well played by Marian Winters (Tony winner for I Am a Camera and also later originated the role as the psychic neighbor in Deathtrap), but the stereotypical role just wouldn't come to life. Her song was given to Lee Goodman.

George S. Irving wasn't originally cast. Victor Buono (Baby Jane and ...Charlotte) was. However Buono put off signing his contract until just before rehearsals started and then asked for a lot more money. Producer Freddie Brisson, husband of Roz Russell, wasn't known as "The Lizard of Roz" for nothing and said a firm good-bye to Mr. Buono and recast the role. George was working on a bad series in California that everyone knew was not going to be renewed, and truth be told, no one involved with this series wanted it renewed. Inquiries were made and George was let out of the series early and went right into So Long, 174th Street.

Nice man and a real pro.

First act? There was no intermission in the original and I think it came in at 100 minutes.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 4:58pm

I figured that. This production has a bizarre sequence at the top of Act 2 which is sort-of "previously on ENTER LAUGHING," with the last lines of dialogue repeated...much like the top of Act 2 in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/15/08 at 9:38pm

How's the set? How much are tickets, etc?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/16/08 at 5:53pm

I saw the original at the butt ugly Harkness theater.

I loved it & George Irving doing The Butler Song was a showstopper than. The CD is extremely listenable as the score is first rate.