What did the cast of Rags do in an effort to stop the rapid closing on Broadway in 1986? — Page 2

I don't think we'll hear Teresa (no "h," by the way) sing anymore; not unlike Julie Andrews, she says she was the victim of a botched surgery that ruined her voice.

I recall hearing at the time that Stratas declined to participate in the recording, but I don't remember what the reason was. I don't think it was that she was unable to. Maybe someone else has some info?

"Opera star suing hospital"

She had tuberculouis at a very early age and the theory was that due to the lungs being affected, she never really supported the voice in the way she should have. She was a complicated person and it litearlly took a team to physically get her on to a stage due to horrific stage fright. She cancelled more often then she would perform…

…but….

Ask anyone around at the Met about the infamous ‘Sour Angelicas” she did…(1988, I think).She only made it to three performances but tales of audience members in hysteria…standing on their seats applauding at the curtain call, orchetsra members refusing to leave the pit because they were clapping too…intersmissions being extended and additional 25 minutes so that order could be restored..


That sorta thing doesn’t happen anymore.

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Here's a link below to hear her in one of those three famous performances of Suor (not sour) Angelica.

I still listen to the RAGS cast recording frequently. Love Julia Migenes on it, and can only imagine what Stratas must have been like.

I always heard Stratas wasn't on the cast recording because which ever opera label she was currently under contract to wouldn't let her, but maybe that was just PR.


Listen to the Diva!

Updated On: 7/3/13 at 02:22 AM

Rags had Director issues.

First, the producers hired a person who had never directed a big musical before (or since as I recall).

Secondly, they fired her right around the Boston opening without a replacement lined up. (Schwartz stepped in for a while before Gene Saks signed on after just about every other director who was not working was asked.)

Thirdly, Stratas missed the first week of performances in Boston so no one knew exactly what they had. And with no real director there was no one to know or tell what the audience was seeing.

After Boston there was a period (a week or 10 days) of rehearsals and restaging of the rewrites by Saks. Everyone was on performance rather than rehearsal salary. Even a week of this is prohibitive.

When they opened the reviews were actually mixed-to-good, but there was no advance and there was no reserve left, so they closed in four days.

These things happen. Flippant, but true.

PS: Legs Diamond was the last show to play the Hellinger.

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