Who Watched Broadway's Lost Treasures?

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:01pm

My opinions:
Zero Mostel wasn't as good as I thought he would be. Maybe I've just heard the song too many times and got bored.
Vivian Blane was great in "Adelaide's Lament". I've always loved that song. She looked completely different from the movie, though.
Patti LuPone- WOW! She floored me. I am convinced she would be the perfect Mama Rose. She has a fantastic voice. She completely blew me away. As for Mandy Patinkin- some people said he would be a good Guido replacement. He looks the right age for Guido in this piece of footage, but that was a while ago. We didn't get to hear that much of him, but I liked what I heard.
Yul Brenner was absolutely amazing. He is such a revelation as the King. His performance that night with Patricia Morrison was incredible.
John Raiit's song from "The Pajama Game" was nice, but it was very short, as was Julie Andrews's rendition of "Send In THe Clowns". Even though it was short, she was beautiful, and I was captured by her voice once again.
The original 42nd Street's "Lullaby of Broadway" was fabulous- probably the highlight of the program for me. IT was amazing. If only I were alive back then.
Joel Grey in Cabaret was great as well. It seemed a lot different from the movie, to me, but not better or worse. It's always a pleasure to watch Joel Grey. Cats was fine, too. Betty Buckley was outstanding. But as far as the opening goes, it seemed a lot different than the taped version of the show a few years later. The show definitely changed during its run on Broadway. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the number from "My One and Only". The dancing was great, and although the song itself was simple, the number was a standout. I liked seeing Andrea MacArdle sing "Tomorrow". Wow- she was a little girl with a HUGE voice. Well- those were most of the standouts for me. I'll review some more numbers later. What did all of you think?

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:08pm

how was the clip from dreamgirls?? and when does this air in dallas??? i looked on the pbs website and could not find it. thanks :)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:08pm

I did.

What's not to thoroughly enjoy and love. Although my favorite, and the reason to buy the DVD, was shown only as a clip before the commercial break--Barbara Harris doing the "Gorgeous" number from THE APPLE TREE. Priceless.

98% of today's name-above-the-title just don't compare to the talent on stage and behind every number represented on this video.

And that's a shame.

Yours for a better Broadway! Updated On: 8/10/03 at 11:08 PM

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:12pm

Wasn't Angela Lansbury wonderful singing about the worst pies from Sweeney Todd. I remember seeing Sweeney Todd so many years ago and not loving it. I think I'd love it now though.
I agree about Zero Mostel's clip not being magical and with everything else you said.

[kec]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:25pm

I kept getting chills with most of the performances. Some of my favorites -- Yul Brynner, Robert Preston (I really like that song), Jerry Orbach singing Lullabye of Broadway -- wow what a voice! Law and Order needs to give this guy a break so he can get back to Broadway soon! And Chita Rivera and Gwen Verdon... simply marvelous.

All in all, I enjoyed itvery much, even with the long "commercial breaks." I liked the interviews with Tommy Tune, Jerry Orbach, Chita Rivera and Joel Grey.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:27pm

OHHHH, I'm so frustrated! The PBS affiliate in Austin, KLRU, has two channels one of which is called KLRU2 and is only available to cable subscribers! What the h*** kind of public television is that, I asks ya?? Guess which channel will carry the Lost Treasures special next week? Right, the one I can't get!

Maybe someone will tape if for me? Please? I'll pay for tape and shipping AND you can have my extra copy of SARATOGA!

Send me a PM if you can send me a tape and we'll make a deal.

Updated On: 8/10/03 at 11:27 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:49pm

Baltimore will not get the show until Wednesday. I have to wait until then! ARRRG

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:50pm

has this aird in dallas?? thanks :)

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/10/03 at 11:58pm

Zero Mostel's performance will forever represent everything glorious and humble about humanity.

[Kavana]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:05am

I thought they were going to save the best for last but it wasnt there they didnt mention it at all.

I guess its not going to be on the dvd cause they read all the cut numbers...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:09am

WHAT? MY Jennifer was not on? Okay Okay, so she is not MY Jennifer but you know what I meant. And this is going to be on DVD. That will be cool.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:11am

one wonders why the lip synching on Worst Pies in London and Trouble.........certainly hurt those numbers greatly for me

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:23am

they did not show the dreamgirls number???

[magruder]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 1:01am

The Dreamgirls and A Chorus Line numbers have been cut due to rights issues - at least for the broadcast in the New York area. (I understand that some of the markets in other cities did get the earlier version that include both of those numbers).

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 1:24am

thats odd?? then why did they even put it on the tape and announce it if the rights were not avalibel and they were not going to air it? well it be on the dvd when it comes out??

[jo]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 6:19am

The DVD of Broadway's Lost Treasures is available on a Pre-order basis on Amazon.com for release on September 23. Only way I can see the show.

jo

[The8re phan]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 6:21am

Great show... enjoyed it immensely, but would would love a Part Two covering more recent shows.

[LM]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 8:32am

But, did you catch Richard Kiley, LIP-SYNCING Impossible Dream? Our station played it twice and, although it was just a bit "suspicious" in the close-ups, it was down right blatant at the end, where his mouth snaps closed, but the singing continues!!! Who'da thought! Linna

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 9:59am

Do not miss:
Aug 12-17, Tues thru Sun
Museum of Broadcasting
25 W 52nd Street, NYC
one showing a day @ 3:15 (call in sick--say you've been exposed to SARS or West Nile)

The Museum is showing another 85 minutes of "Lost Treasures" and they are better (for me anyway) than what we saw last night:
I Do! I Do! with Martin and Preston.
The Happy Time w/Goulet, David Wayne, and a very young Michael Rupert
Dolly with Pearl Pailey.
Promises, Promises w/Jerry Orbach plus Turkey Lurkey Time w/ Donna McKechnie in her absolute prime.
Ethel Merman in a tribute to Ethel Merman.
Abridged versions of the opening and closing numbers of A Chorus Line with the originals.
Over Here! with the Andrews Sisters, well two of them anyway--LaVerne was dead.
Melba Moore stopping the show.
Others I have forgotten already

In the backgrounds, you will see Treat Williams and John Travolta in Over Here!, Ann Reinking in the chorus of Pippin, and the next generation of musical theatre in A Chorus Line--Wayne Cilento, Priscilla Lopez, and the late Michel Stuart who produced the original Nine.

Finally we can see why Mary Martin was a star--she can do more with a straightening of her neck and slight turn of the head than most actresses can in a whole night. We can see Robert Goulet before he became a punchline and why he was a star in the 60s. And Pearl Bailey seems actually nervous before she hits the ball out of the park with So Long Dearie.

This is an embarrassment of riches for everybody.

Also a master class in performance.

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 12:14pm

Bulldog,

I couldn't agree with you more! As I watched some of those amazing performances (although I was disappointed in general with the program), I thought, 'My God, this is what every acting teaching in America tells their students NOT to do.'

Don't get me wrong, I loved the training I got at my school. But they liked the sand the edges off performers until you get a bunch of young, pretty people who all perform similarly. I can't tell the difference between these Broadway 'stars' anymore. Distinct, larger-than-life personalities were what made a Broadway star. Now, you have to be cute and have a shriekingly high belt. It makes me sad.

Thirty seconds of Zero Mostel's Tevye was more satisfying than most current Broadway shows put together.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 1:17pm

I do believe that Patti LuPone and Bob Gunton were lip synching.

The highlight of the show was TGC singing "Before the Parade Passes By"--along with the "Ephraim lemme go" monologue. Then again, I'm biased.

[step45]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 2:01pm

Unfortunately, if PBS does any more "Lost Treasures" shows they can not include more recent material. The late Broadway producer Alexander Cohen produced the Tony Awards for over a decade stopping some time in the '80's. All of the clips shown come from Cohen's archive since he and his estate maintain the rights for all the programs he produced. In turn, his son produced the "Lost Treasures" show.

[TheBalladeer]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 2:42pm

Bulldog, Robbiej, I also agree with you. Every audition I go to now, all the girls and guys are the same, sing the same songs, have the same attitude, and have no personality at all. Same thing as when I was being trained in college. It's really sad. I DEFINITELY know what you're talking about when you mention the screechingly high belt.....EVERY girl sings the same thing, and tries to accomplish one thing at most of the auditions I have attended.....to make sure they belt whatever note they feel they need to impress the auditioners. Oh well.


Cheers,
The Balladeer

[DofB5]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 5:50pm

Like I said in the other post. I saw this and enjoyed it greatly. I loved seeing Yul Brynner the most. Robert Preston was a delight as well. I forgot to mention him in the other post.

D

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/11/03 at 6:02pm

How about "24 Hours A Day" . It was from that turkey "Golden Rainbow " & it opened the 1969 Tony telecast. Great priduction number of the old Las Vegas