I've found my holy grail! If you saw the original production you'll remember that Sonia's live performance of "I Still Believe In Love" segued to a recorded version of the song sung by Johnny Mathis during a scene change. I always wanted to find that recording.
I saw the original production when if first opened on Broadway. I guess I always assumed the Mathis cut had been released somewhere...glad you've found it!
The bummer in the show was that there were only 9 songs in the show not counting reprises. I always wondered why there were not more songs as 9 is an unusual number wouldn't you say?
One of my faves. I saw the original cast as well as Diana Canova and Ted Was(?). There's got to be better footage out there other than the Tony telecast and the poor quality Victor Garber clip.
Lucie Arnaz remains one of my favorites--on stage and off. But I saw the show on New Year's Eve and then went to a rooftop party near Times Square. I had forgotten the show by the time the ball dropped.
Saw the original production with Lucie and Robert Klein. A two word review-LOVED IT!!! It was so perfect. From the two leads, Neil Simon, Hamlisch and Sager. What pedigree on that stage.
My first Broadway show! Spring 1981, with Diana Canova and Ted Wass. I'd already seen the tour with Victor Garber and Marsha Skaggs, and the biggest difference I recall (I was 17) was that on tour, Sonia's apartment had a huge cut-out of Christopher Reeves as Superman, and on Broadway it was Steve Martin as The Jerk. Or was it the other way around?
Thanks for the link to Johnny Mathis- from doing the show (80s dinner theater) I have a copy of the sound effects tape that came with the show rental, but the segment of him singing is only a portion of the song. Great to finally hear the whole thing!
"What- and quit show business?" - the guy shoveling elephant shit at the circus.
Much was made of the off-stage sparring, or chill, between the two stars. (It was said that for a while they didn't speak except on stage.) But they were pretty wonderful together, and apparently buried the hatchet, for good, in recent years. I remember Klein on Merv Griffin saying "I don't know why she didn't like me; she married a guy who looked like me." Or words to that effect. My late friend Richard Ryder was in an iteration of the national company, I believe opposite Skaggs, but maybe Ellen Greene for a while? I must check ovrtr. .
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
I saw the original London production with Tom Conti (trying to sing) and Gemma Craven twice. I was a child, sat next to my parents, and asked them what the joke about fetching the pistachio nuts for afterwards meant.
The show started in Los Angeles before it moved to Broadway. I saw one of the early performances in LA. It was a thrill to see Robert Klein (one if my favorite comedians) up on the stage.
I saw it - for free, with the original cast. The second act, that is. Back in the day when you could mingle with the smokers outside the theatre during intermission and then enter with them and take any vacant set. The night I "second acted" THEYRE PLAYING OUR SONG there was only standing room left. Great second act!
I was 7 years old when I saw the National Tour at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Dick Latessa and Anita Gillette were the stars. My mom saw the original production in NYC and brought home the record album, which she played a lot. So when the tour came, she bought us tickets. I think I still have the stub, and it might have been $12.50(??) for a mezzanine seat? I know I still have the Playbill. I didn't get the souvenir book because we already had one in the house from the NYC production.