I saw the original production at the Schubert Theatre in 1956 which starred Judy Holiday, Jean Stapleton, and Sidney Chaplain. The infectious score is by Jule Styne, and the imaginative lyrics are by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. How can you go wrong with this bunch?
Kate BaldwinI never thought that anyone would ever replace my memory of Judy Holiday in this role, but tonight Kate Baldwin made the part her own. She has a wonderful Broadway voice and attitude. She lives the part and brings down the house. She and Judy are equals to my way of thinking. Bravi!!
Graham RowatGraham Rowat, Ms. Baldwin's off-stage husband, played Jeffrey Moss. He too is excellent though I would love to work with him on his singing. It's a good voice but he does strange 'B'way' things with it.
The entire cast was excellent, each playing several parts with clever costume and wig changes. Those were the days when you actually had to be able to SING to be in a Broadway show. This bunch could do it- and did! Big choral endings on show stopping numbers.
This is a show where it's easy to go out humming the tunes. Several people were actually doing that as we left the theatre.
Kate Baldwin and Bells Are Ringing put Man of La Mancha under the bus tonight!
