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| BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Posted by: Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| I posted about it the thread below, but was late to the posting and the chat had moved on. This is an incredible story. If you look at the credits for Robert and Elizabeth you will see a tiny one "from an original idea by Fred G. Moritt," a NY judge, who had written an unproduced musical based on the famous play. He had the rights so hence the credit - he lost a suit to get it in bigger type. He had the ability to and did prevent the show from coming to the US. That is part of the story. Moritt also had written some other unproduced musicals. He collected 'investments' in his musical based on the movie The Love Lottery from those with court business. He was charged, convicted, appealed to the Supreme Court which did not take his case but he finally got himself off. (he should have stuck with law) In the NY Times article (see below) they quote one his lyrics. This is sung by an "Arabian Dancer"about his unrequited love. "Allah knows the Moslem maid on whom I'm stuck! 0, Allah, Allah, please listen to my call! She's just driving me (Oy!) Up the Wailing Wall." https://www.nytimes.com/1974/04/14/archives/songwriting-judge-under-nadjari-inquiry-earlier-effort-method-of.html You cannot make these things up. |
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| And if you haven't seen the video of "I Know Now",,, | |
| Posted by: Holland 04:13 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Two splendid and absolutely unique performers plus this gorgeous song. One of my most played videos. I didn't seen the original thread, so apologies if this was recently posted. | |
| Link | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h6IrMhrxo4 |
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| re: And if you haven't seen the video of "I Know Now",,, | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 07:49 am EDT 08/30/22 | |
| In reply to: And if you haven't seen the video of "I Know Now",,, - Holland 04:13 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Link | I like this one. |
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| A bit more detail from Kurt Ganzl | |
| Posted by: young-walsingham 04:08 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| See link | |
| Link | Here |
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| re: A bit more detail from Kurt Ganzl | |
| Posted by: Musicals54 04:22 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: A bit more detail from Kurt Ganzl - young-walsingham 04:08 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Thanks. Moritt is quite a character. I briefly had the idea of him holding a backer’s audition in his Chambers while conducting trials pulling lawyers and litigants from cases for conferences in his chambers and having actors musicians perform and Fred passes out limited partners agreements and a full menu of shares for decisions It was a fun idea but impossible totally without moritt |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 02:04 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 02:00 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| I don't think I knew anything about Robert and Elizabeth until I read Kurt Ganzl's Musical Theatre on Record. In the chapter Thirty Years of British Musicals, 1950--1980, he includes the two cast recordings of Robert and Elizabeth in his list My Ten Essential Records. Shortly thereafter in 1993 when EMI West End Angel released the OLC album CD with John Clements, June Bronhill, and Keith Michell, I bought the recording and fell in love with the score. Some years later I purchased the 1987 Chichester revival recording, which has a little more of the score including Edward Barrett's "What the World Calls Love". The liner notes for the original '64 recording state, "Although often mentioned for Broadway, it has yet to be seen on the Great White Way. It did get fairly close however, when in 1982 it played at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey." The notes also mention "an intriguing 'from an original idea by' credit to the American composer and lyricist Fred C. Morritt. He had written an adaptation which he had not been able to get produced in the States." BTW there actually was a somewhat high profile American production of Robert and Elizabeth prior to the Paper Mill one. In 1975 the Candlelight Forum Theatre in Chicago, Illinois staged an equity production of the musical. The veteran local actress Iris Lieberman won the Joseph Jefferson Award for her performance in it. |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Posted by: NewtonUK 12:04 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Thank you so much for posting this! I had never heard this story! I have had the West End cast recording for aeons. | |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Posted by: scoot1er 11:11 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - Musicals54 10:13 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Actually, it did come to the United States, as I saw it at Paper Mill eons ago. It was gorgeous and beautifully sung and acted, as I recall. I have always loved the score. The show itself, however, was very much in the operetta vein, and I didn't then, and don't think now, thsat it would have been a succes in New York. | |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Posted by: Musicals54 12:43 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - scoot1er 11:11 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| After his honor was beyond caring. | |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Last Edit: BringItOn 12:01 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| Posted by: BringItOn 11:58 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - scoot1er 11:11 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Friends of mine know well that I referred to R&E as one of the greatest musical theatre scores NEVER to play New York. Unfortunately, the book is a bit of a snooze. Having never actually seen the show, my curiosity led me to purchase the Samuel French libretto years ago, but barely managed to get through it. I still recommend folks check out the terrific cast recording. (Note how you can see Keith Michell's wig lace on the album's jacket!) | |
| Link | Robert and Elizabeth Cast Recording |
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| re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC | |
| Posted by: keikekaze 01:58 am EDT 08/30/22 | |
| In reply to: re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - BringItOn 11:58 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| (Note how you can see Keith Michell's wig lace on the album's jacket!) I looked and looked while I was listening to the cast album again this evening on YouTube, and I'm not sure I spotted the wig lace. Is it at his left temple, just above his left ear? If not, then I'm mystified! Marvelous album, of course, I loved it when I was 15, and I still love it, many years later. |
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| The Book -- Yep | |
| Posted by: Whistler 05:12 pm EDT 08/29/22 | |
| In reply to: re: BroadwayTonyJ and others The reason why Robert and Elizabeth did not transfer to NYC - BringItOn 11:58 am EDT 08/29/22 | |
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| Yep, the book of Robert and Elizabeth is kind of a mess, but so is the one for The Barretts Wimpole Street. In that, Barrett senior gets involved with his flirting niece. It's supposed to be funny. In Robert and Elizabeth, at least that sub-plot was ditched, but every time Browning goes to his theater, you want him to go back to Elizabeth. From just the recording, I thought this was an intimate, one-set musical, with maybe an insert of some place for the romantic sub-plot about Elizabeth's sister. In opening it up, to me, it gets less interesting -- but I would miss the train and the switch to Italy for the finale. |
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