I also love "The Good Companions" and don't quite think of it as a flop; it apparently closed early also because there were some bombings (IRA?) in London around that time as well. It's a marvelous score and the performances of John Mills, Judi Dench, Marti Webb, Christopher Gable and the rest are very enjoyable. I read the J.P. Priestley novel this past year -- it's a great beach-type leisurely read, and although it's quite long, it's also really wonderful as you get to know these characters and highly recommended. The musical did a good job in representing its essence I believe.
I don't, for some reason, think of "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman" as a flop, I guess, because I play it so much. It's a wonderful score and yes, I agree, it has absolutely superb orchestrations and wonderful performances from its cast. |
