Threaded Order Chronological Order
| re: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? | |
| Posted by: lanky 09:11 am EST 12/30/22 | |
| In reply to: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? - DistantDrumming 03:44 am EST 12/30/22 | |
|
|
|
| I saw it and thought it was delightful -- excellent cast, terrific choreography, great score, colorful scenic production -- what more could one ask for? It was as vital and fresh as any new show then playing on Broadway. My only regret is that I didn't return to see it when Kitty Carlisle Hart took over for Dina Merril. You carelessly think these people will be around forever and..... The Encores! version some years later was also terrific. The "On Your Toes" number was one of the best stagings I've ever seen. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 05:06 pm EST 12/30/22 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 05:03 pm EST 12/30/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? - lanky 09:11 am EST 12/30/22 | |
|
|
|
| The "On Your Toes" number was one of the best stagings I've ever seen. And just musically - what a thrilling arrangement. Especially if you consider that we hear the full refrain NINE times, but each one differently. (The intro, where Junior introduces the orchestra, as the dancers mimed the instruments, Frankie's refrain, then the verse, then the choral refrain, then SIX times for the dance - each time with a different inventive orchestration. And the excitement just keeps building.) And in the Boston production I mentioned above, for me, getting to be one of those "first, we hear the two pianos" pianists to start that number off was just so much fun. It's also wonderful the the cast recording captured practically the entire score (the first section, oddly enough, of "Princess Zenobia" was cut), including that entire arrangement of the title song. And including a section of "The Heart Is Quicker Than The Eye" that was cut in the stage production. (I think I remember Teeter telling me she just couldn't sell it, but I can't be sure.) A few changes in the choral work - it's missing the backups for the verse to "Quiet Night," and the choral refrain of "On Your Toes" is done differently - but otherwise, it's a pretty solid documenting of the score. |
|
| reply to this message |
| re: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? | |
| Posted by: FleetStreetBarber 09:44 am EST 12/30/22 | |
| In reply to: re: Did any of you see the 1983 revival of 'On Your Toes'? - lanky 09:11 am EST 12/30/22 | |
|
|
|
| It was wonderful in every respect. I think it was the first season in which Tonys were given to best revival of a musical and it won hands down. Makarova, who as I recall didn't sing a note, won for best actress in a musical and gave one of the more memorable acceptance speeches, in effect thanking her husband not so much for his help but for staying out of her way. Balanchine, who had choreographed the original, died shortly after the opening. His protege at City Ballet, Peter Martins, was credited with "additional ballet choreography." And oh those original Hans Spialak orchestrations were to die for. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.021948 seconds.