Search - Original Revival Cast :: Of Thee I Sing (1952 Revival Cast)

Avoid, avoid, AVOID!

Alfonzo Tyson | Buffalo, NY United States | 08/19/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"It pains me to say this, but I have absolutely NOTHING positive to say about this CD of the poorly casted, weakly orchestrated, unsuccessful 1952 revival of the Gershwin Brothers' masterpiece "Of Thee I Sing". The score is severely truncated and the tempo seems to be rushed in order to fit as many songs as possible on the original LP. References to 1950s politics were added to the text to contemporize the book, but now seem hopelessly outdated. The singing is remarkably unspectacular all around, but one singer in particular, Lenore Lonergan as Diana Devereaux (who only got the part because she was married to one of the producers), is absolutely awful! (One critic perfectly described her singing sounding "like Bernadette Peters with her finger stuck in a light socket". It also doesn't help that her Southern accent comes and goes throughout the CD.) Do youself a favor and find the 1987 concert recording of "Of Thee I Sing/Let Them Eat Cake" no matter the cost, and skip the 1952 revival CD without another thought!"

Hilarious, lively, and full of character!

Sean | LOOK | 10/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ethan Mordden sited this recording as the finest of all Gershwin show recordings, and I would be hard-pressed to disagree with him.



Even though this was first recorded (and flopped) in 1952, when I put this CD on it still has the ability to crack me up in 2004. There is so much fun and character throughout the all the performance (including the orchestra) that it becomes so easy to forgive all of the musical... well... musical "weaknesses," let's call them.



Everything from the "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine supreme court judges" to the number about taxation is hilarious. The chorus is insane and inspired. And Leonore Lonergan as beauty contest winner Diana Devereaux is really the star of this recording. As Marc Kirkeby stated in his liner notes for the Broadway Angel reissue of this recording, "a southern accent was clearly beyond her." However, I have a soft spot for her off-the-wall performance, and although her voice cracks at times ("Ah could throw mah arms right around yo' necks!") and at other times she is merely reduced to screaming ("Oh, jitled AM I!"), she has completely won me over.



Don't miss this recording. At like other reviewers have pointed out, the recording is of the perfect length so as to be funny but never get old."

Politics

Charlyne Metcalf | Portland, Or United States | 11/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I would love to get this play on DVD. This is a wonderful politial satire. You miss some of the jokes by only having the soundtrack. However since it is not out on DVD, the CD is great to have. The gershwin music and lyrics are great."