Search - Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz, Mary Martin :: Jennie (1963 Original Broadway Cast)

Cute musical

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 09/27/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"JENNIE is one of those wonderful musical rarities that are treasured by Broadway-lovers. Despite only running 2 months on Broadway (82 performances), it's cast recording remains, showcasing the otherwise-brilliant score written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz.Mary Martin turned down the starring roles in HELLO DOLLY! and FUNNY GIRL to star in this musical, a loose biographical version of the early life of actress Laurette Taylor, (re-named Jennie Malone for the musical).Ms Martin shared the stage with veteran Broadway actress Ethel Shutta, who came out of retirement, as Jennie's mother. George Wallace played Jennie's philandering, barnstorming husband James O'Conner, and Robin Bailey played Christopher Lawrence Cromwell, the caring playwright who takes Jennie under his wing (and later marries her).The score features a particularly-thrilling Overture, as well as "Before I Kiss The World Goodbye", "I Still Look at You That Way", "The Light May Be Dark", "Lonely Nights" and "High is Better than Low".Highly recommended."

MARY MARTIN SHINES.

Boz | 10/14/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, the show was a flop and the music is merely pleasant, but Mary Martin is magnificent. She can sing the phone directory and make it special! Just because of Mary's magic I give it 5 stars."

Remembrances of Two Bygone Eras

RareRare | 05/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always loved "Jennie," a great old-fashinoned score of the Golden Era of Broadway that illustrated the touring companies of America at the beginning of the 20th Century. "Jennie" is the real name of the incomparable Laurette Taylor who made theatrical history as Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williams' semi-historical masterpiece "The Glass Menagerie." And Taylor's early life was almost as dramatic as Williams' play.



I have never read the script and would probably blame the show's problems with that if I hadn't read the reviews that accused the composer, Arthur Schwartz of flagrant plagarism; however, I have never recognized old melodies in "Jennie's" score.



"Jennie" was Mary Martin's last Broadway musical. She did go on tour as Dolly Gallagher in "Hello, Dolly!" in which I saw her at the Dallas State Fair. It was her last night and at the curtain call she sang "Good bye, Dallas." There wasn't a dry eye in the house.



I think if "Jennie" had been a hit, we'd have had more Martin musicals in her later period. What a shame!"