The Messiah Returns...

3/9/2013

Speaking of lost songs, the timing is too good...Last week, I posted the song, "When Messiah Comes," which was supposed to come at the end of Fiddler on the Roof, but got cut. I have a slight update.

Since posting it and listening to the song again (and again), I've been envisioning how Zero Mostel must have performed it every night, and it became heart-breaking to know that no recording of him doing it exists. I decided to see what I could to find out if that was the case, so I went to the source and asked the show's lyricst Sheldon Harnick. (I have to admit, it's nice when you can do something like that...)

He wrote back that as far he knows, there "was never a recording of Zero" doing it. However, he added a reminder of a related bit of information from an earlier exchange. "As I think I mentioned, he loved the song and his were the loudest protests when we cut it!"

I can only imagine. In fact, that's what prompted my asking if any recording existed. Whether or not the song worked in the show, I suspect that Zero Mostel's performance of it was remarkable. Listen to the song again, but this time not with Sheldon Harnick singing, but put in the voice of Zero Mostel...

3 Comments

Arlene Paige

3/10/2013 08:50:40 pm

This sort of thing isn't unusual. Probably, in large part since my name is Paige, and I'm bastard descent from Hapsburgs, Camelot's King Arthur (yes... the incredible Richard Burton) wrote me about what happened to two songs in Camelot. They were considered too sophisticated and character complexl for the general American audience, even the general New York audience of the early '60's. They were, however, recorded -- one by Julie Andrews and the other by a chorus of Knights not including Bob Goulet. The two numbers were "Then You May Take Me To the Fair" and "Fie on Goodness" and it was thought that the fans of deeply romantic legend and whimsy wouldn't take to Julie Andrews in a pleasantly homicidal state and the Knights going completely bad. As we all know, Richard Burton never made the run of the show and the numbers were probably never re-instated anywhere. I forget whether or not they popped back up in the movie. I only saw the musical once on stage, with Burton, and it was largely silly to me, but that's because of his influence... an unspoken if difficult joy. :-}

Robert Elisberg

3/11/2013 01:41:30 am

Absolutely, it's not remotely uncommon. There is a series of CDs, "Lost in Boston" about songs cut from shows during rehearsals. There's even a multi-disc collection of songs cut from Stephen Sondheim shows alone.

What I find special about "What Messiah Comes" is that, unlike the bulk of cut-songs I've heard, this one is wonderful. Most cuts songs tend to be cut for a reason, and that's because they're simply not good.

As for "Camelot," that's a different case. Those are songs that made it to Broadway. What could have happened there, as well, is that the show was legendary for being verrrry long -- its first tryout ran almost 4 hours, I believe -- and they could have been cut, in part, for that reason. (Also, the director, Moss Hart, had had a heart attack during tryouts, and Alan Jay Lerner took over. When Hart later returned after the show's Broadway opening, he did further work and cuts.)

Also, having said all this, I'm not sure if I completely trust Mr. Burton's memory. I have the original London cast recording of "Camelot" (which came after the Broadway opening), and "Take Me to the Fair" and "Fie on Goodness" both songs are on it. And "Take Me to the Fair" was in the movie version. And "Fie on Goodness" is in the 1982 stage revival. So, it would take a scholar to unravel things. But then, it's not uncommon for shows, even once-produced, to still go through a lot of re-writing. For instance, "Show Boat" is one of Broadway's greatest musicals, and I'm not sure if there's a definitive version of it...

3/11/2013 11:52:07 pm

Both songs were on the original album that was recorded in New York too, as I guess you know, and was widely sold before the play opened. Both were left out of the original New York stage production that I attended and, amazingly, at the age of minus 10 and a half, I noticed that and wrote to Burton to wonder why. I got a long hand-typed letter back, with no secretary's initials, on his blue stationary. I believe that he was perfectly sober when he wrote it, but maybe not.

Along with your interesting detail about the illness that hobbled rehearsals is some richly observed personal detail written in assorted and unauthorized biographies of Burton that indicate that he directed many rehearsals and was much respected for holding his liquor well enough to do it excellently. It was said that he held the play together. From what I personally know, he hated the whole process.

Occasionally, over the years, I've tried to get myself invited to rehearsals of assorted dramatic efforts. I've always failed. Except once I got to watch Arvin Brown and Mike Nichols direct a sort of rehearsal for the Lillian Hellman benefit in New York. That was actually an uninteresting afternoon, from a professional standpoint. Each sat there looking happy and doing absolutely nothing. However, during a break I went on the stage and chatted with two of the older actresses who shall remain anonymous since I had requested the invitation from one in an attempt to button-hole Warren Beatty to read a script (I had a friend appearing on Broadway with her). Though Warren was listed as scheduled to perform, he never showed up. Anyway, both women were very disappointed that neither Mike nor Arvin had given them any personal time and they were concerned that their readings might not be in synch with the rest. They both thought that everyone should have some time with the directors, and they were sure that there had been a few minutes for Maureen Stapleton, even if she wasn't as young as Jane Fonda any more. Jane Fonda was the only one who looked nervous. Anyway, it all ran smoothly and played well, and the two eldest actresses held their own. Lillian Hellman, herself, was there. She apparently approved of it all, never stopped smoking, and had a companion who was half her age and looked to be sexually attentive. I imagined that he was provided to her by Mike Nichols.

I know that this may be inappropriate information. I thought I would share to thank you for responding to my posts.

Have a lovely day..

The Messiah Returns...

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