Sherry!
Encyclopedia
Sherry! is a musical
with a book and lyrics by James Lipton
and music by Laurence Rosenthal
. The musical is based on the George S. Kaufman
-Moss Hart
play The Man Who Came to Dinner
.
In 1967, following a short run on Broadway
, and poor reviews, the score of this musical was apparently lost - being rediscovered at the Library of Congress
more than thirty years later. A studio recording based on the rediscovered score was released in 2004.
originally was signed to play Whiteside, but when his wife, actress Benita Hume, became terminally ill with cancer, he withdrew from the project. Choreographer Ron Field
was replaced by Joe Layton
during the Philadelphia try-out. He took over the directing chores as well, according to Lipton, although Morton DaCosta
retained credit in the program.
After fourteen previews, the Broadway production opened on March 28, 1967 at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 72 performances. The cast included Clive Revill
as Whiteside, Elizabeth Allen as Maggie, Jon Cypher
as Bert, Dolores Gray as Lorraine, Eddie Lawrence
as Banjo, Byron Webster as Beverly, and Cliff Hall as Dr. Bradley.
Sherry! took a gambit quite typical for musicals based on straight plays by "opening up" the story: that is, by adding scenes in locations not featured onstage in the original play. In order to "open up" The Man Who Came to Dinner (which takes place entirely in the Stanleys' living room) it was necessary to maintain the premise that Sheridan Whiteside uses a wheelchair. Therefore the second-act climax of Sherry! moved the action to a nearby skating rink, with several characters on roller skates and Whiteside perambulating in his wheelchair.
and burned. More than three decades later, music producer Robert Sher discovered the trunk containing the complete score housed at the Library of Congress
and contacted Lipton, who had achieved fame as the moderator of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio
, to propose an all-star studio recording. The result was a 2003 Angel Records
2 CD set that was recorded in separate sessions over a period of three years, with the orchestral portions recorded in Bratislava
and Prague
and the vocals recorded in New York City
. The recording cast includes Nathan Lane
as Whiteside, Bernadette Peters
as Maggie, Carol Burnett
as Lorraine, Tom Wopat
as Bert, Tommy Tune
as Beverly, and Mike Myers
as Banjo, with Lillias White
, Keith David
, James Lipton
, Lawrence Pressman
, Siobhan Fallon and Phyllis Newman
in small supporting roles. The dancers include Noah Racey, who also choreographed "Putty in Your Hands" and Megan Sikora.
-bound Whiteside commandeers the household and staff and disrupts the lives of everyone who comes within his orbit, including his private secretary
Maggie Cutler, journalist
-playwright
Bert Jefferson, Broadway diva Lorraine Sheldon, antic Harpo Marx
-like comedian Banjo, bon vivant Beverly Carlton, and absent-minded physician and aspiring memoirist Dr. Bradley.
Act II
Act II
The Billboard
review noted that the musical was "a dated and disjointed affair...Except for the title song, there is nothing in the score with a step-out potential...the music lacks a melodic flow and...lyrics are routine." However, the World Journal Telegram wrote that "On the whole, Kaufman and Hart's comedy holds its own as a play and gains some entertaining embellishments in this prevailing merry musical adaptation."
In reviewing the studio cast album, John Kenrick
wrote "Musical theatre buffs will not be able to resist this star-studded recreation...Nathan Lane is delicious...Bernadette Peters is perfect...and Carol Burnett sings the hell out of the show-stopping title tune". The SF Gate review noted that "there's a delightful verve to the whole proceedings."
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book and lyrics by James Lipton
James Lipton
James Lipton is an American writer, poet, composer, actor and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. He is the executive producer, writer and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994...
and music by Laurence Rosenthal
Laurence Rosenthal
Laurence Rosenthal is an American composer, arranger, and conductor for theater, television, and films.Born in Detroit, Michigan, Rosenthal attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied piano and composition...
. The musical is based on the George S. Kaufman
George S. Kaufman
George Simon Kaufman was an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals, notably for the Marx Brothers...
-Moss Hart
Moss Hart
Moss Hart was an American playwright and theatre director, best known for his interpretations of musical theater on Broadway.-Early years:...
play The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Man Who Came to Dinner is a comedy in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. It debuted on October 16, 1939 at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. It then enjoyed a number of New York and London revivals. The first London production was staged at The Savoy Theatre starring Robert...
.
In 1967, following a short run on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and poor reviews, the score of this musical was apparently lost - being rediscovered at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
more than thirty years later. A studio recording based on the rediscovered score was released in 2004.
Production
George SandersGeorge Sanders
George Sanders was a British actor.George Sanders may also refer to:*George Sanders , Victoria Cross recipient in World War I...
originally was signed to play Whiteside, but when his wife, actress Benita Hume, became terminally ill with cancer, he withdrew from the project. Choreographer Ron Field
Ron Field
Ronald Field was an American choreographer, director, and dancer.-Biography:Field was born in New York City, New York where he made his Broadway debut as a child in Lady in the Dark with Gertrude Lawrence...
was replaced by Joe Layton
Joe Layton
Joe Layton was an American director and choreographer known primarily for his work on Broadway.-Biography:Born Joseph Lichtman in Brooklyn, New York, Layton began his career as a dancer in Wonderful Town , and he appeared uncredited in the ensemble of the original live TV production of Rodgers and...
during the Philadelphia try-out. He took over the directing chores as well, according to Lipton, although Morton DaCosta
Morton DaCosta
Morton DaCosta was an American theatre and film director, film producer, writer, and actor.-Career:Born Morton Tecosky in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, DaCosta began his career as an actor in the Broadway production of Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth starring Tallulah Bankhead in 1942...
retained credit in the program.
After fourteen previews, the Broadway production opened on March 28, 1967 at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 72 performances. The cast included Clive Revill
Clive Revill
Clive Selsby Revill is a New Zealand-born British character actor best known for his performances in musical theatre and on the London stage.-Early life and stage career:...
as Whiteside, Elizabeth Allen as Maggie, Jon Cypher
Jon Cypher
-Biography:Born in New York City, Cypher graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1949 and Brooklyn College in 1953. He made his television debut as the Prince in the original 1957 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella opposite Julie Andrews in the title role...
as Bert, Dolores Gray as Lorraine, Eddie Lawrence
Eddie Lawrence
Eddie Lawrence is an American monologist, actor, singer, lyricist, playwright, director and television personality, whose unique comic creation, the eternally and bizarrely optimistic Old Philosopher, has gained him a devoted, although specialized, cult following for over five decades.-Early...
as Banjo, Byron Webster as Beverly, and Cliff Hall as Dr. Bradley.
Sherry! took a gambit quite typical for musicals based on straight plays by "opening up" the story: that is, by adding scenes in locations not featured onstage in the original play. In order to "open up" The Man Who Came to Dinner (which takes place entirely in the Stanleys' living room) it was necessary to maintain the premise that Sheridan Whiteside uses a wheelchair. Therefore the second-act climax of Sherry! moved the action to a nearby skating rink, with several characters on roller skates and Whiteside perambulating in his wheelchair.
Studio recording
Following the show's closing, the orchestrations were packed for transport to the writers' publisher, but could not be found there later. It was believed that they had been inadvertently put on the wrong truck and, together with the sets, hauled to New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and burned. More than three decades later, music producer Robert Sher discovered the trunk containing the complete score housed at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
and contacted Lipton, who had achieved fame as the moderator of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio
Inside the Actors Studio is a series on the Bravo cable television channel, hosted by James Lipton. It is produced and directed by Jeff Wurtz; the executive producer is James Lipton. The program, which premiered in 1994, is distributed internationally by CABLEready and is broadcast in 125 countries...
, to propose an all-star studio recording. The result was a 2003 Angel Records
Angel Records
Angel Records is a record label belonging to EMI. It was formed in 1953 and specialised in classical music, but included an occasional operetta or Broadway score...
2 CD set that was recorded in separate sessions over a period of three years, with the orchestral portions recorded in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
and the vocals recorded in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The recording cast includes Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
as Whiteside, Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters is an American actress, singer and children's book author from Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Over the course of a career that has spanned five decades, she has starred in musical theatre, films and television, as well as performing in solo concerts and recordings...
as Maggie, Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut...
as Lorraine, Tom Wopat
Tom Wopat
Tom Wopat is an American actor and singer. He first achieved fame as Luke Duke in the long-running 1979 television series The Dukes of Hazzard, along with John Schneider. He also played Jeff, one of Cybill Shepherd's ex-husbands in the TV series Cybill.-Life and career:Wopat was born in Lodi,...
as Bert, Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Thomas James "Tommy" Tune is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts.-Early years:...
as Beverly, and Mike Myers
Mike Myers (actor)
Michael John "Mike" Myers is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film producer of British parentage...
as Banjo, with Lillias White
Lillias White
Lillias White is an American singer and actress.The Brooklyn, New York native made her Broadway debut in Barnum in 1981. She understudied the role of Effie in the original 1981 production of Dreamgirls and played the part in the 1987 revival...
, Keith David
Keith David
Keith David Williams , better known as Keith David, is an American film, television, voice actor, and singer. He is perhaps most known for his live-action roles in such films as Crash, There's Something About Mary, Barbershop and Men at Work...
, James Lipton
James Lipton
James Lipton is an American writer, poet, composer, actor and dean emeritus of the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University in New York City. He is the executive producer, writer and host of the Bravo cable television series Inside the Actors Studio, which debuted in 1994...
, Lawrence Pressman
Lawrence Pressman
David M. Pressman, Senior is an American actor, probably best known for roles on Doogie Howser, M.D., Ladies Man, a recurring role on Profiler, the titular character on Mulligan's Stew and as a fictional scientist in the 1971 film The Hellstrom Chronicle.His first role was on the soap opera The...
, Siobhan Fallon and Phyllis Newman
Phyllis Newman
Phyllis Newman is an American actress and singer. She was nominated twice for the Drama Desk Award and won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.-Early life:...
in small supporting roles. The dancers include Noah Racey, who also choreographed "Putty in Your Hands" and Megan Sikora.
Synopsis
Sheridan Whiteside, an egregiously pompous and self-centered radio personality, terrorizes the family of Ernest W. Stanley of Mesalia, Ohio, when a slip on their icy front steps forces him to recuperate in their home at Christmas time. The highly critical and extremely egotistical wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
-bound Whiteside commandeers the household and staff and disrupts the lives of everyone who comes within his orbit, including his private secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
Maggie Cutler, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
-playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Bert Jefferson, Broadway diva Lorraine Sheldon, antic Harpo Marx
Harpo Marx
Adolph "Harpo" Marx was an American comedian and film star. He was the second oldest of the Marx Brothers. His comic style was influenced by clown and pantomime traditions. He wore a curly reddish wig, and never spoke during performances...
-like comedian Banjo, bon vivant Beverly Carlton, and absent-minded physician and aspiring memoirist Dr. Bradley.
Original Broadway song list
Act I- In the Very Next Moment
- Why Does the Whole Damn World Adore Me?
- Maggie's Date
- Maybe It's Time for Me
- How Can You Kiss Those Good Times Goodbye?
- With This Ring
- Sherry
- Au Revoir
- Proposal Duet
- Listen Cosette
- Christmas Eve Broadcast
Act II
- Putty in Your Hands
- Imagine That
- Marry the Girl Myself
- Putty in Your Hands (Reprise)
- Harriet Sedley
- Sherry (Reprise)
Studio recording song list
Act I- Why Does the Whole Damn World Adore Me? - Whiteside
- Whiteside's Prayer - Mrs. Stanley, Whiteside, Maggie, The Mesalians
- In the Very Next Moment - The Mesalians, John, Sarah, Maggie, Dr. Bradley, Whiteside
- Crockfield - Whiteside, The Cons, Maggie
- Maybe It's Time for Me - Maggie
- How Can You Kiss Those Good Times Goodbye? - Whiteside, Maggie
- With This Ring - Maggie, Bert, Whiteside, Dr. Bradley
- Sherry! - Lorraine, Whiteside
- Alas, Lorraine/Au Revoir - Beverley Carlton, Whiteside, Maggie
- Th Proposal Duet/Listen, Cosette - Lorraine, Cosette
- I Always Stay at the Ritz - Beverly, The Railroad Porters
- Christmas Eve - Announcer, Quartet, Choir, Whiteside, Miss Oreen, The Radio Crew, Sarah, John, Mrs. Stanley, Mr. Stanley
Act II
- Putty in Your Hands - Lorraine, Bert, Mesalia Barflies
- Imagine That - Maggie, Whiteside
- Preen Beguine - Banjo, Miss Preen, Whiteside
- Marry the Girl Myself - Whiteside, Banjo, Maggie
- Putty in Your Hands (Reprise) - Lorraine, Whiteside, Banjo
- Harriet Sedley - Whiteside, Banjo, Mr. Stanley
- Au Revoir (Reprise) - Whiteside, Maggie
- Whiteside's Prayer (Reprise) & Finale - Whiteside, Maggie, Bert, Dr. Bradley, The Mesalians
Critical response
The critics were unanimous in their disapproval, finding the taut Kaufman-Hart humor of the original play was diluted by the inclusion of mediocre musical numbers that were dropped into the action rather than allowed to evolve naturally from the plot.The Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
review noted that the musical was "a dated and disjointed affair...Except for the title song, there is nothing in the score with a step-out potential...the music lacks a melodic flow and...lyrics are routine." However, the World Journal Telegram wrote that "On the whole, Kaufman and Hart's comedy holds its own as a play and gains some entertaining embellishments in this prevailing merry musical adaptation."
In reviewing the studio cast album, John Kenrick
John Kenrick
John Kenrick was an English classical historian.-Life:He was born on 4 February 1788 at Exeter, the eldest son of Timothy Kenrick, Unitarian minister, and his first wife, Mary, daughter of John Waymouth of Exeter. He was educated at the local grammar school run by the Rev. Charles Lloyd and later...
wrote "Musical theatre buffs will not be able to resist this star-studded recreation...Nathan Lane is delicious...Bernadette Peters is perfect...and Carol Burnett sings the hell out of the show-stopping title tune". The SF Gate review noted that "there's a delightful verve to the whole proceedings."
External links
- Studio cast recording at aislesay.com
- ON THE RECORD: Sherry! and Lorelei, February 8, 2004
- Cover art by Randy SoudersRandy SoudersRandy Souders is an American painter in the realistic and magic realism traditions. He is best known for highly detailed works painted with acrylic on wood panel , and sometimes on canvas...