jv92 reads "Put on a Happy Face" by Charles Strouse

[jv92]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 12:23am

I plowed right through Charles Strouse's dishy and touching memoir, Put on a Happy Face this afternoon. It's filled with wonderful backstage antecdotes (and not the typical ones we've heard, either) and wonderful peeks into Strouse's creative process. Some interesting things in the book that may warrant some discussion on the board (SPOILER ALERT, IF YOU CARE):

-Strouse and Adams were called to Detroit to write a First Act Finale for Hello, Dolly! and even picked out a situation and title, "Before the Parade Passes By", but Gower Champion and David Merrick found their version unsuitable and left it to Jerry Herman to write the song. We know that. Strouse and Adams, however, went through legal issues regarding the songs which resulted in Champion not talking to both until sometime in 1970, Mike Stewart not speaking to them until Strouse expressed his sympathy over Stewart's parter dying and even cheerful old Jerry Herman ending communication with them until sometime in the 70s.

-Sammy Davis was out of his mind. Strouse and Adams played him a song for Golden Boy while he was in Vegas doing his act. He showed up three hours late (Instead of 1 AM, he showed up at 3). Strouse and Adams played the song and Sammy got up and hugged them. Really hugged them. Then he hugged his lawyer. Then his lawyer hugged his publicist. Then his publicist hugged his secretary. They were all hugging each other over a freakin' song. I found that very amusing. Wait, no. I found it hysterical. ("He likes it!" I imagined his publicist screaming, "Oh god! He likes it!") I don't know why. I suppose I do, but it's hard to explain why. Sammy also talked in complete gibberish, which made it difficult for people to understand him.

-Charles went to Alabama with Sammy for a Civil Rights protest. Who did he meet there? Lenny Bernstein! Had he and Lenny gotten shot, it would have made the papers and brought up ticket sales.

-Ron Field was very insecure. Especially about his hair.

-Martin Charnin came across as a complete ass.

-Lee Adams came across as a really lovely guy.

-Strouse complained about some back pains and Alan Lerner replied, "Dear boy, just take this. It'll solve the problem in no time." Strouse called for his wife a children five minutes later so they could see him die. He recovered from Alan's pill.
Strouse on Alan Lerner: "Never take a pill from Alan Jay Lerner."

-Charles goes to Arthurs Laurents' place. Laurents opens the door giggling. "What's so funny?" "Tony Perkins has AIDS!" he laugh. Uh...?

It's filled with wonderful stuff. Go get it and read it!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:22am

Is there much on the later flops? I love his scores, but as with many of the Broadway third generation, I tend to prefer post-1970 works to pre-1970. So I tend to listen to Rags, Dance A Little Closer and I and Albert more often than some of his more successful shows.

I'd be really interested to know more about I and Albert as no-one even seems to remember it over here. Does he talk about it much in the book?

[tazber]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:37am

I love his music, but he has to be one of the most unlucky composers around.

It's a Bird...
Dance A Little Closer
I And Albert
Nick And Nora
Rags
Annie Warbucks
Bring Back Birdie
A Broadway Musical
Charlie And Algernon
Marty

And even a muscial version of Star Wars.

I sincerely with this man would have a big fat hit again.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:43am

btw, I agree scripps. Rags and Dance A Little Closer are both fantastic scores full of riches.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 4:56am

Rags had a production at a small London fringe theatre about three years ago with Sally Ann Triplett (Anything Goes, Carrie) in the lead. I saw it and perhaps at times the book was a little cliched but it wasn't a bad show.

I tend to think science fiction doesn't make good musicals (Lord of the Rings, BatBoy) so, no matter how good the score is, I'm not holding out for Star Wars.

But having said that, yes, I also think he deserves a big fat hit again.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:12am

I have heard a couple of the songs from Star Wars and I swear I thought it was a parody.

Unbelievable is the only word.

He doesn't seem to have much luck choosing projects since the 70s.
Well, Mayor was a hit off-bway in the 80s, but I mean a show that could match Annie, Applause, Bye Bye Birdie, or Golden Boy.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 5:48am

Maybe if it was a parody it might actually work, like Liitle Shop of Horrors?

I think part of BatBoys problem was that it couldn't decide whether to be a parody or to take itself seriously.

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

Posted: 6/28/08 at 7:55am

Agree about all, I'll buy it soon myself. Strouse is one of my favorite composers of all time.

But, just one thing: Marty wasn't exactly a flop, it had fabulous box office sales, they just could get the transfer to NYC managed. So eventually they gave up on it.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/1/08 at 11:36am

"Is there much on the later flops?"

Yes. He doesn't talk about them as extensively as he does for Birdie or Annie, but there's some good info in there.
Oddly enough, he spends the most time on Golden Boy, which isn't a problem for me. It's my favorite score of his. I guess he feels the same way.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 7/2/08 at 2:16pm

When it comes to Golden Boy, I much prefer the Jason Graae recording of Night Song to that on the OBCR and can't help wondering if I were to hear the rest of the score with a less sixties sound I may appreciate it more.

[E_Elbee]

Posted: 7/8/08 at 10:42am

I just got an email that Charles will be having a book signing on Thursday, at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble. Christine Ebersole is going to perform "Applause." Sounds like fun!

http://storelocator.barnesandnoble.com/eventdetail.do?store=2628&event=22730466