Remembering WAIT A MINIM! on its 50th Anniversary

[Mr. Nowack]

 

It opened on Broadway 50 years ago today at the John Golden Theatre.

 

An import from South Africa, the Broadway run was only one stop in a decade long worldwide tour that had already included several African countries as well as London and would go on to Australia, New Zealand and others as well.

 

A revue satirizing the customs and conventions of many many countries and cultures from South Africa to America to London to Japan, the score was made up of a hybrid of traditional folk songs and original numbers. Controversial topics including segregation both in the US as well as the show's birth country and war were covered in addition to the more comical bits (one number has a woman sing "chastity belt tra-la-la-la" and cultural dancing.

 

The score is a lot of fun and a very interesting listen but sadly has not been seen on CD. Being under Universal's jurisdiction a digital release will probably never happen at this point unless it's picked up by Bruce Kimmel or something.

 

Production Photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did anyone see it? Either on Broadway or elsewhere?

[Mr Roxy]

I saw it and remember nothing of it being 50 years old. I used to have the cast album but sold it years ago in a culling of my lp's

[Jarethan]

This was the first show I ever saw that I hated from beginning to end.  Maybe I was too young to appreciate 'special' material.  

 

I barely remember it, but I do remember being bored out of my mind.  

[Mr. Nowack]

Seems it was a very memorable show...

[Mr Roxy]

The photos make it look like a high school talent show.

[bk]

Well, let me be the sane voice here, since I wasn't five years old when I saw it - I saw it six times, which should tell you what I thought of it.  Absolutely stellar - wonderful material, some hilarious bits (Kendrew Lascelles and his tuba remains one of the funniest things I've ever seen), and superb musicianship and singing.  You guys are funny.

[Jarethan]

You have to admit that is was 'special' and would not likely have broad appeal.  I remember the audience hardly applauding during the curtain call, which validated that I was not the only one who was bored.

[bk]

Jarethan said: "You have to admit that is was 'special' and would not likely have broad appeal.  I remember the audience hardly applauding during the curtain call, which validated that I was not the only one who was bored.

 

"

It was special in every way - there'd never been anything quite like it, and that's a good thing.  As to broad appeal, I'd say any show that eked out 456 performances in the 60s and prior to that and after it had a lengthy and extremely successful tour has broad appeal - the audiences here in LA, who were not five years old, absolutely loved the show.  

[Mr. Nowack]

Lovely to hear a positive opinion on it. I think it looks and sounds to have been marvelous. Like you said extended runs in multiple countries over 6 years certainly bodes better than a few sour memories. I wonder if anyone has ever though about reviving it?

 

The title is a pun on the British term for a half note (minim) for anyone who like me had no idea what it meant.

[evic]

I didn't see it but I remember loving Dana Valery- Sergio Franchi's sister.  She had a glorious voice and was a beautiful woman.  She made many appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

[doodlenyc]

Bluegogo used to have "The Gumboot Dance" video, from Ed Sullivan, I believe.

Since taken down.

[Jarethan]

bk said: "Jarethan said: "You have to admit that is was 'special' and would not likely have broad appeal.  I remember the audience hardly applauding during the curtain call, which validated that I was not the only one who was bored.

 

 

 

"

 

It was special in every way - there'd never been anything quite like it, and that's a good thing.  As to broad appeal, I'd say any show that eked out 456 performances in the 60s and prior to that and after it had a lengthy and extremely successful tour has broad appeal - the audiences here in LA, who were not five years old, absolutely loved the show.  

I was not five years old, although I probably wish   I had been.

 

i also hated CATS, although I might have liked it more had I been 5; but WAM is one of the shows I hated the most in 50 years.  What can I say? 

"

 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

These pictures make it look racist as hell.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Doesn't it seem weird that a show touching on racism in America and South Africa, not to mention tours of the Orient, had not one person of color in the cast (at least based on Mr Nowack's photos)?

[FindingNamo]

What do you want? Quotas? Maybe you're about separation but I'm not.  <---- me channeling Dave19

[Mr. Nowack]

There don't appear to have been anything but white people in any of the casts that toured the world.

[VintageSnarker]

"A revue satirizing the customs and conventions of many many countries and cultures from South Africa to America to London to Japan, the score was made up of a hybrid of traditional folk songs and original numbers."

 

Oh, boy. Cringe. So much cringe. Of course most if not all of the actors were white. Of course.

[jayinchelsea]

A great show, and a great OCR to remember it by. I admit I hadn't thought of it in a while, but looking back on its 50th anniversary is quite wonderful, and thanks for all those great memories (and photos).

[Esther Blodgett]

I saw Wait  a Minim on tour (in Wilmington, Delaware the night after MLK was killed) and liked it a lot. The show ran exactly a year in NYC and then another season on the road in the US. I saw most of the original cast but alas, not Dana Valery.

 

There is a song in Act Two that is a send-up of an English madrigal that is very funny. A woman is locked into a chastity belt and then the key is lost. This was racy material in 1968 for a high school senior. This song would be a great piece of material for current cabaret. There are many characters within the song and it would be a clever and fun challenge to play them all differently, male and female.

 

The race issue was handled well again for the 60s. The show was originally done in South Africa under apartheid. Actors of different races were not allowed to appear on stage with one another and audiences were segregated as well. Wait a Minim sort of got around this by putting a key in the program. Characters of color would wear a specific style of hat of which there were more than one. Each performer played at least one person of color.The absurdity of apartheid were highlighted when whites playing Black would have scenes with one another  that were essentially the same as whites. There were also scenes between Black and white which was just Not Done. This was very subversive in South Africa, but the authorities could do nothing because no laws were violated.

 

Why the show was not integrated outside South Africa is something I don't know.

 

The cast recording is very enjoyable and would be welcome, but perhaps only to a limited market.