| I saw this musical in tryout at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Contrary to the legend, the show was not panned but received mixed reviews due mostly to a perceived "sordid" atmosphere and some negative comments about Mary Tyler Moore's voice (though reviews noted she went on with a throat ailment). "Holly Golightly," as it was called in Philadelphia had a decent book by Abe Burrows that still needed work but was not in unusually bad shape for a tryout. The performance I saw was rather charming (as was Moore and her recovered voice) and co-star Richard Chamberlain also seemed to be finding himself in the part. Enthusiastic applause greeted both stars and word-of-mouth was mildly enthusiastic or better. Producer David Merrick apparently panicked at the show's slow improvement and "threw the baby out with the bathwater," bringing in dramatic playwright Edward Albee (!) to re-write the comedy book (and losing Burrows' knowledgable direction as well as his book). Moore's confidence was shaken by Merrick's brusque treatment of his star and the show deteriorated from then on. Composer/Lyracist Bob Merrill turned in an above-average score with several lovely themes and some genuinely funny material. It's available on a newly-recorded double CD set which features ALL of the songs written for the show in its' various stages of development. Original Cast Member Sally Kellerman reprises her performance for this recording. It's a shame Moore was so shaken and soured by the experience that she never returned to Broadway Musicals again (though she has appeared in a re-written version of the play "Whose Life is It Anyway?"). The charm and talent she later showed in her "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and the movie musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie" were clearly emerging in her ill-fated role of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's! |
