Jerry Herman Jane Connell William Larsen - Dear World 1969 Original Broadway Cast (14 tracks) +Album Reviews

Jerry Herman's most under-rated and most brilliant score

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 10/18/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"DEAR WORLD was indeed ahead-of-its-time, in terms of its subject matter and its delicious score. Jerry Herman's musicalization of Jean Giraudoux/Maurice Valency's THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT is a superb show that desparately calls for a revival.Jerry Herman recruited two stars of his original MAME, Angela Lansbury and Jane Connell, for the roles of Countess Aurelia (the madwoman of Chaillot) and Gabrielle (the madwoman of Montmatre). The cast also includes Milo O'Shea (MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS), Pamela Hall, Carmen Mathews, Kurt Peterson, Gene Varrone and Michael Davis.Angela Lansbury sinks her teeth into the central role of the tragic-comic Countess Aurelia, with several lovely numbers including "Each Tomorrow Morning", "I Don't Want to Know", "Dear World", "Kiss Her Now", "One Person" as well as the heartbreaking "And I Was Beautiful". Pamela Hall steals the show with the achingly-lovely "I've Never Said I Love You".Jerry Herman's score is delicious. This isn't your brassy MAME, HELLO DOLLY or MACK AND MABEL. This show was truly ahead-of-its-time, and desperately calls for some sort of revival. DEAR WORLD shuttered after an abysmal 132 performances, but the sparkling cast album has ensured it a devoted cult following.Highly-recommended."

Angela Lansbury and Jerry Herman equals Heaven.

S. McCasland | Deer Park, Ny. USA | 05/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been a fan of Jerry Herman for a while, as soon as I discovered 'Mame'. 'Mame' had me hooked on Herman along with Angela Lansbury, as did her version of 'Sweeney Todd' (which is also fabulous).
This is by far my FAVORITE Jerry Herman score and beats all of 'Mame's music (except for 'If He Walked Into My Life') which is hard to do. Herman soars in this show, as does Lansbury.
Buy it if you loved MAME. Buy it if you love Jerry Herman.
Heck, just buy it."

Herman's best!

Dvarg | Drammen Norway | 09/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't typically belong to the Jerry Herman fan base, but this score of his is awesome. I am familiar with Hello, Dolly, Mame, Mack And Mabel and La Cage Aux Folles, but this is the only Herman score I find enjoyable throughout. Having the glorious Angela Lansbury singing the bittersweet songs is also wonderful. As this show is one of the celebrated, legendary flops of Broadway history, I assume the book of the show has to take the blame. The score is first rate. Take this from a dedicated Sondheimite;)"

Lost on the Masses

THOMAS HEATH | OAKLAND PARK, FLORIDA USA | 04/22/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen Angela Lansbury on Broadway in this funny one moment, rip your heart out the next, musical, and having appeared in it in a regional production, I can say it is one of the more complex, clever scores out of a man who has sent thousands from theaters humming his tunes. Perhaps this is why Dear World was not more successful... people in the 60s expected bubble gum happiness from a Herman score, (with VERY little thinking required)Here came a show based on a classic (no disrespect to Patrick Dennis) Novel that involved ugliness (reality??) Domination of a large force over a smaller one (Europe in the 40s???) and perhaps a suggestion that the "crazy" people are more sane than you or I (we saw how THAT idea bombed in "Anyone Can Whistle") so that even a great, VERY clever score, the underdog winning over evil, and even the boy getting the girl in the last scene, were not enough or what the late 60's theater going public expected/wanted. WHAT would they think of the Mega War/Violence/HIGH body count musicals of today?? SHAME on Jerry Herman for being ahead of his time. The greatest tragedy of this album is that you can not see the show, as it is VERY visual. Pour yourself a glass of (dare I say it) French wine, gather a dab of Pate, dim the lights and escape into the musical world of Jerry Herman's Paris of days gone by. I bet you'll be able to see "Dickie""

Jerry Herman's Best!

THOMAS HEATH | 07/24/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A charming musical brought to you by the composer of such hits like "Hello Dolly!", "Mame" and "La Cage Aux Folles." Eventhough this shows run was short lived on Broadway, this C.D brings you Jerry Herman's lovliest tunes. Ranging from a beautiful opening waltz where the evil schemers plan to pollute Paris, to an astonishing performance by Angela Lansbury singing "I Don't Want To Know", to the three "crazy ladies" complex musical sequence called "The Tea Party." Anyone who loves Herman's catchy tunes will surely just adore this show"

Search - Jerry Herman, Jane Connell, William Larsen :: Dear World (1969 Original Broadway Cast)

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