Search - Eartha Kitt :: Shinbone Alley Broadway Cast

Eartha Kitt and Eddie Bracken are a knockout in extended "ar

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 07/05/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"SHINBONE ALLEY, a musical theatre adaptation of the Don Marquis "archy and mehitabel" stories, was a natural extension of the popular recording (featuring Eddie Bracken and Carol Channing giving voice to the endearing cockroach and cat, with music by George Kleinsinger and lyrics by Joe Darion). The recording was so successful that the writers thought a full-scale Broadway musical of their work would be greeted with open arms and glowing reviews. SHINBONE ALLEY was greeted alright, but the reception was decidedly lukewarm. The show folded after 49 performances.



Eddie Bracken reprised his role of archy, the typewriting cockroach. Carol Channing, though, did not openly pursue the chance to reprise her mehitabel, and the role was taken by lithsome cabaret star Eartha Kitt. The extended score fitted perfectly amongst the clutch of songs from the recording ("Cheerio My Deario", "True Romance", etc). Dance played a very important role in the musical, and the two ballets ("Dog and Cat Ballet" and "Vacant Lot Ballet") were choreographed by Rod Alexander, and lead by veteran New York Ballet star Jacques d'Amboise and Cathryn Damon. Also in the cast, playing mehitabel's caddish tomcat Big Bill, was George S. Irving. Reri Grist and Lillian Hayman played a comical mother-daughter team.



SHINBONE ALLEY was never officially recorded for a cast album, thankfully the complete score was recorded during the Broadway run, via the in-house microphones of the Broadway Theatre. Legend has released this remarkable recording (complete with dialogue and dance arrangements) on this double CD set.



A small tidbit for trivia buffs: Chita Rivera was Eartha Kitt's standby during the Broadway run. If Rivera ever indeed got to play the role of mehitabel, she would have been a sensation.



If you loved "archy and mehitabel", you'll adore SHINBONE ALLEY."