The Tony for the best musical revival went to the new production of 42nd Street, now ensconced at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts located on — where else? — 42nd Street. If it had been up to me, I'd have given the award to the new production of Follies but the winner is in no way undeserving. It's a solid spectacle that reminds us of all that was ever glorious about the tradition of musical comedy. Michael Cumpsty plays the director, Christine Ebersole is his pushy, semi-talented leading lady, and Kate Levering plays the performer who goes out there a chorus girl and comes back a star when the semi-talented leading lady breaks an ankle, just prior to opening. Amidst that hoary plot which we all know too well, the cast does a lot of dancing — mostly, tap — sings a lot of well-known songs and wears a lot of elegant costumes on colorful sets. If that sounds at all appealing to you, you'll probably have a very good time. I know I did.
It was back in 1980 that a talented team, headed by veteran Broadway director Gower Champion, remounted the classic show biz movie musical for the stage, wisely eschewing camp for an earnest celebration of musical comedy. Opening night became famous — or perhaps infamous — when producer David Merrick interrupted the umpteenth standing ovation at the end to announce clumsily that Champion had died that morning. Given the show's theme and Merrick's rep for mischief, playgoers weren't entirely certain it wasn't some horrid-taste joke or stunt but 'twas true. The publicity didn't harm the production, which went on to become — at the moment — the 7th longest-running Broadway show in history. (It was even higher on that list before a couple of other shows came along. A recent version of the "long run" list is reproduced below.)
Nice to have it back. The new production seems just as good, if not better than the original, of which I have fond memories. It's also nice to see songwriters Harry Warren and Al Dubin receiving real credit this time, Merrick having used a contractual loophole to deny them that and to promote his own name, the first time around. (Dubin died in '45 but Warren lived until '81 — long enough to see and stew over being a forgotten man on Broadway's biggest hit. This time around, it's the recently-deceased Merrick who is barely mentioned.) Mark Bramble, who co-authored the book, directed this production which is based on Champion's staging. I'd recommend it to anyone but especially to the Broadway novice.
LONGEST RUNS ON BROADWAY (Through June 17, 2001)
- Cats – 7,485 performances
- A Chorus Line – 6,137
- Oh! Calcutta (revival) – 5,962
- Les Miserables – 5,879 (still running)
- The Phantom of the Opera – 5,590 (still running)
- Miss Saigon – 4,095
- 42nd Street – 3,485
- Grease – 3,388
- Fiddler on the Roof – 3,242
- Life with Father – 3,224
- Tobacco Road – 3,182
- Beauty and the Beast – 2,911 (still running)
- Hello, Dolly! – 2,844
- My Fair Lady – 2,717
- Annie – 2,377
- Man of La Mancha – 2,329
- Abie's Irish Rose – 2,327
- Oklahoma! – 2,212
- Rent – 2,145 (still running)
- Smokey Joe's Cafe – 2,036