Customer Reviews

Darling Of The Day (1968 Original Broadway Cast)

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The more I hear of Jule Styne's musical work, the more convinced I become that he was probably the best composer in musical theater in the 1950s and 1960s (up against such heavy hitters as Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, Frank Loesser and Frederick Loewe). His high-quality work continued into the late 1960s as well, when he had two musicals -- Darling of the Day and Hallelujiah, Baby(both financial flops) -- which both feature glorious scores. Darling of the Day is particularly noteworthy, because it not only features a great score (mixing waltz, British music hall, and Rex Harrison-like talk-speak numbers), but brilliant lyrics from Yip Harburg (whose work includes The Wizard of Oz and Finian's Rainbow) and wonderful performances from Vincent Price and (especially) Patricia Routledge.

For wonderful talk-speak numbers, listen to Price's piece of "He's a Genius" and the delightful "Butler in the Abbey". For beautiful ballads, listen to Routledge's wonderful renditions of "Let's See What Happens" and "That Something Extra Special". For music hall at its best, Routledge's rendition of "Not on Your Nellie" is all one could ask.

The tragedy of this show is that it suffered from some particularly vicious reviews on opening (ironically, most of the better respected critics of the day -- i.e., Clive Barnes and Walter Kerr -- absolutely loved it). Although it is impossible to tell what the book was like from the CD (and, according to many critics, this is where one of the problems lay), I find it difficult to believe that someone who actually listened to the score could dislike it.

All in all, a show whose music should be rediscovered.

Jule Styne's spritely tunes and Yip Harburg's pointed lyrics are delights to be savored. The stars do well by the score -- Patricia Routledge in the role that won her a Tony, and Vincent Price in a charming portrayal of an artist who yearns for the less-complicated life of his own butler. "I've Got a Rainbow Working for Me" is a lovely tune and Price puts it over very well. He's also quite good on "To Get out of this World Alive," despite some tricky lyrics from Harburg. Likewise, Routledge is outstanding on "Not on Your Nellie" and "Let's See What Happens." Only two things slightly mar this CD: First, some overly-contrived lyrics from Harburg, whose socialist sensibilities come to full front in this musical. (Fortunately, Styne's music overcomes the weaknesses in the lyrics.) Secondly, the liner notes by Steven Suskind are unduly and unfairly critical of Price, whose musical ability was considerably better than Suskind gives credit and who actually acquitted himself quite well.

Yet another of those wonderful cult-flop musicals that one can't help but love, DARLING OF THE DAY is a particular favorite of mine.

The story was based on the book "Buried Alive" by Arnold Bennett, and tells the tale of artist Priam Farll (Vincent Price) who - thanks to a case of mixed identity - ends up "dead" and comes "back" as Henry Leek. Arriving in the small town of Putney, Henry meets vivacious widow Alice Challice (Patricia Routledge), and they later marry. However, Henry's past comes back to haunt him when his painting career suddenly takes off again...

The score is gorgeous. Patricia Routledge is given ample time to display her amazing vocal talents with the achingly-beautiful "Let's See What Happens" and the touching "Something Extra Special". She tied with Leslie Uggams to win the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical that year, and rightfully so.

Vincent Price, King of the AIP horror movies, was totally at sea with his musical Broadway debut, and was one of the main reasons why the show failed, running only 32 performances (around 2-3 weeks). The rather slow-moving book was also a factor in the show's failure.

However, the glowing score by Jule Styne and E.Y. Harburg is gorgeous, and features the songs "To Get Out of This World Alive", "He's A Genius", "Panache" and "It's Enough to Make a Lady Fall in Love" as well as "Sunset Tree". RCA.

The wonderful lyrics of Yip Harburg and the brilliant voice and comedy of Patricia Routledge are the highlights of this rarely heard musical comedy gem. Jule Styne provides some good songs to accompany a witty book. It tries to be My Fair Lady and might have gotten close if they could have cast Rex Harrison instead of Vincent Price in the lead. Vincent's acting seem okay, but his singing is more horrible than anything he has ever done on the screen.

DARLING OF THE DAY didn't do too well on Broadway. In fact, it lasted for on 32 performances. Reason? Steven Suskin writes in the liner notes: "Musical comedies live or die on the strength of their music and lyrics, it is said; a weak book is rarely enough to scuttle a fine score. Jule Styne and Yip Harburg's DARLING OF THE DAY, though, was unable to withstand the ministrations of no less than five bookwriters, not to mention six directors and choreographers. The show even had four different titles along the way. What all of this indicates is a lack of overall vision, in this case stemming from the producers. What it means, in practical terms, is that the songwriters - the only creators who remained constant - found themselves haplessly rewriting to order, to the order of whoever happened to be around at the time. It is no wonder that DARLING OF THE DAY turned out to be a mess of an entertainment. It is surprising, and somewhat disheartening, to find that the unfortunate events subsumed a polished gem of a score."

Equally disheartening: this excellent recording is among a large number of shows RCA has delected from its catalogue. But hold on! Thanks to ArkivMusic, it is now available as an Arkiv CD-on-Demand, complete with original art work and liner notes!

If only today's Broadway songsmiths could write a score as tuneful and entertaining. Even Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim (DO I HEAR A WALTZ?) failed to write a waltz as lovely as "Let's See What Happens." And some of Harburg's lyrics would do W.S. Gilbert proud: "Just avoiding Maharajahs and obsequious old codgers" . . . "I'd lie gladly in your casket while the horsy set at Ascot" . . . ("To Get Out of This World Alive"); "Shakespeare will be shaken and awaken Francis Bacon, and they'll each deny the other wrote KING LEAR" . . . ("A Butler in the Abbey") Yes, the opening number ("He's a Genius") does sound as though it might have come from MY FAIR LADY, and "To marry and live merrily and not just temporarily". . . ("What Makes a Marriage Merry") sounds like a Munchkin song. Harburg was, after all, the lyricist for THE WIZARD OF OZ. The score contains a couple of weak songs and a schizoprenia of styles (all those directors and book writers), but overall it's a delightful "polished gem of a score."

Additionally, DARLING OF THE DAY boasts a most wonderful, powerhouse performance by Patricia Rutledge, 1968 Tony Award winner for Best Actress in a Musical. (Actually, she tied with Leslie Uggams in HALLELUJAH, BABY.) She's delectable in "It's Enough To Make a Lady Fall in Love," "Let's See What Happens," "That Something Extra Special," "What Makes a Marriage Merry," and - especially - "Not on Your Nellie." It's a performance not to be missed and well worth the price of this CD. Although Vincent Price may not have the mellifluent tones of Rex Harrison, Richard Burton, Christopher Plummer or other non-singing actors who headlined musicals of this period, at times he is surprisingly good. The orchestrations by Ralph Burns are Broadway-big-and-brassy and the singing ensemble has great fun with Buster Davis' fine vocal arrangements.

Hats off to ArkivMusic for making this and other RCA deletions available once again: DO RE MI - 1960 original Broadway cast; FINIAN'S RAINBOW - 1969 revival cast; HELLO, DOLLY! - 1967 revival cast with Pearl Bailey; HOW NOW, DOW JONES - 1967 original Broadway cast; LEGS DIAMOND - 1988 original Broadway cast; A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - 1975 original London cast; OLIVER! - 1968 film soundtrack; SILK STOCKINGS - 1955 original Broadway cast; STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW - 1977 original off-Broadway cast; WILDCAT - 1960 original Broadway cast. AND they're available right here at amazon.com.

So, glom on to them now and encourage ArkivMusic to resurrect the rest of RCA's in-limbo show titles.

Are you kidding? This is Vincent Price! When would you get a chance to hear him sing a whole score? And it's a great score. I saw the show on Broadway in previews a very long time ago and thought it would be a hit. Then came the unappreciative reviews and it lasted two weeks. What a loss!

The musical comedy gods smiled on RCA Victor in 1968 who chose to record this 32 performance flop, and the results are nothing short of wonderous. Patricia Routledge, best known to American audiences for "Keeping Up Appearances" on PBS, made her Broadway musical debut in this Jule Styne-Yip Harburg underappreciated classic. From overture to finale, it bubbles over with wit and melody. Routledge and Company's "Not On Your Nellie," is a textbook lesson on how to stop a show cold. They don't write 'em like this anymore. Get this CD and remember Broadway's golden days.