Customer Reviews

At Home Abroad (1935 Broadway Cast) - Dietz & Schwartz

5 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Printed on the back of the jacket for AT HOME ABROAD, in very tiny letters, is the following: "This Recording is a presentation of The Council for Musical Theatre, a NON-profit Educational Foundation, the Aims of which are to Promote and Preserve Musical Theatre and to Educate the public in this regard. As part of its Educational Programme, limited editions of historic recordings not generally available from commercial sources are made available to those engaged in academic research, education and comment with regard to Musical Theatre."

So be forewarned: This is an "historic" recording! Therefore, you are going to experience tinny sound, pitch variations, and indecipherable lyrics, in spite of the digital remastering. For sound comparison, the producers have repeated three tracks in the "original, non-restored sound." I also appreciate their including alternate takes from later recordings when appropriate.

Because of its sound quality, (it was, after all, recorded in 1935), this recording probably won't win a lot of fans. In spite of that, it does have its moments: "Dinner Napkins," a hilarious sketch with Beatrice Lillie, Reginald Gardiner, Eddie Foy, Jr., and James MacColl; Ms. Lillie gives "Paree" her considerable "all;" "You May Be Far Away from Me" is Ms. Lillie and Mr. Gardiner's amusing parody of `Brief Encounter; and Ms. Lillie's delivery of "Get Yourself a Geisha" is beyond compare, even though some of the lyrics might be considered offensive by today's standards. Also included is a radio sketch, "Just a Gigolo," with Bing Crosby and Tallulah Bankhead, which perhaps is included because a recording of the original "Gigolo Business" sketch wasn't available. Incidentally, "Just a Gigolo" occupies track 20 on the disc, although the jacket lists only 19 selections.

When AT HOME ABROAD, a Musical Holiday with words and Music by Howard Deitz and Arthur Schwartz opened at The Winter Garden Theatre on September 19, 1935, America - indeed, the world - was just beginning to dig out from under the Great Depression. Money was scarce, even for producers of Broadway musicals. The Depression not only stifled the U.S. economy, it slowed down the innovation of the Broadway musical. Angels were few and far between for the traditional "book" musical. As a result, the musical revue, with its lower production costs and its backward look to the varied sketches and musical set pieces of Vaudeville, became the staple of the 30s musical theater. Irving Berlin, Charles Tobias, Sammy Fain, Harold Rome, Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz, among others, contributed words and music to the Golden Age of the Broadway Revue.

"Composer Arthur Schwartz was trained as a lawyer, and lyricist Howard Dietz had a day job as MGM's advertising manager (he created the famous lion), but when they began collaborating at the end of the 1920s, they made beautiful music together. They rode in on the coattails of the 'Little Shows,' intimate, sophisticated revues that gave audiences some relief from the bombast of Ziegfeld and White. The team found its true voice in four revues from 1930 to 1935 -- 'Three's a Crowd,' 'The Band Wagon,' 'Flying Colors,' and 'At Home Abroad.' Dietz also contributed sketches and direction to many of their shows." [Quoted from "Rise of the Revue" by Laurence Maslon, commenting on Broadway: The American Musical (PBS)]

The Schwartz and Dietz score also included ample showpieces for vocalist Ethel Waters (`Thief in the Night,' `Hottentot Potentate'), and dancer Eleanor Powell joined forces with Ms. Waters on `Got a Bran' New Suit," which was recorded by Fats Waller on August 20, 1935. With this show Vincente Minnelli not only designed the settings and costumes, but he also made his debut as a Broadway director.

Historically important? Yes. (4 stars) Will I listen to it again? Probably not. (1 star). Therefore, an overall 2 stars. You may feel differently. If you're interested in this or any other recording from AEI, e-mail them at AEIRecords@aol.com.