Customer Reviews

Me And Juliet (1953 Original Broadway Cast)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

ME AND JULIET is pretty much forgotten today. It is a light musical comedy with a pleasant score and a weak book. There was no movie or TV version. There was no London production, and no Broadway revivals to yield new recordings. Just this original cast album recorded a few days after the opening night.

Several of the songs are performed as part of the show-within-the show, and have no real character relevance, so they remain pleasant songs:"Marriage Type Love", "No Other Love", and "Keep it Gay." The character songs are actually more interesting: "That's the Way it happens" and especially "It's Me" are revealing studies, and "Intermission Talk" is fun - a sly poke at 1950s theatre audiences. It makes an enjoyable listen, yet you get the sense that Rodgers and Hammerstein were taking a break from their more serious shows.

The original Lp went out-of-print a few years after the show closed. Victor reissued it briefly in the 1960s, and then released ths CD edition in 1993. It too has now been discontinued. Do not pay top dollar for a copy... the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired, and it no doubt will be reissued again before too long.

This was Rodgers and Hammerstein's first foray into pure musical comedy (as distinguished from the musical plays they had been writing), and it was not a success. The story was slight, and is essentially a retelling of the "Oklahoma" love triangle. However, the score is quite enjoyable, with fun numbers like "That's the Way it Happens," and "It's Me." Also, any show that contains "No Other Love," one of the loveliest ballads R & H ever wrote, cannot be dismissed entirely. "Me and Juliet" lacks the depth and brilliance of "Carousel" or "The King and I," but it is quite likable on its own merits.

The show and score of "Me and Juliet" are mainly memorable for the fact that they represent Oscar Hammerstein's first foray into the genre of musical comedy. Unlike Rodgers' former partner, Lorenz Hart, Hammerstein did not have the gift of musical comedy wit. But when it comes to dramatic musicals, nobody does it better than Hammerstein. There are some good numbers here -- "A Very Special Day," "That's the Way it Happens," "Marriage Type Love," "The Big, Black Giant," "No Other Love" -- and one very interesting departure for R&H -- "Intermission Talk" -- but it all lacks the drama and polish of the great R&H scores. It also has the honor of showcasing the dubious singing talent of Joan McCracken. Joan may have been a great dancer, but a great chanteuse she ain't. Overall, it is a decent score that serves to remind the audience that, while Rodgers felt comfortable with the musical comedy genre, Hammerstein never seemed to grasp it. Keep in mind, by the way, that I am a HUGE fan of Oscar Hammerstein, I just don't think he was the right author/lyricist for this work.

This (sadly) remains out of print, but judging from the CD itself it was a better show than either Allegro, or Pipe Dream, R&H's other two (comparative) failures.

There is plenty of great Rodgers music, and the Hammerstein lyrics are witty and literate. Given this, there are really only a couple of songs that set you humming, but ... if we had heard them as often as we have heard the songs from (say) South Pacific, who knows how they would sound?

It seems the play itself was the main weakness that kept it from being a major hit, but apparently it paid its quite considerable expenses, and turned a small profit - and I don't think you can call any show that does that a true "flop".

I tend to agree with mos of the comments already posted on this Rodgers & Hammerstein "failure." This show is definitely second tier Rodgers & Hammerstein. The weakness of the plot was probably the main reason for the show's early demise in 1953. There were clearly better productions running against it. But I should also say that I enjoy the cast album on its own merits, mostly for the wonderful contributions of Isobel Bigley. She is given most of the stronger songs, including "No Other Love," "A Very Special Day" and "That's the Way it Happens." I was very lucky to find an excellent copy of the original RCA Victor Green Seal LP at the Amoeba store in Hollywood. I do not regret the purchase. I also think the sound quality on this early vintage pressing is excellent. Every voice, from soloists and ensemble, is beautifully delineated.

Forget the elitists who only want to hear "South Pacific" over and over! This score contains gem after gem, pure 1950's and easy listening and fun performances from Joan McCracken, Bill Hayes and willowy soprano Isabel Bigley. Enjoy it on its own merits and check out that schmaltzier-than schmaltz "Marriage Type Love"!

I disagree with the above. There is something so pleasent and appealing about this show. I think it is so simple and pure that, compared to a lot of the shows we get today, this show has a real heart. It is something I would listen to when I am trying to make up my mind what to listen to. Does that make sense?

This CD is pleasant enough but does not really show-off Rodgers' and Hammerstein's talents. The score has two really good numbers, "No Other Love", and "Keep it Gay", one fairly good one "It's me" and the rest are mediocre or just, plain embarssing. Being an old recording it was miked fairly close up with the singers way prominent over the orchestra. This however flawed, is the CD you want, not the new reissue, which I've read is a travesty. It is OOP and a bit hard to find at a decent price but persistnce pays-off and you can get it for under $20. It is a must for R&H collectors, like and pleasant enough to play for your musical-heathen friends. Look hard and you will find it.

ME AND JULIET was the show where the audience came out humming the sets. If it had been written by anyone else it might have closed the first week. The songs are competent but hardly more than that. RCA recorded them with good sound and performances are lively. The plot is boring and forgettable. For R&H buffs and Broadway cast album buffs only.

In early winter 1955 I attended the off-Broadway opening of Pipe
Dream in the Schubert Theater in Boston. I had a seat in
the last row of the upper balcony and yet the music and play
was delightful. The song, "No Other Love" was borrowed
from Richard Rogers score from "Victory at Sea" so even the best
take short cuts from time to time. As best I could I wrote
down snipets of the musical score so I could poke out the tunes
on the piano back at the home I was living in for the guys who
were interested in whatever new songs would be contained
in this new musical. Actually many of the songs were "catchy"
and I was suprised that with the remake between Boston and
New York that this musical somehow did not take with the public.
Some of the songs were at least as catchy as those in prior
musicals, like Oklahoma. In any event it was a most memorable
experience for a young college kid from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Oh yes, I still like the music.