Customer Reviews

Prettybelle (1974 Original Cast)

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

 

 

PRETTYBELLE was written a good 20 years before THE PRODUCERS and URINETOWN pushed the boundaries of the Broadway musical. The story is about a drunken Southern woman with a multiple-personality disorder who, when her law-enforcing husband dies, discovers that he made his living murdereing and terrorizing blacks and Mexicans in their small Southern community. She decides to 'give herself' to the communities that her husband wronged, and in turn comes under the hatred of her small-minded neighbors.

But the gorgeous Southern-fried score by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill (their first since FUNNY GIRL) is now, in hindsight, one of their best collaborations. Angela Lansbury (as the title character, Prettybelle Sweet), sings a clutch of wonderfully off-kilter songs like "Manic Depressives", the sobering "To a Small Degree", the charming corn of "In the Japanese Gardens" and the unashamedly pro-alcoholic "When I'm Drunk I'm Beautiful".

This musical never made it past its month-long try-out tenure in Boston thanks to scathing reviews about its unfavorable depiction of Southeners. Angela Lansbury, as always, gave her all in the leading role, and was angered and upset that this show was not given the fanfare that it deserved.

In 1982, Varese Sarabande recruited Angela Lansbury as well as the bulk of the original cast, and recorded this re-creation of the original production. This recording preserves this musical, definately ahead-of-its-time, and is well worth another look.

Highly-recommended.

I discovered "Prettybelle" a number of years ago, before the CD was released, and paid handsomely for a recording of it. I'd read about this courageous show and was pleasantly surprised by its contemporary score. Well before "The Producers," "Prettybelle" set out to offend, and did it so well, the show closed in Boston. Men, women, alcoholics, the mentally unstable, politicians, and southerners get satirized and savaged. Much of it is wonderful, and Angela Lansbury, of course, is first-rate. No one who cares about the Broadway musical should miss this one.

this is the only record we have of Angela Lansbury's performance in Prettybelle, a performance which would have given her a fifth tony award had it ever come to broadway. It is wonderful to hear Miss Lansbury do a role that is not the "normal" leading lady- she is probably the only living actress who could achieve this. Miss Lansbury is in great voice and Styne's music has a 70's feel, but is rooted in golden age broadway sound. a must have for any musical lover.

I SAW PRETTYBELLE IN BOSTON IN 1971 AND IT WAS A DOOZY. THE SHOW WAS BOLD, HARSH, CRUEL, HIGHLY ORIGINAL AND RAUNCHY. BUT THE MAIN REASON THE SHOW NEVER MADE IT TO NEW YORK WAS, THEY COULDN'T KEEP AN AUDIENCE THE ENTIRE SHOW. AFTER INTERMISSION WHAT WAS ONCE A FULL HOUSE WAS REDUCED TO SCATTERED PATRONS HERE AND THERE. THIS RECORDING SHOWS THE HIGH POINTS OF THE SCORE BUT IN KEEPING WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE SHOW THE RAUNCHY SONGS WORK BEST. ONE NUMBER ON THE CD, GODS'GARDEN SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ADDED ON A WHIM SINCE BOTH MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY IT HAS NO CONNECTION TO THE SHOW. ANGELA LANSBURYS' 11 O'CLOCK NUMBER "WHEN I'M DRUNK" WAS A POWERHOUSE AND WHEN SHE JOINS THE FOLKSINGER ON THE REPRISE OF "PRETTYBELLE" IT BRINGS A LUMP TO THE THROAT BUT THE LUMP COMES WHEN THE ACTING AND SINGING AT THIS FINALE IS SEEN ON THE STAGE. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS SHOW -IT WAS BRAVE -IT WAS DIFFERENT -BUT A HARD-SELL AND IF THE GUTLESS PRODUCER HAD OPENED THE SHOW ON BROADWAY EVEN IF ONLY FOR ONE PERFORMANCE THE SHOW WOULD HAVE GAINED CULT STATUS. THIS CD IS HIGHLY RECCOMENDED-JUST DON'T PLAY IT IF GRANDMA'S IN THE ROOM-OH HELL, GRANDMA MIGHT EVEN LIKE IT.

To start my review, I must say that the idea for this show was terrible. It does not exactly scream MUSICAL at first glance. The book is needlessly complicated, and was just a bad idea.

As for the score, it is interesting, and shows that the authors really believed in this show. The score starts off with a country western waltz type overture. Then Lansbury sings "Manic Depressives". It is a tad bit bizarre, but Angela sells it with her sing-songy voice. The music for the score is a very strong one from Styne, but the lyrics are a different story. They are tasteless and raunchy, but Merill did write tenderly for songs like "To a Small Degree", and "I Met A Man". Of course, tasteless and raunchy fit the idea of the show perfectly.

Angela Lansbury does wonders with what she is given, and the supporting cast is top notch. Also, they included the song, "You never looked better in your Life", which is one of the scores better songs, but was cut from show. Overall, if you are offended easily, keep away. Also if you want the signature Styne tunes, these have more of a country flavor. So, it is not really worth a hunt unless you are a Syne completist or a Big Angela Lansbury fan.

Prettybelle: What a revelation! As a die hard Angela Lansbury fan I feel I have found lost treasure. Oh, the map was there, a long ago story in a newspaper of a closed musical, Prettybelle, being recorded after several years of gathering dust. It wasn't until Amazon's recent move into music that I typed in the name on the treasure map and went on my search. And in seconds there it was like a bright gold nugget at my feet. Now I'm glad the years have been very vague about Prettybelle's wherabouts. After Angela Lansbury's long absense from the Broadway stage, this empty hearted fan is in need of this generous portion of the past; she is at the top of her vocal form, pouring out songs, comic and tragic and in between--singing and swinging and peeling the years away. The Jule Styne score with lyrics by Bob Merrill sounds brand new and up to the moment; surely one of his finest. And of course, Angela Lansbury still reigns! Thank You, Amazon.

Or just a mistake? Since this closed out of town, no one will ever know. This musical had something to offend everyone. (Why on earth did they try it out in Boston???) The musical had many heavyweights involved (Styne and Merrill of Funny Girl fame and Gower Champion directing/choreographing) and of course, Angela Lansbury, but they couldnt make it work. Its commendable that the score was finally recorded, but what's on here isnt memorable and there are no stand out tunes. When I'm Drunk is the big eleven o'clock number and Lansbury gives it her all, but the song by itself isnt in the same league with other Styne tunes. There are a few catchy group numbers, and that's about it. Merrills lyrics are rather crude and tasteless at times, but its hard to see how anyone could've brought this off. Would be interesting to see some theater group try to revive this. Lansbury, as always, is excellent. Worth buying for her fans and theater collectors, but not something you'd play very often...

Prettybelle is a 1971 reunion of Funny Girl creators Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and starring living legend Angela Lansbury(Anyone Can Whistle, Mame, Dear World, Sweeney Todd, etc) as a southern belle, Prettybelle Sweet with Mark Dawson(High Button Shoes) as her late husband, Leroy. It is a vast departure for both Styne and Merrill, and devilishly offbeat! The title song is sweetly sung by Michael Jason as the folksinger. Lansbury musically explains her plight in "Manic Depressives"; the first of her 12 numbers! Dawson cuts loose with the raunchy country and western "You Ain't Hurtin' Your Ole Lady None". Lansbury returns with the honky tonk "You Never Looked Better In Your Life", the reflective "To A Small Degree", the driving "How Could I Know", the mariachi "I Never Did Imagine", "In The Japanese Gardens" the emphatic "I Met A Man", the dixieland flavored "The No-Tell Motel", the contemplative "I'm In A Tree", and the brassy "When I'm Drunk I'm Beautiful". She gets a workout! Like Anyone Can Whistle and Allegro, Prettybelle was ahead of it's time. Styne and Merrill have done some brilliant work which I have adored ever since I discovered the LP years ago. If you can, get this cd!