Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, Beatrice Arthur - Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast)

With her beguiling presence, Angela Lansbury belts out the playful lyrics of Jerry Herman's 1966 musical, Mame, based on the hilarious and outrageous Patrick Dennis novel Auntie Mame. Lansbury plays the ribald flapper Mame, bucking her age and station to live her life as she pleases, with her young nephew Patrick in bewildered tow. Lansbury's mature yet chipper singing voice is perfectly complemented by the vocals of Bea Arthur as Mame's best friend, Vera. Arthur's hearty, irascible voice adds a classic edge to the lighthearted musical fare, while Frankie Michaels as Patrick provides a youthful purity, conveying an awe and admiration for the aunt he follows through life. The relentlessly carefree theme of this musical diminishes as Mame ages and Patrick grows up, but they are singing zestfully to the end. The 1999 remastered version includes five demo recordings by Herman and Alice Borden, with Herman at the piano. --Bryony Angell Amazon.com

Musical for All Time

This is the musical to end all musicals...wonderful score by Mr. Herman, wonderful performances, book, staging, orchestrations...what else can I say!! I bought this album and became familiar with it in 1966 soon after the musical premiered....I had seen Auntie Mame, the movie in the 50's and was enchanted with the play in 1966...Angela Lansbury gives an exciting performance and actually her voice grew on me...I didn't go for it at first, but soon loved it as she has her own style...I must comment on the roadshow engagements of the play I saw, as I do in my other reviews..I saw Jane Morgan in the part at the St. Louis Muny in the late 60's and I believe she was a Broadway replacement for a short period during the first run!! I also saw Juliet Prowse shortly before she died in a roadshow engagement here in the midwest..she was very talented and I think her dancing outdid her singing in the part!! Very good!! August 19, 2008

Extreme Poor Quality CD

I don't know what the problem is. It seems to be in the manufacture of the CD. On some tracks the "crackling" noise is so bad you can't even hear the song. At first I thought it was a recording of an old vinyl album. But with each track it just got louder and worse. I even tried my friends CD palyers. Unfortunately I threw away my receipt, so I just threw away the CD, it's useless. I guess manufacturing errors happen. March 7, 2008

One of the classics

"Mame" is one of the true classics among Broadway musicals. Lawrence and Lee have done an exceptional job of transferring Patrick Dennis' book into a book for a musical. Jerry Herman's lyrics are some of the cleverest he has written, especially "The Man in the Moon" and "Bosom Buddies." The way he has repeated the title tune into "The Letter" opening of Act Two is brilliant.
Among the child actors in popular musicals--"Annie," "Sound of Music," "Oliver"--Frankie Michaels as young Patrick is probably the very best singer.
And, of course, Angela Lansbury! Inspite of her eccentricities, Mame does have some depth of character. Lansbury portrays both the oddness and the depth. It is too bad that Hollywood chose to parody the character with Lucille Ball.
One problem with the disc, for me, which really doesn't matter, because I don't have to listen to them. The bonus tracks with Herman at the piano are a waste of recording space. Of all the cd's I own with "bonus tracks," the only one I listen to a second time is "Annie Get Your Gun," which includes music from a later production that was not included on the original cast recording. February 2, 2008

Good Times

My high school drama son loves Bea Arthur & Angela Lansbury so this was a must have for him. He is really enjoying it. January 14, 2008

A very fun Broadway score

I lost my original "album" and wanted to hear this music again. It was no surprise that the music was lively and very upbeat. September 15, 2007

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