Jule Styne Jule Styne Bob Merrill - Prettybelle 1974 Original Cast (16 tracks) +Album Reviews

A forgotten score brought back into the light

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 12/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

An unknown gem

njprof | Morris Plains, NJ USA | 05/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Unsung styne

james | 04/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

PRETTYBELLE-NOT YOUR AVERAGE SOUTHERN BELLE

Robert F. Powers | Quincy, Ma USA | 06/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Mixed Emotions

David | N.J. | 09/29/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Search - Jule Styne, Jule Styne, Bob Merrill :: Prettybelle (1974 Original Cast)

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