Someone mentioned to me that this existed. It was a tough go, this revival. The cast was lovely but the director was a tyrant and every day was fraught with anxiety. Not what you want when you're recreating a charming, light musical comedy. Nevertheless, we all did the best we could. Was fun to see how I walked as Sir Harry all those years ago. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing! Enjoyed your work. As a fan, I have always loved this revival. Random, but did Janet Metz ever get to go on? I would have loved to seen her do Winnifred.
How wonderful for you since you were in it as Sir Harry to be able to find this after all these years. Thank you for your comments. Any more memories of being in the production?
So sad to hear that "the director was a tyrant and every day was fraught with anxiety." This is still a problem in the industry I'm afraid and people are leaving because of it. I'm glad you were able to make the most of it. 💜
I saw this production on Broadway. I enjoyed it, but it had its faults. To begin with, I love Sarah Jessica Parker's work in Sex and the City (and also And Just Like That), so I am a fan. In this stage production, she was very good in the comedic parts of the role, but she wasn't a great singer. She did an acceptable job, but the show needed a fantastic singer. I assume they went with "a name" to sell tickets. This production ran for 188 performances from December 19, 1996 to June 1, 1997, so it was relatively short lived. It had 35 previews beginning on November 18, 1996, and this video of the show has a date stamp of December 18th. It was the last preview before the show officially opened the next day on the 19th. So, in total, the show was performed 223 times. I remember thinking Jane Krakowski would have been the better choice for Winnifred since she was terrific as Lady Larken. Here are some MAJOR differences I found in this 1996-1997 Broadway revival versus the original 1959 version: I see in this production they changed the questions to Princess # 12 to math equations. The original questions are so much funnier and clever. That was a poor alteration. The questions were: 1. Name three kings. 2. A four part question about a famous man often referred to as the Knight of the Red Cross: a. What was his name? b. What beast did he slay? c. How many rows of teeth did the beast have and what kind? d. What was the middle name of the daughter-in-law of the best friend of the blacksmith, who forged the sword that killed the beast? In Sensitivity, I remember I disliked what they did with the Wizard. He has lines to say; he responds to the Queen. In this production, he is mute. He also is dressed like a monk instead of a wizard. In The Swamps of Home, the female ensemble has been cut, leaving only their voices to be heard. In this production, Lady Larken advises Sir Harry that he should cheat to find out what the test will be. In the original version, the Jester, the Minstrel, and the King attempt to persuade him. In the Minstrel, the Jester, and I some verses of the song were cut. In Normandy, the King usually leaves almost immediately as the number begins. Here he stays for the whole thing as part of the trio. In Song of Love, the finale of act 1, Winnifred sings very different solos. She only utters a few notes in the original. Act 2 begins at 1 hour and 10 minutes. Act 2 begins with the number Quiet. This video doesn't contain it, but it is on the cast album, so it was in this production. Dauntless sings a song called Goodnight, Sweet Princess that is not from the original production. I was informed that the new song was written for this new production. The song is on the cast album's recording. In this production, the King finds out what the Queen's test is going to be. In the original, the King doesn't find out until everyone in the kingdom finds out. The Minstrel and the Jester plot to find out from the Wizard. In this production, the Queen only gives Winnifred a drink of warm milk and opium to help make her drowsy. In the original production, she also uses a revolving hypnotic mirror and incense made of poppy and mandragora. It is wonderful that you posted this video so fans of the show itself and fans of Sarah Jessica Parker can view it and enjoy it. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I'm doing Once Upon A Mattress this semester (I'm Lady H for y'all who know the show), and this is going to give a lot of inspiration!
Someone mentioned to me that this existed. It was a tough go, this revival. The cast was lovely but the director was a tyrant and every day was fraught with anxiety. Not what you want when you're recreating a charming, light musical comedy. Nevertheless, we all did the best we could. Was fun to see how I walked as Sir Harry all those years ago. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing! Enjoyed your work. As a fan, I have always loved this revival. Random, but did Janet Metz ever get to go on? I would have loved to seen her do Winnifred.
How wonderful for you since you were in it as Sir Harry to be able to find this after all these years. Thank you for your comments. Any more memories of being in the production?
So sad to hear that "the director was a tyrant and every day was fraught with anxiety." This is still a problem in the industry I'm afraid and people are leaving because of it. I'm glad you were able to make the most of it. 💜
how did someone manage to even bring the huge camcorder in and not get caught lol
The weren’t that large back then anymore!
Thanks so much !!!
I saw this production on Broadway. I enjoyed it, but it had its faults.
To begin with, I love Sarah Jessica Parker's work in Sex and the City (and also And Just Like That), so I am a fan. In this stage production, she was very good in the comedic parts of the role, but she wasn't a great singer. She did an acceptable job, but the show needed a fantastic singer. I assume they went with "a name" to sell tickets.
This production ran for 188 performances from December 19, 1996 to June 1, 1997, so it was relatively short lived. It had 35 previews beginning on November 18, 1996, and this video of the show has a date stamp of December 18th. It was the last preview before the show officially opened the next day on the 19th. So, in total, the show was performed 223 times.
I remember thinking Jane Krakowski would have been the better choice for Winnifred since she was terrific as Lady Larken.
Here are some MAJOR differences I found in this 1996-1997 Broadway revival versus the original 1959 version:
I see in this production they changed the questions to Princess # 12 to math equations. The original questions are so much funnier and clever. That was a poor alteration.
The questions were:
1. Name three kings. 2. A four part question about a famous man often referred to as the Knight of the Red Cross: a. What was his name? b. What beast did he slay? c. How many rows of teeth did the beast have and what kind? d. What was the middle name of the daughter-in-law of the best friend of the blacksmith, who forged the sword that killed the beast?
In Sensitivity, I remember I disliked what they did with the Wizard. He has lines to say; he responds to the Queen. In this production, he is mute. He also is dressed like a monk instead of a wizard.
In The Swamps of Home, the female ensemble has been cut, leaving only their voices to be heard.
In this production, Lady Larken advises Sir Harry that he should cheat to find out what the test will be. In the original version, the Jester, the Minstrel, and the King attempt to persuade him.
In the Minstrel, the Jester, and I some verses of the song were cut.
In Normandy, the King usually leaves almost immediately as the number begins. Here he stays for the whole thing as part of the trio.
In Song of Love, the finale of act 1, Winnifred sings very different solos. She only utters a few notes in the original.
Act 2 begins at 1 hour and 10 minutes. Act 2 begins with the number Quiet. This video doesn't contain it, but it is on the cast album, so it was in this production.
Dauntless sings a song called Goodnight, Sweet Princess that is not from the original production. I was informed that the new song was written for this new production. The song is on the cast album's recording.
In this production, the King finds out what the Queen's test is going to be. In the original, the King doesn't find out until everyone in the kingdom finds out. The Minstrel and the Jester plot to find out from the Wizard.
In this production, the Queen only gives Winnifred a drink of warm milk and opium to help make her drowsy. In the original production, she also uses a revolving hypnotic mirror and incense made of poppy and mandragora.
It is wonderful that you posted this video so fans of the show itself and fans of Sarah Jessica Parker can view it and enjoy it. Thank you!
Actually, the 1959 question did not have four parts. What you noted was part of the 2005 film.
Thank you so much!
I'm doing Once Upon A Mattress this semester (I'm Lady H for y'all who know the show), and this is going to give a lot of inspiration!
This show is the SEINFELD of musical theatre
Thank you!!
Do you happen to know if Janet Metz ever went on for SJP?
@@sohoboy506 She did. Once or twice.
1:37:28 that sound is so hypnotizing
Do you have any videos of SJP in Annie??