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Evening Primrose (ABC Stage 67)

October 26, 2023

This article is about the television musical. For the plant called evening primrose, see Oenothera.

"Evening Primrose" is ninth episode of the first season of the American television series ABC Stage 67. The episode is a musical with a book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on a John Collier short story published in the 1951 collection Fancies and Goodnights.

"Evening Primrose"
ABC Stage 67 episode
Original television soundtrack recording
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 9
Directed byPaul Bogart
Written byJames Goldman
John Collier
Story byJames Goldman
Produced byJohn Houseman
Willard Levitas
Featured musicStephen Sondheim
Editing byJohn Wells
Original air dateNovember 6, 1966 (1966-11-06)
Running time60 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"The People Trap" 		Next →
"Noon Wine"

Written originally for television, the musical focuses on a poet who takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing. He meets a community of night people who live in the store and falls in love with a beautiful young girl named Ella. Bizarre complications arise when the leader of the group forbids their relationship.

Synopsis Edit

Poet Charles Snell takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing ("If You Can Find Me, I'm Here"). Once there he finds a secret group who have lived in the store for years. The leader of the group, Mrs. Monday, permits Charles to stay after he convinces her that he is a poet.

Charles meets and is smitten with a beautiful young girl, Ella Harkins, Mrs. Monday's maid. Ella, who is now 19, has lived in the store since she was separated from her mother at age six, falling asleep in the women's hat department. Ella is unhappy and wants to leave, but is afraid of the "Dark Men." Should someone try to return to the outside world and risk revealing the group's existence, the Dark Men take them away and another mannequin appears in the clothing department.

Charles realizes Ella has not seen the sun for thirteen years. Ella tries to tell Charles about her life before, but realizes that most of her memories from outside are being replaced with memories of living in the store ("I Remember"). Charles has fallen in love with Ella; as he plays cards with members of the group, he has a quiet duet with Ella ("When"). Ella finally decides to leave with Charles ("Take Me To The World"). Charles is initially reluctant to leave his now-comfortable life, but then understands that he loves Ella more than poetry. Mrs. Monday and the others hear their plans, and they call the Dark Men, as Ella and Charles try to escape.

The store opens the next morning with a couple on the sidewalk who resemble Ella and Charles from behind, but turn out to be strangers when the camera pans to their faces. They're looking at a window display in which Ella and Charles are now mannequins dressed as a bride and groom, with the night watchman acting as their minister.

Productions Edit

 
Anthony Perkins as Charles Snell; Charmian Carr as Ella Harkins

Adapted specifically for the television anthology series ABC Stage 67, it aired on November 16, 1966.[1] It was directed by Paul Bogart, set design by John Ward, set decorated by Budd Gourmen, costume design by William McHone, and lighting design by Walter Urban. The cast starred Anthony Perkins as Charles Snell, Charmian Carr as Ella Harkins, Larry Gates as Roscoe Potts, Dorothy Stickney as Mrs. Monday, and Margaret Bannerman, Margaret Barker, Leonard Elliot, Mike Meola, Dorothy Sands, and Margaretta Warwick as store people. The one-hour program was taped on an early Sunday morning at the now-defunct Stern Brothers department store in Manhattan.[1]

The "Evening Primrose" telecast was in color, but the original master tape has never been found. The Black-and-white (B&W) version is available for viewing at the Paley Center for Media in New York City. A newly discovered pristine B&W 16-millimeter copy was used for DVDs which were released commercially for the first time on October 26, 2010.[1]

The first professional theatrical production was staged in London as part of the Lost Musicals series. It opened at the Lilian Baylis Studio on July 3, 2005 and closed on July 24. Directed by Ian Marshall Fisher, it starred Betsy Blair as Mrs. Monday, Michael Matus as Charles Snell, Jennifer Higham as Ella Harkins, James Vaughan as Store Doorman/Night Watchman, and Gary Raymond as Roscoe, with Sylvia Seymour, Martin Gaisford, Myra Sands, David O'Brien and Andrew Beavis in supporting roles.[2]

On October 22, 2010, the St. George's Society in New York City had a one night only semi staged performance at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The show was directed and designed by Tony Walton, musical supervision and orchestration by Sean Patrick Flahaven, and musical director Mary-Mitchell Campbell, sound design by Bernard Fox. The cast had Carmen De Lavallade (Mrs. Billbee) --she also directed some choreography, Jessica Grové (Ella), Sean Palmer (Charles), Candice Bergen (Mrs. Monday), John Cunningham (Roscoe Potts), Sondra Lee (Augusta), and William Duell (Billy).[3]

The DVD was commercially released for the first time on April 20, 2010, by E1 Entertainment and the Archive of American Television.[4]

Musical score Edit

  • "If You Can Find Me, I'm Here"
  • "Charles Meets Mrs. Monday" (instrumental)
  • "Charles And Ella" (instrumental)
  • "Check List" (instrumental)
  • "The Basement" (instrumental)
  • "I Remember"
  • "When"
  • "Take Me To The World"
  • "The Ball" (instrumental)
  • "Roscoe And The Guard" (instrumental)
  • "The Ball, Part 2" (instrumental)
  • "Escape" (instrumental)
  • "Take Me To The World" (Reprise)
  • "Final Credits" (instrumental)

Recordings Edit

An official soundtrack recording was not released commercially until 2008, when Kritzerland, Inc. issued it in a limited release of 3,000 copies.[5] Previously, the four vocal selections had been recorded by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters for his 1990 Dress Casual album. Patinkin sang "If You Can Find Me, I'm Here," Peters sang "I Remember", and the other two songs were performed as duets. Liz Callaway and Gary Beach recorded the songs for the 1997 Varèse Sarabande release Sondheim at the Movies. Nonesuch Records released a 2001 studio recording of the four vocal selections with Neil Patrick Harris as Charles and Theresa McCarthy as Ella.[6]

"I Remember" has been recorded by David Kernan on the recording of the musical revue Side by Side by Sondheim, as well as Sarah Brightman, Judy Collins, John Pizzarelli, Mark Murphy, Cleo Laine, Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, Julia Migenes, Dianne Reeves, Myrra Malmberg, Madeline Eastman, Bernadette Peters, Victoria Mallory, and Barbra Streisand. In 2014, Scottish singer Todd Gordon recorded the song in South Korea for his album Love dot com.

Dawn Upshaw included "Take Me to the World" on her 1994 musical theatre album I Wish It So.

Barbra Streisand recorded "Take Me to The World" with Antonio Banderas for her 2016 album Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway; Sondheim altered the song's lyrics for the project.[7][8]

The 2020 virtual concert Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration included Laura Benanti performing "I Remember" and Raúl Esparza performing "Take Me To The World".

References Edit

  1. ^ a b c "Piepenburg, Erik. "'60s Sondheim TV Show Is Now on (Legal) DVD," "The New York Times", Monday, October 25, 2010". Nytimes.com. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
  2. ^ "Casting confirmed for Lost Musicals "Evening Primrose" londontheatre.co.uk, 14 June 2005
  3. ^ Portantiere, Michael (2011). "Back into the light". The Sondheim Review. Sondheim Review, Inc. XVII (3): 44. ISSN 1076-450X.
  4. ^ "Take me to the world". The Sondheim Review. Sondheim Review, Inc. XVI (4): 5. 2010. ISSN 1076-450X.
  5. ^ Suskin, Steven. Sondheim's "Evening Primrose" and Kelli O'Hara's "Wonder in the World", playbill.com, May 12, 2008
  6. ^ Suskin, Steven. The Frogs, Evening Primrose, Subways", playbill.com, October 18, 2001
  7. ^ McHenry, Jackson (2016-08-30). "Barbra Streisand's Duets With Movie Stars, Ranked From Least to Most Charming". Vulture. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Watch Barbra Streisand and Antonio Banderas Duet on Sondheim Rarity". Playbill. Retrieved 2020-04-24.

External links Edit

  • "Evening Primrose" on The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide
  • "Evening Primrose" plot and production information at sondheim.com
  • Information on the 2005 London production
  • "Evening Primrose" at IMDb

October 26, 2023
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This article is about the television musical For the plant called evening primrose see Oenothera Evening Primrose is ninth episode of the first season of the American television series ABC Stage 67 The episode is a musical with a book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim It is based on a John Collier short story published in the 1951 collection Fancies and Goodnights Evening Primrose ABC Stage 67 episodeOriginal television soundtrack recordingEpisode no Season 1Episode 9Directed byPaul BogartWritten byJames GoldmanJohn CollierStory byJames GoldmanProduced byJohn HousemanWillard LevitasFeatured musicStephen SondheimEditing byJohn WellsOriginal air dateNovember 6 1966 1966 11 06 Running time60 minutesGuest appearancesAnthony Perkins as Charles Snell Dorothy Stickney as Mrs Monday Larry Gates as Roscoe Potts Charmian Carr as Ella Harkins Margaret Bannerman as Store Person Margaret Barker as Store Person Leonard Elliott as The Judge Michael Meola as The Guard Dorothy Sands as Miss McLeish Margaretta Warwick as Mrs BilbeeEpisode chronology Previous The People Trap Next Noon Wine Written originally for television the musical focuses on a poet who takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing He meets a community of night people who live in the store and falls in love with a beautiful young girl named Ella Bizarre complications arise when the leader of the group forbids their relationship Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Productions 3 Musical score 4 Recordings 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis EditPoet Charles Snell takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing If You Can Find Me I m Here Once there he finds a secret group who have lived in the store for years The leader of the group Mrs Monday permits Charles to stay after he convinces her that he is a poet Charles meets and is smitten with a beautiful young girl Ella Harkins Mrs Monday s maid Ella who is now 19 has lived in the store since she was separated from her mother at age six falling asleep in the women s hat department Ella is unhappy and wants to leave but is afraid of the Dark Men Should someone try to return to the outside world and risk revealing the group s existence the Dark Men take them away and another mannequin appears in the clothing department Charles realizes Ella has not seen the sun for thirteen years Ella tries to tell Charles about her life before but realizes that most of her memories from outside are being replaced with memories of living in the store I Remember Charles has fallen in love with Ella as he plays cards with members of the group he has a quiet duet with Ella When Ella finally decides to leave with Charles Take Me To The World Charles is initially reluctant to leave his now comfortable life but then understands that he loves Ella more than poetry Mrs Monday and the others hear their plans and they call the Dark Men as Ella and Charles try to escape The store opens the next morning with a couple on the sidewalk who resemble Ella and Charles from behind but turn out to be strangers when the camera pans to their faces They re looking at a window display in which Ella and Charles are now mannequins dressed as a bride and groom with the night watchman acting as their minister Productions Edit nbsp Anthony Perkins as Charles Snell Charmian Carr as Ella HarkinsAdapted specifically for the television anthology series ABC Stage 67 it aired on November 16 1966 1 It was directed by Paul Bogart set design by John Ward set decorated by Budd Gourmen costume design by William McHone and lighting design by Walter Urban The cast starred Anthony Perkins as Charles Snell Charmian Carr as Ella Harkins Larry Gates as Roscoe Potts Dorothy Stickney as Mrs Monday and Margaret Bannerman Margaret Barker Leonard Elliot Mike Meola Dorothy Sands and Margaretta Warwick as store people The one hour program was taped on an early Sunday morning at the now defunct Stern Brothers department store in Manhattan 1 The Evening Primrose telecast was in color but the original master tape has never been found The Black and white B amp W version is available for viewing at the Paley Center for Media in New York City A newly discovered pristine B amp W 16 millimeter copy was used for DVDs which were released commercially for the first time on October 26 2010 1 The first professional theatrical production was staged in London as part of the Lost Musicals series It opened at the Lilian Baylis Studio on July 3 2005 and closed on July 24 Directed by Ian Marshall Fisher it starred Betsy Blair as Mrs Monday Michael Matus as Charles Snell Jennifer Higham as Ella Harkins James Vaughan as Store Doorman Night Watchman and Gary Raymond as Roscoe with Sylvia Seymour Martin Gaisford Myra Sands David O Brien and Andrew Beavis in supporting roles 2 On October 22 2010 the St George s Society in New York City had a one night only semi staged performance at the Gerald W Lynch Theater at John Jay College of Criminal Justice The show was directed and designed by Tony Walton musical supervision and orchestration by Sean Patrick Flahaven and musical director Mary Mitchell Campbell sound design by Bernard Fox The cast had Carmen De Lavallade Mrs Billbee she also directed some choreography Jessica Grove Ella Sean Palmer Charles Candice Bergen Mrs Monday John Cunningham Roscoe Potts Sondra Lee Augusta and William Duell Billy 3 The DVD was commercially released for the first time on April 20 2010 by E1 Entertainment and the Archive of American Television 4 Musical score Edit If You Can Find Me I m Here Charles Meets Mrs Monday instrumental Charles And Ella instrumental Check List instrumental The Basement instrumental I Remember When Take Me To The World The Ball instrumental Roscoe And The Guard instrumental The Ball Part 2 instrumental Escape instrumental Take Me To The World Reprise Final Credits instrumental Recordings EditAn official soundtrack recording was not released commercially until 2008 when Kritzerland Inc issued it in a limited release of 3 000 copies 5 Previously the four vocal selections had been recorded by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters for his 1990 Dress Casual album Patinkin sang If You Can Find Me I m Here Peters sang I Remember and the other two songs were performed as duets Liz Callaway and Gary Beach recorded the songs for the 1997 Varese Sarabande release Sondheim at the Movies Nonesuch Records released a 2001 studio recording of the four vocal selections with Neil Patrick Harris as Charles and Theresa McCarthy as Ella 6 I Remember has been recorded by David Kernan on the recording of the musical revue Side by Side by Sondheim as well as Sarah Brightman Judy Collins John Pizzarelli Mark Murphy Cleo Laine Maureen McGovern Betty Buckley Julia Migenes Dianne Reeves Myrra Malmberg Madeline Eastman Bernadette Peters Victoria Mallory and Barbra Streisand In 2014 Scottish singer Todd Gordon recorded the song in South Korea for his album Love dot com Dawn Upshaw included Take Me to the World on her 1994 musical theatre album I Wish It So Barbra Streisand recorded Take Me to The World with Antonio Banderas for her 2016 album Encore Movie Partners Sing Broadway Sondheim altered the song s lyrics for the project 7 8 The 2020 virtual concert Take Me to the World A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration included Laura Benanti performing I Remember and Raul Esparza performing Take Me To The World References Edit a b c Piepenburg Erik 60s Sondheim TV Show Is Now on Legal DVD The New York Times Monday October 25 2010 Nytimes com 2010 10 25 Retrieved 2012 08 20 Casting confirmed for Lost Musicals Evening Primrose londontheatre co uk 14 June 2005 Portantiere Michael 2011 Back into the light The Sondheim Review Sondheim Review Inc XVII 3 44 ISSN 1076 450X Take me to the world The Sondheim Review Sondheim Review Inc XVI 4 5 2010 ISSN 1076 450X Suskin Steven Sondheim s Evening Primrose and Kelli O Hara s Wonder in the World playbill com May 12 2008 Suskin Steven The Frogs Evening Primrose Subways playbill com October 18 2001 McHenry Jackson 2016 08 30 Barbra Streisand s Duets With Movie Stars Ranked From Least to Most Charming Vulture Retrieved 2020 04 24 Gans Andrew Watch Barbra Streisand and Antonio Banderas Duet on Sondheim Rarity Playbill Retrieved 2020 04 24 External links Edit Evening Primrose on The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide Evening Primrose plot and production information at sondheim com Information on the 2005 London production Evening Primrose at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Evening Primrose ABC Stage 67 amp oldid 1168698247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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