Friday, July 18, 2008

Darling, it's your Auntie Mame?

OH my goodness. There's a rumor floating about the interwebs that Roundabout is planning a revival of Auntie Mame that will star Harriet Harris. Based on Patrick Dennis' best selling books about his favorite aunt (who, turns out, he just made up), this is the precursor to the musical Mame. Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee wrote the play. Starring Rosalind Russell, it ran for 639 performances from October 1956 until June 1958 at the Broadhurst Theatre. There has never been a Broadway revival, although it became a wildly popular and Oscar nominated movie of the same title also starring Rosalind Russell. Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote the screenplay.

I was just thinking to myself the other day that it would be fabulous if Jerry Herman's Mame and the play Auntie Mame shared a stage, in repertory - same stars, set, costumes. Matinees would be Auntie Mame and evening performances would be Mame. Producers would save on pit musician costs and the stars would get a little bit of vocal rest three times a week. The book of the musical, also written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, is basically the same as the play. I think it will work. Hey Producers, what do you say? If I had $20,000,000, I'd do it myself.

6 comments:

Bob said...

Great idea, Sarah! Makes sense to me.

Also - Auntie Mame never actually existed?? Sad.

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Patrick Dennis was really Everett Tanner III and grew up in Evanston, IL. He did have an eccentric Aunt Marion (!) whom he may have modeled Auntie Mame after. Patrick Dennis was more than just a sobriquet, as he went by the name for most of his life. He died relatively young, at the age of 55. The Auntie Mame books are among my favorites.

Bill said...

Thanks for alerting us to this rumor.

If Harriet Harris tackles Auntie Mame, I will immediately make travel plans.

karigee said...

here's $20,000,000 -- all the imaginary $$ i have in the world. sigh.

Esther said...

I love Harriet Harris, loved seeing her in Cry-Baby. For me, she was by far one of the best things about that show.

Kevin Daly said...

He went to California...

to LIVE?!?!?!

Sadly, I wish it were at the Beaumont given the size and shape of the play (and the need for lots of costumes, actors and sets), but I'll take it.