My Musical Theater Voyage of Discovery; The Jerry Herman Files -- Dear World, The Grand Tour

I think I was in the 5th grade when I found the record album of DEAR WORLD at the local library and checked it out to take it home and listen to Angela Lansbury. I had been in love with her since Bedknobs and Broomsticks; then I discovered MAME and it became a love that would last me the rest of my life. I knew who Jerry Herman was because of HELLO DOLLY! And MAME; but I didn’t know what the hell this play was – The Madwoman of Chaillot. It sounded TERRIBLY dramatic and romantic! So I took the record home and read the liner notes on the back and, for the longest time, that was all I knew about Dear World – and I won’t pretend that was easy stuff to understand for a 5th grader.

It didn’t matter.

From the moment the overture on the record started, I was hooked. Dear World became one of my greatest pleasures, one of my dearest listens, one of my best friends. I still listen to the score from Dear World from beginning to end (though I will admit that there are certain playlists in my Ipod that single out the songs I Never Said I Love You, Kiss Her Now, And I Was Beautiful and that spectacular overture. Of course, over the years I have gotten to know the original play Madwoman of Chaillot and I have read all the historical data on Dear World and know that it is considered a troubled show. Too bad. I love Dear World and listening to it always leaves me happier than I was before.

I actually didn’t know THE GRAND TOUR until recent years. My girlfriend Marci introduced me to the song I’ll Be Here Tomorrow and I thought it was the most wonderful tune. In fact, I learned the song to sing it on one of my cds – that’s a different story though. Having discovered (been introduced to) this wonderful song, I figured I should know the rest of the score, too. And you know what? I loved it. The songs are so beautiful and melodic (and I am not sure you will find a better female interpreter of Herman’s music than Florence Lacey, in spite of his obvious association with bigger stars). Misters Grey and Holgate are at the top of their respective games on this recording. I was listening to the cd around the house and had to go look up the name of who was singing Marianne and when I read it was Ron Holgate I said “well, of COURSE it is!” The show, I don’t know about – I actually did not do my reading up on it, I just turned on the cd and listened to it and knew that I would listen to it, from start to finish, again.

Of course, now I will probably get one of my things about the show and go read up on it.

I love the underdogs, the forgotten gems.