Little-seen Stephen Sondheim TV musical headed to DVD

Fans of Stephen Sondheim seldom get a chance to chomp at new material. The octogenarian composer of such classics as "Sweeney Todd" and "Company" is in semi-retirement, though he continues to appear in public at lectures and other speaking events.

This month, a seldom-seen musical that Sondheim wrote in 1966 is poised to find a new audience on DVD. While technically it doesn't qualify as a new work, the novelty of the release is sure to excite fans who have worn out their beloved Sondheim cast recordings.

"Evening Primrose" was originally broadcast on "ABC Stage 67," a cultural TV series that featured dramas, musicals and other entertainment.  The musical, with an original score by Sondheim, starred Anthony Perkins, Dorothy Stickney, Larry Gates and Charmian Carr.

Based on a story by John Collier, the musical follows the adventures of an eccentric young man (Perkins) who decides to hide out in a department store, where he encounters a group of hermits who are also living in the store.

The DVD, available Oct. 26, features a restored and remastered version of the tele-film as well as a number of bonuses. The DVD is being produced by Entertainment One and the Archive of American Television.

"Evening Primrose" has been making a gradual comeback in recent years. The original TV soundtrack was released in 2008 and selections from the musical have been popping up in various Broadway-themed recordings by different artists.

Sondheim, meanwhile, is scheduled to appear at UCLA's Royce Hall on Nov. 8 in conversation about his work and career.

-- David Ng

Photo credit: Entertainment One

 

Comments

[Jeffrey Sweet]

I saw this when it was originally broadcast. The DVD being released is in black-and-white. The original production was in color. Apparently nobody could find a color master. This is not too terrible. The show is like a musical episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, and the black-and-white reinforces that. I think this is a key work, a bridge between FORUM & WHISTLE and COMPANY. I was sixteen when it was broadcast and was electrified from the first song. I had a hunch that it represented something new and important and that a new idea of what the musical could do was coming. When I saw COMPANY (I saw it the night after opening night, in fact), I felt like my bet had paid off.

[ToscasKiss]

This article should really make mention of the 2001 Nonesuch studio recording of Evening Primrose (sharing the cd with a studio recording of The Frogs that predates the Broadway production, although both feature Nathan Lane as Dionysus), which features Neil Patrick Harris and Theresa McCarthy as the would-be lovers. It is beautifully produced, with a good-sized orchestral ensemble (also marvelous soloists and chorus on The Frogs), and Harris and McCarthy both have marvelous voices and really put the emotion and drama across (there are a few bits of spoken dialogue in amongst the all-too-short, lush and lovely score.

From bits I've heard, it doesn't sound like Anthony Perkins has as satisfying a voice as does Harris, but I am thrilled to finally get to see this small, legendary piece of musical and television history.