Victor/Victoria Broadway stage production on DVD

I was so glad when I saw that this taping of the Broadway version of Victor/Victoria was available. I knew that the stage version differed greatly from the 1982 film it was based on, but I didn't know in what ways it differed.

Ms. Andrews was 60 when her dream to return to Broadway in a stage version of the film she had starred in came true. Perhaps a little long in the tooth for the role, she none-the-less does not embarrass herself. In fact I was surprised how spry she was in this demanding role.

Vocally, Ms. Andrews was well past her peak at this point and the register she most often sings in here is husky drag queen, although she does pop out a couple of high notes (is an E-flat really a high note for someone who was the leading Broadway soprano of her day?). What is still firmly on display is Ms. Andrews performance charisma. She's a star and you can't take your eyes of her. I was pleased to see her dance in this show, in particular.

Fortunately, she also is surrounded for the most part by good talent. Rachel York made a name for herself as Norma Cassidy, the cupey doll-voiced gangster moll (played by Leslie Ann Warren in the film). Ms. York is hysterical, but does often go over the top. Her song "Paris Makes Me Horny" (also in the film, I believe) is very funny, but I wonder if the lyrics are really too smart to be believable coming out of this character's mouth. Michael Nouri is very sexy as King Marchan, and while he gets to singing something in the stage version (which James Garner didn't do in the film) it's not the best music of the show.

Actually, the music added for the stage version is not on par with the best numbers that remain from the film. "Le Jazz Hot" is a very likable song and good production number. "Chicago, Illinois" sung by Norma and her chorus-girls is also good in both film and stage incarnations.

I had an idea once that this show would be more interesting if the Julie Andrews role were played and sung by a man; so like original Shakespeare, it would be a man playing a woman who is pretending to be a man. Of course, the singing complicates that, but I thought with a good counter-tenor voice it could work. After having seen the stage version, I'm not so certain.

Victor/Victoria
Music by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Book by Blake Edwards
Opened in 1995; DVD released in 2001
Cast: Julie Andrews, Michael Nouri, Tony Roberts, Rachel York, Gregory Jbara