Cinderella television production on DVD

I grew up with the 1965 version of this Rodgers and Hammerstein production, but knew that an earlier version of Cinderella with Julie Andrews had aired, but was thought lost. Well, what once was lost now is found.

The 1957 version is much more interesting than the remakes that have followed. Not only is it wonderful to see Ms. Andrews at the height of her Broadway career and to see Kaye Ballard and Alice Ghostley as the stepsisters, but it's also very interesting to see how the production was created to allow for costume changes and scene changes in a live television setting.

There is much more dialogue in this version than I recall in the Lesley Ann Warren version. There is more for the chorus of singers and dancers to do, as well. I have to confess a long love of Stuart Damon, the 1965 Prince, but Jon Cypher holds his regal own, even if his singing does not match Damon's.

There are some interesting extras on the DVD, but the funniest has to be Oscar Hammerstein reciting his lyrics while the Ed Sullivan Orchestra is conducted by Richard Rodgers.

Cinderella
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein
Television production from 1957 released on DVD
Cast: Julie Andrews, Jon Cypher, Alice Ghostley, Kaye Ballard, Edie Adams, Howard Lindsey, Dorothy Stickney, Ilka Chase

Music Man 2003 television production on DVD

If my goal for this Year is to see if I can be re-inspired by musical theater, then Music Man should be the perfect show to set my juices running again. And for the most part this 2003 television production works its magic on me. The production is well-filmed with high production values and manages to retain the presentational style of a stage production without being trapped by static camera positions.

I've never seen this show live and I need to, because I think that a lot of the charm of Harold Hill needs to work its way across the footlights. Matthew Broderick is good, but doesn't quite capture the somewhat slimy side of the character for me. Hill needs a bit of the sexy scoundrel. Or maybe that's just what would work on this sadder by wiser girl.

Kristin Chenoweth makes her third appearance in my Year (which is only six weeks old). Sorry, I'm trying to vary composer and lyricist teams and eras of the productions as much as I can, but am sometimes stymied by what I have, what's available, and what's delivered to me by Netflix.

Anyway, Marian is oddly dressed to me. Is that a dig, that my comment about Ms. Chenoweth's performance refers to her costumes, which she probably had little to do with other than wearing? Marian's costumes are very ornate with lots of dangley things and metal pieces and a large variety of patterns in single garments. Has Marian succeeded so well at holding her dreams at bay, only to let her wild side show in her clothing?

Music Man
Music, lyrics and book by Meredith Willson
2003 Television production by the Walt Disney Company
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenowith, Molly Shannon, Debra Monk, Victor Garber