Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose

Infobox Musical
name= Evening Primrose
subtitle=


caption=Anthony Perkins and Charmian Carr
music=Stephen Sondheim
lyrics=Stephen Sondheim
book=James Goldman
basis=John Collier's short story
productions= 1966 US television series "ABC Stage 67"
awards=

"Evening Primrose" is a musical with a book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim.

Based on a John Collier short story published in the 1951 collection "Fancies and Goodnights", it focuses on a poet who takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing. Once there he finds a community of night people who live in the store, most notably a beautiful young girl named Ella. Unfortunately for the two young lovers, their relationship is forbidden by the leader of the group, and escape appears to be their only option. The ending provides a "Twilight Zone"-like twist.

Written specifically for the television anthology series "ABC Stage 67", it aired on November 16 1966. Directed by Paul Bogart, it starred Anthony Perkins (Charles), Charmian Carr (Ella), and Dorothy Stickney. The program was taped after regular business hours at the now-defunct Stern Brothers department store in Manhattan.

An official soundtrack recording never was released commercially, but Sondheim did order a privately-pressed recording which he gave to friends and cast members.

An original television soundtrack recording of Evening Primrose was released commercially by Kritzerland, Inc. in 2008. The recording was issued in a limited release of 3,000 copies. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117612.html article]

Other productions and recordings

The four vocal selections were recorded by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters for his 1990 "Dress Casual" album. ("If You Can Find Me, I'm Here" - Mandy Patinkin; "I Remember" - Bernadette Peters; "When" - Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters; "Take Me to the World" - Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin.) In 1997, Liz Callaway and Gary Beach recorded them for a Varèse Sarabande release entitled "Sondheim at the Movies". A studio recording with Neil Patrick Harris as Charles and Theresa McCarthy as Ella was released by Nonesuch Records in 2001.

"I Remember" has been recorded by Sarah Brightman, Judy Collins, John Pizzarelli, Cleo Laine, Maureen McGovern, Betty Buckley, Julia Migenes, Dianne Reeves and Barbra Streisand. On Dawn Upshaw's 1994 musical theatre album "I Wish it So", the singer recorded "Take Me to the World".

The first professional theatrical staging was performed in London as part of the "Lost Musicals" series, opening at the Lilian Baylis Studio on July 3, 2005 and closing on July 24, 2005.Directed by Ian Marshall Fisher, it starred Betsy Blair (Mrs Monday), Michael Matus (Charles Snell), Jennifer Higham (Ella Harkins), James Vaughn (Store Doorman/Night Watchman), Gary Raymond (Roscoe), Sylvia Seymour, and Andrew Beavis

The original telecast of "Evening Primrose" is available for viewing at the Museum of Television & Radio branches in New York City and Beverly Hills.

Musical score

*If You Can Find Me I'm Here
*Charles Meets Mrs. Monday (instrumental)
*Charles And Ella (instrumental)
*Check List (instrumental)
*The Basement (instrumental)
*I Remember
*When
*Take Me To The World
*The Ball (instrumental)
*Roscoe And The Guard (instrumental)
*The Ball, Part 2 (instrumental)
*Escape (instrumental)
*Take Me To The World (Reprise)
*Final Credits (instrumental)

External links

* [http://www.sondheimguide.com/primrose.html Sondheim Guide listing]
*imdb title|id=0060384|title=Evening Primrose
* [http://www.concertonet.com/scripts/review.php?ID_review=3025 information on the 2005 London production]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Evening primrose — Evening E ven*ing, n. [AS. [=ae]fnung. See {even}, n., and cf. {Eve}.] 1. The latter part and close of the day, and the beginning of darkness or night; properly, the decline of the day, or of the sun. [1913 Webster] In the ascending scale Of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • evening primrose — n. any of a genus (Oenothera) of plants of the evening primrose family, with yellow, pink, or white flowers, many of which open in the evening …   English World dictionary

  • Evening primrose — may refer to: * Evening Primrose , a musical * Oenothera , a flowering plant …   Wikipedia

  • Evening primrose — Primrose Prim rose , n. [OE. primerole, F. primerole, a derivative fr. LL. primula, from L. primus first. See {Prime}, a.] (Bot.) (a) An early flowering plant of the genus {Primula} ({Primula vulgaris}) closely allied to the cowslip. There are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • evening primrose — evening primroses N VAR Evening primrose is a tall plant with yellow flowers that open in the evening. Its seeds are used to make medicine …   English dictionary

  • evening primrose — ► NOUN ▪ a plant with pale yellow flowers that open in the evening, used for a medicinal oil …   English terms dictionary

  • evening-primrose — [ēv′niŋprim′rōz΄] adj. designating a family (Onagraceae, order Myrtales) of dicotyledonous plants found chiefly in temperate America, including the fuchsia, sundrops, and willow herbs * * * …   Universalium

  • evening primrose — n [U and C] a plant with small flowers, whose seeds are used to make medicines …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • evening-primrose — [ēv′niŋprim′rōz΄] adj. designating a family (Onagraceae, order Myrtales) of dicotyledonous plants found chiefly in temperate America, including the fuchsia, sundrops, and willow herbs …   English World dictionary

  • evening primrose — noun any of several plants of the family Onagraceae • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant • Hyponyms: ↑enchanter s nightshade, ↑common evening primrose, ↑German rampion, ↑Oenothera biennis, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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