Look how beautiful, look how elegant, look how glamorous, look how true is the magnificent Sian Phillips in this brief bit of PAL JOEY. In 1976, I saw Eleanor Parker and Joan Copeland do Vera and in 2008 I saw Stockard Channing. Eleanor Parker wasn't happy in the role and Stockard Channing was stuck in a muddle of a rewritten book that emphasized Vera's alcoholism. I've only been to London once - but it was when Sian Phillips ruled the stage in PAL JOEY and I still count this performance as one of the top 10 musical theatre performances I've ever seen (and I've seen Merman, Verdon, Channing, Murphy, etc.). What this clip doesn't capture is how funny Phillips made this number. (Unfortunately, they abridged the number for television.) She had us in stitches with every one of Hart's clever couplets. What we don't see here is Phillips sing, "I've seen a lot, I mean (PAUSE) a LOT, and now (baby voice) I'm like sweet seventeen a lot." I would not put Phillips in the Lauren Bacall school of singing. Phillips is a real singer. Her performance of the Marlene Dietrich songs is, luckily, on record for us. THANK YOU FOR THIS CLIP!!!!!
She was great playing Mme Armfeldt to Judi Dench's Desirée in A Little Night Music at the National, and of course her one woman Marlene Dietrich show played around the world.
The stage was a bit too big for the show, and Sondheim hated some of the director's choices with things like The Glamorous Life, but the cast were amazing. Such a shame they didn't film it.
Richard Mayora well now that you mention it. I force my husband to watch the Kate Hepburn clip of coco from the Tony awards. He’s a big Hepburn fan but was not amused by the “Always Mademoiselle” number.
I'm sure Sian Phillips had nothing to do with the cut. I think they should have left the first two verses in tact and just cut the reprise. What we see here is a bit of the first verse and mostly the second verse and the third verse.
I agree with you on that. Actually, I saw the production with her in London. She sang the song fully there..I'm not blaming Ms. Phillips. The song has a history of being cut because of it's subject sex..
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Nobody has been able to sing this standard like Sian. Brilliant❤
I saw Sian do "Pal Joey" in London back in '80. She was fantastic. Here's she singing all the uncensored lyrics.
Robert Amsel i was lucky enought to see the show and meet her in her dressing room i had a friend who had a friend in the show , she was so nice
Sian Phiilips's rendering of this song is truly amazing.
Thank you for sharing this, I adore Sian Phillips.
OMG, she's a dead ringer for Dietrich here. So awesome!
Look how beautiful, look how elegant, look how glamorous, look how true is the magnificent Sian Phillips in this brief bit of PAL JOEY. In 1976, I saw Eleanor Parker and Joan Copeland do Vera and in 2008 I saw Stockard Channing. Eleanor Parker wasn't happy in the role and Stockard Channing was stuck in a muddle of a rewritten book that emphasized Vera's alcoholism. I've only been to London once - but it was when Sian Phillips ruled the stage in PAL JOEY and I still count this performance as one of the top 10 musical theatre performances I've ever seen (and I've seen Merman, Verdon, Channing, Murphy, etc.). What this clip doesn't capture is how funny Phillips made this number. (Unfortunately, they abridged the number for television.) She had us in stitches with every one of Hart's clever couplets. What we don't see here is Phillips sing, "I've seen a lot, I mean (PAUSE) a LOT, and now (baby voice) I'm like sweet seventeen a lot." I would not put Phillips in the Lauren Bacall school of singing. Phillips is a real singer. Her performance of the Marlene Dietrich songs is, luckily, on record for us. THANK YOU FOR THIS CLIP!!!!!
She was great playing Mme Armfeldt to Judi Dench's Desirée in A Little Night Music at the National, and of course her one woman Marlene Dietrich show played around the world.
I so wish I had seen that National Theater "Night Music."
The stage was a bit too big for the show, and Sondheim hated some of the director's choices with things like The Glamorous Life, but the cast were amazing. Such a shame they didn't film it.
Opening intro is a song in itself.
Her version of Liasons from Night Music is excellent
She should have done 'Coco' in London
Good call!
No one should do Coco. Ever.
Richard Mayora well now that you mention it. I force my husband to watch the Kate Hepburn clip of coco from the Tony awards. He’s a big Hepburn fan but was not amused by the “Always Mademoiselle” number.
She cut out more than half the lyrics to the song. Larry Hart must be rolling around in his grave.
To be fair, the song is divided up in the show with a couple of reprises, and this looks like it might have been shortened for television.
Exactly right, Douglas, thank you. "Bewitched" has built-in reprises. And numbers on the Tony telecast are often far from complete.
I'm sure Sian Phillips had nothing to do with the cut. I think they should have left the first two verses in tact and just cut the reprise. What we see here is a bit of the first verse and mostly the second verse and the third verse.
Glad you enjoyed this, and thanks for the clarification.
I agree with you on that. Actually, I saw the production with her in London. She sang the song fully there..I'm not blaming Ms. Phillips. The song has a history of being cut because of it's subject sex..