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(More customer reviews)According to Wikipedia, "[Jerry] Herman is the only composer/lyricist in history to have three musicals run more than 1500 performances on Broadway: HELLO, DOLLY! (2,844), MAME (1,508), and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (1,761)." He's also written a few shows that haven't done so well: MILK AND HONEY (543), DEAR WORLD (132), MACK & MABEL (66). And then there's this curious musical from 1979 which lasted for just 61 performances.
Originally released by Columbia, the original Broadway cast recording eventually sank into oblivion and became something of a cult recording. Although it was remastered in 2002 by Fynsworth Alley, it appears to have fallen off the radar, which is a shame since it contains some of Jerry Herman's best writing, earning Mr. Herman his third Tony nomination for best original score. Even though the score adheres closely to the "Jerry Herman Broadway Musical" formula, it contains three lovely ballads and a number of equally fine up-tempo songs, more-than-serviceable orchestral and choral arrangements (Philip J. Lang & Donald Pippin), and heartfelt performances by the show's principals Joel Grey, Ron Holgate (both Tony nominees), and Florence Lacey, winner of the 1978 Theatre World Award (Irene Malloy in the HELLO, DOLLY! revival).
Based upon the play "Jacobowsky and the Colonel" by S. N. Behrman, which is in turn based upon the original play of the same name by Franz Werfel, THE GRAND TOUR takes place in France in 1940, and is about "a little Jewish man running away from the Nazis." Even though he has been driven out of Poland, Berlin, Vienna and, now, Paris, surviving is what Jacobowsky does best as he explains in "I'll Be Here Tomorrow," the song that has become Jerry Herman's personal credo. He commandeers a car, but the only candidate for driver is Colonel Tadeusz Boleslav Stjerbinsky, a self-centered, anti-Semitic nobleman from Jacobowsky's village in Poland. First stop is to pick up the Colonel's lady love and the subject of the lovely ballad "Marrianne." Their escape has many detours and, naturally, Jacobowsky and Marriane fall in love, and the Colonel's dislike for Jacobowsky develops into respect ("I Think, I Think") and friendship ("You I Like"). Book writers Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble have added a few locales and modes of transportation not found in the original play, weakening the narrative but allowing for the inclusion of some fine ensemble numbers like "We're Almost There" (with its reference to one of Catherine the Great's fabled lovers), "One Extraordinary Thing," and "Wedding Conversation/Mazel Tov." Ms. Lacey lends her rich soprano to "I Belong Here," and she and Mr. Holgate share a charming duet ("More and More/Less and Less"). Mr. Grey gets to sing some of Jerry Herman's finest lyrics when he envisions what his life with Marianne might be ("Mrs. S.L. Jacobowsky"). My only complaint is that Mr. Grey's accent is much the same as the one he employed in CABARET.
Even though THE GRAND TOUR missed the mark on Broadway (blame the book writers for that), the music deserves to survive. Thanks to Fynsworth Alley, it will - if you go to their web site and order it.
Recommended. (Currently available as an ArkivCD from Arkiv Music)
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Vinyl LP!!!...Not a cd...Autographed(hand-signed) on the front cover by the composter JERRY HERMAN........Columbia label JS-35761
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