The last time I saw Phyllis Newman, she had breathing tubes in her nose. She was being interviewed by some local news channel while seated at a cheap (no costumes) off-Broadway revival of "Subways are for Sleeping."
Despite her obvious poor health (the woman did manage a comeback from cancer surgery years ago), she answered questions about her early days on Broadway, and gave her opinion on the current production. She said the young cast did a very good job and had her blessings.
As for blessings, Barbra Streisand probably is still cursing under her breath about what happened some 50 years ago. In a Tony Award shocker, Streisand in "On a Clear Day..." LOST the award for best new talent to young Phyllis in "Subways are for Sleeping." You can bet that even today, she might grumble a Seinfeld-like cry of "NEWMAN!"
Phyllis died a few days ago, at the age of 86.
No, this isn't a blog that covers the Broadway sound too often. Still, Newman was an ebullient performer who many remember fondly from not only "Subways are for Sleeping," but "The Apple Tree," "Prisoner of Second Avenue," and her own one-woman show "Madwoman of Central Park West." They'll also tell you that her husband was the great Adolph Green (who wrote musicals not with Phyllis, but with Betty Comden). I never saw Newman on Broadway but I did catch up with "Madwoman" recently thanks to a blurry YouTube upload of the TV version done by PBS. There's a parody number in it mocking the world of feminist anthems, and it demonstrates her great talent and versatility.
For those more prone to tuning in the TV rather than prancing down the aisle at a Broadway theater, Newman was a presence on TV quiz shows such as "To Tell the Truth" and "What's My Line," and on the edgy "That Was the Week That Was" variety series. She played a Russian spy on "Amos Burke Secret Agent," and had a number of similar credits.
Like many Broadway actresses (including Chita Rivera, Georgia Brown and Angela Lansbury), Newman was rarely given a real shot at solo recordings. That field was dominated by the likes of Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney and the rest of the nightclub professionals. Still, when she did get a chance in front of a studio microphone she didn't disappoint. Songs such as "Clouds" or "Those Were the Days" or "Your Mother Should Know" were easily within her range of both key and credibility.
Below, the bittersweet nostalgia of "Your Mother Should Know." Like "I'm Henry the 8th" the second verse is same as the first...
YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW that this is a DOWNLOAD or LISTEN ON LINE link. No password, no detour to a dumb porn site
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