Debbie Reynolds "You Made Me Love You" from Irene

In 1971, the revival of the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with screen legend Ruby Keeler proved to be an enormous hit. Its producer, Harry Rigby, deciding to cash in on the nostalgia craze by reviving another vintage show with another glamorous movie star as its centerpiece, zeroed in on Irene with Debbie Reynolds making her Broadway debut in the title role. Rigby hired librettist Hugh Wheeler to rework the show, which retained only five of the original songs and added tunes written by McCarthy with other composers and original numbers by Charles Gaynor and Otis Clements, with additional material by Wally Harper and Jack Lloyd, written specifically for the revival.

The production was troubled from the start. Billy De Wolfe was forced to withdraw due to illness and was replaced by George S. Irving as Madame Lucy. Reviews in Toronto were mixed, and when Reynolds was stricken with a throat ailment, the producers, rather than cancel the sell-out performances, had her mime her dialogue and songs on stage to director John Gielgud's reading of them from the wings, much to the dismay of angry audiences. Philadelphia critics were brutal, and Gielgud, an odd choice for a lightweight musical comedy, was replaced by Gower Champion, who had helmed a Los Angeles revival of Annie Get Your Gun with Reynolds. Peter Gennaro was hired to restage the musical numbers, and Joseph Stein was brought in to doctor the book, which now had Irene posing as a countess in cahoots with couturier Madame Lucy (the former Liam O'Dougherty) in a scheme to promote his fashions.

Postponing the Broadway opening, the producers brought the work-in-progress to Washington, D.C., where it was seen by President Nixon and his family. Their declaration that Irene was a hit made headlines and spurred advance-ticket sales in New York City.

After thirteen previews, the show opened on March 13, 1973 as the inaugural production of the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for 594 performances. In addition to Reynolds and Irving (who won the Tony Award for his performance), the cast included Patsy Kelly, Monte Markham as Donald, Ruth Warrick, Janie Sell, Meg Bussert, and Reynolds' daughter Carrie Fisher. While reviews were still mixed, the all-important Clive Barnes of the New York Times described it as "raucous, frequently cheerful, and the best 1919 musical in town."

On February 7, 1974, Reynold's former MGM co-star, Jane Powell, replaced her. "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," which had been cut during the pre-Broadway run (although Reynolds' rendition was included in the original cast album), was restored to the score. Reynolds returned to play the final week in New York, then took the show on tour, playing for five months before being replaced again by Powell.

The Broadway revival led to an Australian production with Julie Anthony, who then went on to star in a 1976 London revival that lasted 974 performances.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• debbie
• reynolds
• irene
• broadway
• made
• me
• love
• you

[gloriawalters]

Thank you for this! She is a total doll!

[bang2b]

Actually Debbie was a very fine singer and dancer. Her fans loved her for her vivid personality but she was a solid professional with great chops as a singer and dancer and she worked hard to get them.

[lesliekorshak]

Ever since a teenage Mary Francis not only held her own (at about 30 feet high) out singing and dancing both Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, in "Singing in the Rain" this world had it's brightest star.

All these years later, she's only gotten better!

[RobertEllis2010]

@HandwhistlerBen : Couldn't have said it any better. There hasn't been a performer born who could be compared to Judy Garland, but Debbie is as close as they come.

[warnold909]

It's great to see a star have so little regard for time and tempo - So brave!

(I bet the conductor was having heart failure the entire time!!!)

[lynda514]

Saw her perform at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh & loved it ! I was a teen & always loved all the old movies... I was amazed at her energy as it appeared to be a one wman show.

[BTURNER1961]

book by James Montgomery, lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, and music by Harry Tierney. Edith Day originated role of Irene O'Dare in 1919. Debbie Reynolds making her Broadway debut in the title role.in reworked revival which added this song. Reynolds was nom for tony

[bang2b]

@ChristophePhilippe On stage, age isn't as important as talent. I think Reynolds was wonderful in Irene and her dancing anchored the show. She had a great personal success in it. The dancing in No No Nanette was also a big part of its appeal but both shows are, in essence, more pastiche than revival.

[HandwhistlerBen]

Such an incredible entertainer and performer. What an incredible voice!!! She may not be as great as Judy Garland, who will never be equaled, but Debbie is in Judy's league of legendary performers.

[KomodoDragonLady]

I want to dedicate this to you Alex Nichols, of Lenoir NC.

[ChristophePhilippe]

Reynolds had a certain amount of talent that could be effective if kept within what it was capable of...and Irene is a charming show, but she was both too old for it at the time and just wrong for the part, anyway. It doesn't help that she was being too precious by half. It's a shame because there probably was a vehicle that was right for her.

The other problem is that you can't compare Irene with No, No, Nanette in terms of audience draw. Who wanted to miss Keeler in her tap routine?

[agata521]

She reminds me of Sharon Gless here. Or should I say Sharon Gless reminds me of Debbie Reynolds.