The bench scene July 28, 2007
Posted by Jeff in Musicals, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers, Theater.trackback
What is the greatest scene in Broadway musical theater history? Of such questions are great debates made …
… but if I had to make a choice, it would be this.
From the PBS documentary Richard Rodgers: The Sweetest Sounds, an analysis of the bench scene from Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s Carousel.
Technorati tags: Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Rodgers and Hammerstein, John Raitt, Jan Clayton, Carousel
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This is not my blog. 
John Raitt and Jan Clayton were the original Billy and Julie. The clip of their performance was from a 1954 TV special reuniting all the stars of the R&H shows up to that point.
Jan Clayton (1917-1983) went on to be the first of many actresses to play the mother in the Lassie TV show. Following the death of her teenage daughter in an auto accident, she waged a long battle with alcoholism. After getting sober in 1970, she founded the Jan Clayton Center for women alcoholics.
Also from Carousel … only not as good as John Raitt’s version …
Another great clip from the General Foods special.