Oh Yeah, I’m Playing Their Song

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Welcome to a new Musical Theatre Monday! This month, for the final entry in my 1970s trilogy, I’m spotlighting another gem that premiered on Broadway in 1979 — They’re Playing Our Song, a charming rom-com about the burgeoning relationship between an uptight composer and an empathetic lyricist, with a score fittingly penned by a pair of real-life paramours, Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager, and a straightforward book by the great Neil Simon.

Aside from two separate trios of background vocalists, They’re Playing Our Song is a two-hander for its stars, and with only two people interacting in songs and scenes, this inevitably ends up being a decent character piece, especially as far as other two-hander musicals go — I’m thinking, specifically, of the prior decade’s I Do! I Do!, which has a devastating lack of precision and therefore insight with regard to the depiction of its two romantic leads. Here, with a more unique — and genuinely autobiographical — premise about two songwriters embarking on a relationship, these central figures automatically feel more realistic and more conducive to both comedy and drama, which is guaranteed by these amiable songs and the amiable book.

Now, as Neil Simon comedies go, this one is strictly formula — clash of opposites, difficult ex, bittersweet ending — but its predictability doesn’t get in the way of its charm, mostly because it knows how to set up its performers to shine. The original production starred Robert Klein and Lucie Arnaz and went through a handful of notable replacements, including Tony Roberts, Stockard Channing, Anita Gillette, Ted Wass, Diana Canova, and Victor Garber — the latter of whom led the national tour with Ellen Greene. From an audio of that touring production, here’s Garber, Greene, and company with “When You’re In My Arms.”

A more recent mounting of They’re Playing Our Song came from Los Angeles’ Reprise! company in 2010, when Jason Alexander and Stephanie J. Block were cast in a simple but well-played production (which added two additional Hamlisch tunes). Here’s a sample of an untracked audio from that run — the stars’ respective versions of “They’re Playing My Song.”

I offer both above recordings in full, along with an untracked audio of Arnaz and Klein from the original production, to subscribers who comment below to alert me of their private non-commercial interest. And as a bit more proof of what this underrated show has to provide for performers and audiences, here’s Arnaz — live — with “I Still Believe In Love.”

 

 

Come back next month for another musical rarity! And stay tuned for more Arrested Development!

28 thoughts on “Oh Yeah, I’m Playing Their Song”

  2. Hi Jackson,

    Thanks for celebrating They’re Playing Our Song! I was at the 40th anniversary reunion show with Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein and it’s an evening I’ll never forget! I’d love to hear these recordings. Thank you!

  3. I would be very interested in hearing your private recordings of this show, I loved reading what you had to say here!

  6. TPOS was my first National Tour (Victor Garber/Marsha Skaggs) and first Broadway show (Ted Wass/Diana Canova)! I’d love to hear it again!

  8. One of my favorite shows from when I first came to NY for college. Saw it many times and even got to meet Lucie who invited us to her dressing room. Would love any files you have to share. Thanks

  9. Hello,
    I would love to hear these recordings of “Their Playing Our Song”, especially with the original cast
    Thank you,
    F. R.

  11. I absolutely love this musical– well, the original cast album, that is, since I’m a bit too young to have seen it on Broadway. But I got the album as a huge Robert Klein fan, and have listened to it more times than I could count. (Though to be fair, there’s not much competition for me with musicals; I’m mostly a jazz guy.) I even have a copy of the sheet music and particularly love playing “Falling” (on piano).

    I did read the play from a copy the local library had, and it’s okay, mildly entertaining Neil Simon, but I’m guessing that the performers can really make this kind of show come alive. E.g., I only recently caught the clip on YouTube of Klein and Arnaz doing the title number at the Tony awards, and seeing the visual gags and their dancing added a lot to an already great barnstormer of a song.

    Anyhow, I would absolutely love to have the audio you’re offering, when you have a chance. Thanks in advance!

  12. Hello,
    I have previously request but have unable to receive, due to my email changing, these recordings of “They’re Playing Our Song”. Could you please resend them?
    Many thanks,
    F. R.

  14. Hi Jackson
    Love to.hear the audios of “They’re Playing Our Song”. I was going thru my emails and found I missed this musical which I saw when it toured my city.

    Thanks.

    Donna

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