[Sweeney Hyde]

I have the soundtrack to Dear World and love it. I think it is right up there with Hello, Dolly! on the Jerry Herman list. The music is great, but i know it didn't last long. I was just wondering if anyone has seen/read the show and could explain why it failed.

[Salome]

Its miles ahead of Hello Dolly. its a wonderful show based on the classic play Madwoman of Challiott.

and you dont have the soundtrack...you have the cast recording.

[Sweeney Hyde]

THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION BUT YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION AS TO HOW IT FAILED!!

[jazzygirlsings]

^So this is where the second part of your name comes out?

Gotta love salome...she tends to do that! LOL!

[Jenem]

[MsDivaKate]

I agree with Salome. Dear World surpasses Hello Dolly by FAR.


There are many shows with great scores that didn't last long. They are the hidden gems of musical theatre. Just because something is popular, doesn't make it good. Dear World just didn't grab audiences as it needed to at its time to give it the longevity of other more popular Herman shows, like Hello Dolly and Mame.

[Sweeney Hyde]

Thank you for the information THAT I NEEDEDThere hasn't ever been a revival has there? Dear World seems like the type of show that would fit in the odd darker musicals of today, doesn't it.

By the way, I agree with Salome and all of you that it is a great show...

[jazzygirlsings]

[Salome]

There was talk of a revival with Chita Rivera and John McMartin a few ywears back but it never hit New york.

[teapot]

I saw Angela Lansbury in Dear World when I was young. I fell in love with the music and the lyrics. I played the original cast album until it was skipping every other groove. Why did it not last on Broadway? The story line was unbalanced between the love story, the madwoman's circle of friends, and the anti-pollution anti-corporate treatise. Even in the 60's era of saving the world, the realization of the plot line concerning the industrial complex conspiracy was clunky and heavy handed, and the whimsy and feyness of the Madwoman and her eccentric friends just didn't sustain throughout the production. Do I still remember the words to "Kiss Her Now", even 40 years later...oh yes. I LOVED that musical...still do.