1966: Evening Primrose on ABC

This is one particular Stephen Sondheim show that was not written for Broadway. Rather, it was performed as a television musical-drama that was shown on ABC's Stage 67 series on November 16, 1966. However, in 2005, "Evening Primrose" did finally make its first appearance in a legitimate theatre. It was staged in a limited run of four performances as part of a series called Lost Musicals at the Lilian Baylis Theatre in London.

The score from "Evening Primrose" contains just four vocal selections and several instrumentals. The original television soundtrack was held back from release until 2008, when a limited pressing of only 3000 copies was released. And according to Sondheim, who does not control ownership rights to the television broadcast, he doubts that it will ever be commercially released on DVD. [note: see update below]

Performers such as Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters and Liz Callaway have recorded several of the show's selections throughout the years. The specific number performed by Barbra ("I Remember") has also been covered by the likes of Sarah Brightman, Maureen McGovern and Betty Buckley, to name a few. In 2001, a new recording was released which contained all four vocals from "Evening Primrose" as performed by Neil Patrick Harris and Theresa McCarthy. It's a great alternative if you can't get a copy of the original soundtrack.

The plot of "Evening Primrose" is simple. A poet named Charles loses his artistic inspiration and seeks refuge from life by hiding out in a department store after closing hours. He finds himself among a secret community of people who have lived there for years. similarly hiding from the outside world. Charles falls in love with one of the residents, nineteen year old Ella, who has been held against her will inside the store since the age of 6. As she remembers her early childhood, Ella waxes nostalgic and begins to recollect the beauty of the snow, the trees and the sky ("I Remember"). Ella inspires Charles, and his poetry begins to flow once again. Since she never sat in a classroom (other than kindergarten), Charles reciprocates by tutoring Ella in basic grade school subjects. The pair decide to escape their artificial sanctuary to rejoin the outside world. But their attempts to re-enter society are thwarted. The story ultimately serves up a plot twist that is eerily reminiscent of a classic Twilight Zone episode starring Anne Francis (1959's "The After Hours").

The original broadcast starred Anthony Perkins as Charles and Charmain Carr as Ella (left). Perkins was best known for his portrayal of Norman Bates in the 1960 Hitchcock classic, "Psycho." Charmain Carr played Liesl in the 1965 film, "The Sound of Music."  The pairing of these two iconic performers from the 1960s makes "Evening Primrose" must-see viewing for your next visit to the Museum of Television in New York or Beverly Hills, the only places where you can officially watch the original broadcast in its entirety. Or you can go to YouTube where, somehow, several clips from the original broadcast are posted, including Charmain Carr's "I Remember."
 

I remember days, or at least I try . . .

Barbra Streisand looked to one of Stephen Sondheim's more obscure scores to find a musical gem. From "Evening Primrose," Barbra recorded a haunting rendition of "I Remember" for her 2001 "Christmas Memories" album. Though not originally written as a Yuletide ballad, Barbra asked Stephen Sondheim to write some season-appropriate lyrics which she could sing as an introduction.

Their collaboration resulted in another Streisand holiday classic. With Sondheim's new intro firmly in place, Barbra's interpretation of the original lyrics somehow befits the holiday spirit:

I remember snow,
Soft as feathers,
Sharp as thumb tacks,
Coming down like lint...

Evening Primrose on DVD

UPDATE: October 21, 2010
After 44 years, the original television broadcast of "Evening Primrose" - first aired by ABC in 1966 - will finally be released on DVD (street date: October 26, 2010).  Until now, the only place where you could watch this musical gem was at the Paley Center (formerly the Museum of Broadcasting).

Amazingly, the Paley Center library reports that "Evening Primrose" is its most requested program by visitors

The composer must be delighted. Stephen Sondheim, who does not own the rights to the televised broadcast of his musical, was, until recently, convinced that "Evening Primrose" would never be released.