Bernadette Peters on RUTHLESS recording???!!!

[Robert W. Johnson]

I can't believe that a review of RUTHLESS, the cast recording, hasn't
been posted yet. Well, here goes:

I've been waiting at least two years to hear this and, I must say, I'm
not dissapointed. For those of you who don't know of the show, it's
about a eight year old girl who wants the lead in the school play so
bad that she kills the girl who gets the lead.

The music isn't very memorable -- your typical pastiche musical. But...
And it's a big "but," the lyrics are wickedly funny. Everything from
GYPSY, ALL ABOUT EVE, PHANTOM, and LES MIS get slammed. The lyrics tend to
peter out a bit after little Tina winds up in the prison for demented
engenues (sp?) -- or something like that.

Biggest surprise is the cameo song on the recording by Bernedette Peters,
singing "Unkey's Muncle." At least it sounds like Ms. Peters. I (being
on a grad student budget scrimped and bought the cassette and there are
absolutely no liner notes) think its probably her (or an incredibly
good impersonator) because she gets a big ol' special thanks on the
credits. Anybody know how Bernadette got involved in this project? Thanks.

Bob

--
bobj...@wam.umd.edu

[KirtyB]

In article <2o3rt0$4...@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu>, bobj...@wam.umd.edu (Robert W.
Johnson) writes

Bernadette Peters' musical director, Marvin Laird was one of the writers on
"Ruthless" and Bernadette did do Unkey's Muncle as a voice over for the show
and on the recording as a favor to Marvin.

[Marisa SorBello]

In article <2o3rt0$4...@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> bobj...@wam.umd.edu (Robert W. Johnson) writes:

>Biggest surprise is the cameo song on the recording by Bernedette Peters,
>singing "Unkey's Muncle." At least it sounds like Ms. Peters. I (being
>on a grad student budget scrimped and bought the cassette and there are
>absolutely no liner notes) think its probably her (or an incredibly
>good impersonator) because she gets a big ol' special thanks on the
>credits. Anybody know how Bernadette got involved in this project? Thanks.

I don't know how she got involved, but the LA Times has had blurbs about
the show from time to time, and did mention that she was on the
recording. Apparently, Bob Newhart is also on the cast recording,
but has not appeared on-stage in the play.

In LA, the role of Tina has been recast. The producer also announced
that they're going to have occasional guest stars in the role Newhart
does on the recording -- two names I've seen are Barry Bostwick and
Bruce Davison. Unfortunately, they won't announce in advance who's
doing it or when, just that the guest stars will appear on Sundays.

-- Marisa