THE JOHNNY MERCER EDUCATIONAL ARCHIVES

Too Marvelous  for Words

A sparkling musical based on the life & works of songwriter  JOHNNY MERCER

BOOK AND DIRECTION BY ALVIN RAKOFF

The musical TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, based on the life and works of Johnny Mercer, Book and Direction by Alvin Rakoff,  opens at the King's Head Theatre, Islington, on Boxing Day, December 26th, for a six week run. The outstanding cast again features Andrew Halliday as Johnny; Sally Hughes as his wife Ginger, etc; Daniel Gillingwater in a variety of roles; and features Alexandra Jay - who, to great acclaim, recently took over the leading role in MY FAIR LADY at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - as the new member of this talented foursome. Musical Director as before is Jo Stewart. Choreography by Joseph Pitcher. Production Design by the renowned Eileen Diss. "TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS Johnny Mercer, probably the finest all-round lyricist of the 20th century, wrote Too Marvelous For Words and provided the perfect title for what is a real gem of a show given its world premiere at The Mill. Written and directed by the much acclaimed film and TV director Alvin Rakoff, it tells the story of Mercer's life though 28  of his songs, beautifully delivered with mixture of joy, sadness and the occasional touch of comedy by the cast of four. Mercer's penchant for alcohol is clear from the start as Andrew Halliday, seated at a bar, sings what is probably the songwriter's most evocative lyric, One for My Baby, with music by Harold Arlen. Halliday gives a quite extraordinary performance as Mercer. The other three members of the cast play a variety of parts with Sally Hughes the perfect foil as Ginger, Mercer's long-suffering wife of almost 50 years. Her interpretation of My Shining Hour, sung as she leaves him after one affair too many, is very moving. As indeed is Halliday's rendition of When the World Was Young and their duet on being reunited, Come Rain or Come Shine. Lottie Mayor and Daniel Gillingwater show considerable flair in performing Mercer's songs, choreographed by Joseph Pitcher and enhanced by the sensitive accompaniment of a quartet led by musical director Jo Stewart. Too marvelous for words and not to be missed." (by Sheila Tracy)

Johnny Mercer wrote more than 1,000 popular songs including BLUES IN THE NIGHT, MOON RIVER, JEEPERS CREEPERS, AUTUMN LEAVES, COME RAIN COME SHINE, YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY, THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC, DAY IN DAY OUT, I REMEMBER YOU, DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES, I WANNA BE AROUND, ONE FOR MY BABY, GOODY GOODY, LAURA....and many, many, many more.

 

By arrangement with the Johnny Mercer Foundation. Margaret Whiting, President.

I search for phrases, To sing your praises, But there aren't any magic adjectives To tell you all you are. You're just too marvelous, Too marvelous for words, Like glorious, glamorous And that old standby, amorous, It's all too wonderful, I'll never find the words, That say enough, I mean, that just aren't swell enough, You're much to much, And just too very very! To ever be in Webster's Dictionary, And so I'm borrowing A love song from the birds, To tell you that you're marvelous, Too marvelous for words....

To read all about DREAM: the Broadway Musical, 1997, click here...

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midi courtesy of Gary Thompsonmidi courtesy of Gary Thompson

This website, devoted to the legacy of Johnny Mercer, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Arthur Joel Taksler.  From the time I was a little boy, I can clearly hear him singing   The Blues In The Night... "my mamma done tol' me, when I was in knee pants...my mamma done tol' me son, ....the Blues in the Night"...

 

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