Ravenscroft mostly refused to play 'Baker Street' during interviews. The last time Ravenscroft played 'Baker Street' was in the summer of 2014 when he organised a charity gala concert in Exeter for Nicole Hartup, a 12-year-old city schoolgirl who had died in a fall. According to his account, “Baker Street” had several gaps in it when he was hired to play, and he filled them. “In fact, most of what I played was an old blues riff,” he once explained.
| Baker Street | |
|---|---|
| A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes | |
| Music | Marian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Jerry Bock |
| Lyrics | Marian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Sheldon Harnick |
| Book | Jerome Coopersmith |
| Basis | The Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
| Productions | 1965 Broadway |
Baker Street is a musical with a book by Jerome Coopersmith and music and lyrics by Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessel.[1]
- 4Awards and nominations
Background[edit]
Loosely based on the Sherlock Holmes story 'A Scandal in Bohemia' by Arthur Conan Doyle with elements of 'The Final Problem' and 'The Empty House' as well,[2] it is set in and around London in 1897, the year in which England celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria[2] (an event marked by an elaborate royal procession depicted by Bil Baird's marionettes). The musical veers from Conan Doyle's work in that Irene Adler becomes an associate of Holmes rather than his opponent, thus allowing an element of romance between the two.[2]
Because of problems the show went through during out of town tryouts, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, the successful composing team of Fiddler on the Roof were brought in to contribute additional songs including 'Cold Clear World' and 'I Shall Miss You.' They also wrote 'I'm In London Again' which was the first number for Irene Adler, but after opening night, this number (which can be heard on the cast album) was dropped and replaced by another Bock-Harnick composition, 'Buffalo Belle' which had Irene Adler performing an elaborate Wild West number.
Productions[edit]
The musical opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre, a Broadway theater on Broadway, on February 16, 1965[3] running to October 30, and then transferred to the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) on November 3, 1965, where it closed on November 14, 1965 after a total of 311 performances[4] and six previews.[5] Directed by Hal Prince, the cast included Fritz Weaver, Peter Sallis, Martin Gabel, Inga Swenson, Virginia Vestoff, Teddy Green, and, in supporting roles, Tommy Tune and Christopher Walken in their Broadway debuts.
Producer Alexander H. Cohen felt the show was such an event that he announced, prior to the opening, men would not be admitted unless they were clad in jackets and ties, and women would be allowed in only if they wore dresses.[citation needed] This policy quickly changed once the mixed reviews were in and Cohen realized he needed all the business he could get, no matter how it was attired.[citation needed]
Song list[edit]
- 'It's So Simple' – Holmes, Watson, Lestrade, and Captain
- 'I'm in London Again' – Irene
- 'Leave it to Us, Guv' – The Irregulars
- 'Letters' – Irene
- 'Cold, Clear World' – Holmes
- 'Finding Words for Spring' – Irene
- 'What a Night This is Going to Be' – Holmes, Watson, Irene, Irene's Dresser
- 'I Shall Miss You, Holmes' – Moriarty
- 'Roof Space' – The Irregulars
- 'A Married Man' – Watson
- 'I'd Do it Again' – Irene
- 'Pursuit' – Holmes
- 'Jewelry' – Moriarty's Gang
Awards and nominations[edit]
Original Broadway production[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Tony Award | Best Author | Jerome Coopersmith | Nominated |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Inga Swenson | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Oliver Smith | Won[6] | ||
| Best Costume Design | Motley | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration. Harper & Row. p. 107. ISBN0-06-015620-1.
- ^ abcBoström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 327. ISBN978-0-8021-2789-1.
- ^'Baker Street'. Tams-Witmark Music Library. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ^Boström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 333. ISBN978-0-8021-2789-1.
- ^Baker Street Playbill, retrieved February 1, 2018
- ^'Baker Street: The First Sherlockian Musical'. Baker Street Babes. May 10, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Baker Street at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ballroom costume sketch by Motley Theatre Design Group -- Motley Collection of Theatre & Costume Design
- A Musical Stroll Down Baker Street - episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere featuring an interview with Fritz Weaver
| Baker Street | |
|---|---|
| A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes | |
| Music | Marian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Jerry Bock |
| Lyrics | Marian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Sheldon Harnick |
| Book | Jerome Coopersmith |
| Basis | The Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle |
| Productions | 1965 Broadway |
Gerry Rafferty Guitar
Baker Street is a musical with a book by Jerome Coopersmith and music and lyrics by Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessel.[1]
- 4Awards and nominations
Background[edit]
Loosely based on the Sherlock Holmes story 'A Scandal in Bohemia' by Arthur Conan Doyle with elements of 'The Final Problem' and 'The Empty House' as well,[2] it is set in and around London in 1897, the year in which England celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria[2] (an event marked by an elaborate royal procession depicted by Bil Baird's marionettes). The musical veers from Conan Doyle's work in that Irene Adler becomes an associate of Holmes rather than his opponent, thus allowing an element of romance between the two.[2]
Because of problems the show went through during out of town tryouts, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, the successful composing team of Fiddler on the Roof were brought in to contribute additional songs including 'Cold Clear World' and 'I Shall Miss You.' They also wrote 'I'm In London Again' which was the first number for Irene Adler, but after opening night, this number (which can be heard on the cast album) was dropped and replaced by another Bock-Harnick composition, 'Buffalo Belle' which had Irene Adler performing an elaborate Wild West number.
Productions[edit]
The musical opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre, a Broadway theater on Broadway, on February 16, 1965[3] running to October 30, and then transferred to the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) on November 3, 1965, where it closed on November 14, 1965 after a total of 311 performances[4] and six previews.[5] Directed by Hal Prince, the cast included Fritz Weaver, Peter Sallis, Martin Gabel, Inga Swenson, Virginia Vestoff, Teddy Green, and, in supporting roles, Tommy Tune and Christopher Walken in their Broadway debuts.
Producer Alexander H. Cohen felt the show was such an event that he announced, prior to the opening, men would not be admitted unless they were clad in jackets and ties, and women would be allowed in only if they wore dresses.[citation needed] This policy quickly changed once the mixed reviews were in and Cohen realized he needed all the business he could get, no matter how it was attired.[citation needed]
Song list[edit]
- 'It's So Simple' – Holmes, Watson, Lestrade, and Captain
- 'I'm in London Again' – Irene
- 'Leave it to Us, Guv' – The Irregulars
- 'Letters' – Irene
- 'Cold, Clear World' – Holmes
- 'Finding Words for Spring' – Irene
- 'What a Night This is Going to Be' – Holmes, Watson, Irene, Irene's Dresser
- 'I Shall Miss You, Holmes' – Moriarty
- 'Roof Space' – The Irregulars
- 'A Married Man' – Watson
- 'I'd Do it Again' – Irene
- 'Pursuit' – Holmes
- 'Jewelry' – Moriarty's Gang
Awards and nominations[edit]
How To Play Baker Street On Piano
Original Broadway production[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Tony Award | Best Author | Jerome Coopersmith | Nominated |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Inga Swenson | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Oliver Smith | Won[6] | ||
| Best Costume Design | Motley | Nominated |
References[edit]
How To Play 221b Baker Street Game
- ^Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration. Harper & Row. p. 107. ISBN0-06-015620-1.
- ^ abcBoström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 327. ISBN978-0-8021-2789-1.
- ^'Baker Street'. Tams-Witmark Music Library. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
- ^Boström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 333. ISBN978-0-8021-2789-1.
- ^Baker Street Playbill, retrieved February 1, 2018
- ^'Baker Street: The First Sherlockian Musical'. Baker Street Babes. May 10, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
External links[edit]
- Baker Street at the Internet Broadway Database
- Ballroom costume sketch by Motley Theatre Design Group -- Motley Collection of Theatre & Costume Design
- A Musical Stroll Down Baker Street - episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere featuring an interview with Fritz Weaver