Peg Murray, who died on November 29 of this year, was a fixture on the soap opera circuit, when it was strong on television. She appeared, over the years on "Love Of Life," "Another World," and "All My Children."
But she won a TONY Award, for Best Featured Actress In A Musical, for her role as Fraulein Kost, in the original, Harold Prince production of "Cabaret," which opened in 1966. She had one of the most difficult roles in musical theater, as the character, though crafty, starts out as a sympathetic, almost Fantine type, then gradually, to the audience's horror, evolves and trasnforms herself before everyone, on stage and seated, into the Perfect Nazi.
Not an easy role to play, but no one played it like Peg. Later, after Lotte Lenya left the show, she stepped into the role of Fraulein Schenieder. How I would have loved to have heard her rendition of "What Would You Do?" It may not have touched Lenya's, but I am sure it touched audience's hearts. She also appeared in "She Loves Me," "The Subject Was Roses," "Something More," and as Fraulien Schneider once more in the 1987 revival of "Cabaret."
She was 96 when she died. A long, professional life.
Rest In Peace, Peg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then, on December 20, Ann Reinking passed away. She was a mere 71, and died in her sleep, while visiting a brother in Seattle. Shocking as this may be to some, as far as I am conceerned, she was Broadway's Number Two Dancer, of my generation. Number One will always be Donna McKechnie.
Which is not to say Reinking was lacking in talent or skill. She first caught my eye in the Andrews Sisters' musical, "Over Here!," back in 1974. I also saw her, at the Palace Theatre, with Joel Grey, in "Goodtime Charley," back in March of 1975, where she was choreographed by Onna White.
"Chicago," in 1976, brought she and Bob Fosse together. I saw the original production, with Liza stepping in for Gwen Verdon, so Reinking, then, may or not have been in the ensemble. Near the end of the run, she stepped into the role of Roxie Heart, a role she would go on to repeat in the ENCORES! revival of 1996, with Bebe Neurwith, as Velma, and the two would go on in these roles, when it moved to Broadway, where the production is still running. It netted Reinking a TONY Award for Best Choreography.
And don't forget, she played a variation of herself,, in the 1979 Fosse bio-pic, "All That Jazz." Oh, the names were changed, but Theater Queens know whom it was about.
Reinking had Cyd Charisse legs that "went on forever," as well as a very tecnical style of dance. If lacking in the warmth of McKechnie, there was no mistaking her talent and style.
Another dennizen of Broadway bites the dust! No wonder the lights are dark!
And, just today, I learned of the passing of Rebecca Luker, whom I had seen in "The Secret Garden," back in 1991, and "The Sound Of Music" revival of 1998. What a gorgeous voice Rebecca had, and how tragic for Theater Queeens, and most especially, for Danny Burstein, her husband of 20 years, who waged a battle with Covid, which he still struggles with, while his wife was battling ALS, (Lou Gherig's Disease) having been diagnosed, months earlier. And which was her cause of death, at only 59! I pray Rebecca did not suffer, and I pray for her husband Danny at this time of loss. What a sad year 2020 has been in so many ways.
Now, Rebecca's voice graces the heavens. With Barbara Cook, Marin Mazzie, and now Rebecca, up there, Heaven is sounding better all the time!
Rest In Peace, Rebecca!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May we all do our part to save Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rebecca Luker??
ReplyDeleteI hadn’t heard!
She was my age.
ReplyDeleteVictoria,
Really? I thought you
were younger.
Poor Rebecca, I hope she did
not suffer much. And I feel
sad for her husband, Danny
Burstein. They were married
twenty years!