Word: flower
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...Flower Drum Song (music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II; book by Mr. Hammerstein and Joseph Fields) proves to be thoroughly professional, has Miyoshi Umeki, Pat Suzuki and other nice performers, has some agreeable dancing, some gorgeous costumes, here proof of a jolly Rodgers and there of a dreamy one. As purely popular musical fare, the show should fare handsomely. But as Rodgers and Hammerstein, it not only lacks the talent of their top-drawer work, it seldom has the touch. Flower Drum Song is passably pleasant in its way, but its way is strictly routine...
...customs and picturesque ceremonies. Doubtless Rodgers and Hammerstein were properly determined that never their twain should meet; in any case, they operate at such different levels that they cannot. Where, in musicomedy terms, The King and I seemed truly exotic and aromatically blended fable, score and choreography into one. Flower Drum Song has no distinctive elements to blend and is never really exotic because it makes Chinatown almost indistinguishable from Broadway...
Current examples: Goldilocks, having taken a trimming by the critics, is flourishing on three to four parties a week, is booked solid until January. Despite poor reviews, The World of Suzie Wong is sitting pretty, with 282 parties. Chances are that Rodgers' & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song will be a hit anyway, but parties already account for $700,000 in advance sales. In fact, it is so hard for ordinary customers to get Broadway tickets that R. & H. have called a halt to further parties. Complains Renée Schonceit, one of Broadway's top ticket brokers...
...inherited a fortune at 30, made several more from his art, and spent them all before his death at 58. He was a philosopher in love with life, knowing and glorying in its evanescence. Once, to dramatize his feeling, he brought plain rice balls, wrapped in bamboo, to a flower-viewing party. After eating, he unrolled the bamboo wrapping upon the air. It was overlaid with gold leaf and painted by himself with mountains, birds and flowers. Casually, he tossed it into the stream...
...Rodgers and Hammerstein will be able to pay the fuel bill this winter, with Flower Drum Song, sold out for all 4½ weeks of its Boston tryout. Advance sale in New York a month before the Broadway opening: a reported $1,000,000 plus...