Mame (1966 Original Broadway Cast)

With her beguiling presence, Angela Lansbury belts out the playful lyrics of Jerry Herman's 1966 musical, Mame, based on the hilarious and outrageous Patrick Dennis novel Auntie Mame. Lansbury plays the ribald flapper Mame, bucking her age and station to live her life as she pleases, with her young nephew Patrick in bewildered tow. Lansbury's mature yet chipper singing voice is perfectly complemented by the vocals of Bea Arthur as Mame's best friend, Vera. Arthur's hearty, irascible voice adds a classic edge to the lighthearted musical fare, while Frankie Michaels as Patrick provides a youthful purity, conveying an awe and admiration for the aunt he follows through life. The relentlessly carefree theme of this musical diminishes as Mame ages and Patrick grows up, but they are singing zestfully to the end. The 1999 remastered version includes five demo recordings by Herman and Alice Borden, with Herman at the piano. --Bryony Angell