Stage Production Notes
The musical Victor/Victoria is based on the 1982 movie of the same name, which in turn was based on a 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria.
An out-of-work British soprano, Victoria Grant, unsuccessfully auditions for a jazz club in Paris. She befriends Toddy, who convinces her to disguise herself as a man pretending to be a woman. “Victor” becomes the sensation of Paris, but falls in love with King Marchan, an American gangster. After a series of mishaps, cover-ups, and some gender bending, Toddy, Victoria, and King Marchan find love and happiness.
A lesser known British film adaptation, First A Girl, was released in 1935.
The 1982 film is celebrated as director Blake Edwards’ crowning achievement. The film starred Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, and Lesley Ann.
In 1994, Blake Edwards sought to adapt Victor/Victoria into a Broadway show. Henry Mancini, who had won the Oscar for Best Music for his score for the film, was bought on to re-work the score. Mancini died before the score was completed, and Frank Wildhorn stepped in to help finish the score.
Victor/Victoria had its world premier in Minneapolis. It also had a brief run in Chicago before transferring to Broadway in October, 1995.
Following an absence of 35 years, Victor/Victoria was heralded as Julie Andrews’ triumphant return to Broadway.
Despite an unprecedented $15 million advance at the box office, Victor/Victoria was a commercial flop and the critics panned the show. While celebrating Julie Andrews’ performance, reviewers claimed director Blake Edwards was still directing for film and not the for the stage. New York Times theatre critic Vincent Canby stated the adaption was “patchy,” while Jeremy Gerard, writing for Variety, scathingly described it as an “earnestly crafted but utterly joyless affair.”
In “No Legs, No Jokes, No Chance”: A History of the American Musical Theater Sheldon Patinkin noted Victor/Victoria “had neither a fresh approach nor a particularly good score… and consequently felt dated and empty.”
Victor/Victoria earned one Tony nomination — Best Actress for Julie Andrews. Feeling the show had been snubbed, Andrews publicly refused the nomination. Several commentators noted that the publicity from the “brouhaha” boosted ticket sales for the ailing show.
Despite a lack of love from the Tony Awards, Victor/Victoria was nominated for several other awards. Julie Andrews won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Rachel York won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and the production won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical.
During the run, Julie Andrews became ill and missed multiple performances due to the flu, gall bladder surgery, and nodules. During her absence, Liza Minelli stepped in to the lead role.
Julie Andrews’ absences, and lost revenue, led the insurance companies to sue the production.
Victor/Victoria played for 734 performances before closing on July 27, 1997.
The musical received its London premier at the Bridewell Theatre in January, 2004.
Though not widely performed, Victor/Victoria is available for licensing through Tams-Witmark.
The musical Victor/Victoria is based on the 1982 movie of the same name, which in turn was based on a 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria.
An out-of-work British soprano, Victoria Grant, unsuccessfully auditions for a jazz club in Paris. She befriends Toddy, who convinces her to disguise herself as a man pretending to be a woman. “Victor” becomes the sensation of Paris, but falls in love with King Marchan, an American gangster. After a series of mishaps, cover-ups, and some gender bending, Toddy, Victoria, and King Marchan find love and happiness.
A lesser known British film adaptation, First A Girl, was released in 1935.
The 1982 film is celebrated as director Blake Edwards’ crowning achievement. The film starred Julie Andrews, James Garner, Robert Preston, and Lesley Ann.
In 1994, Blake Edwards sought to adapt Victor/Victoria into a Broadway show. Henry Mancini, who had won the Oscar for Best Music for his score for the film, was bought on to re-work the score. Mancini died before the score was completed, and Frank Wildhorn stepped in to help finish the score.
Victor/Victoria had its world premier in Minneapolis. It also had a brief run in Chicago before transferring to Broadway in October, 1995.
Following an absence of 35 years, Victor/Victoria was heralded as Julie Andrews’ triumphant return to Broadway.
Despite an unprecedented $15 million advance at the box office, Victor/Victoria was a commercial flop and the critics panned the show. While celebrating Julie Andrews’ performance, reviewers claimed director Blake Edwards was still directing for film and not the for the stage. New York Times theatre critic Vincent Canby stated the adaption was “patchy,” while Jeremy Gerard, writing for Variety, scathingly described it as an “earnestly crafted but utterly joyless affair.”
In “No Legs, No Jokes, No Chance”: A History of the American Musical Theater Sheldon Patinkin noted Victor/Victoria “had neither a fresh approach nor a particularly good score… and consequently felt dated and empty.”
Victor/Victoria earned one Tony nomination — Best Actress for Julie Andrews. Feeling the show had been snubbed, Andrews publicly refused the nomination. Several commentators noted that the publicity from the “brouhaha” boosted ticket sales for the ailing show.
Despite a lack of love from the Tony Awards, Victor/Victoria was nominated for several other awards. Julie Andrews won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, Rachel York won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical, and the production won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical.
During the run, Julie Andrews became ill and missed multiple performances due to the flu, gall bladder surgery, and nodules. During her absence, Liza Minelli stepped in to the lead role.
Julie Andrews’ absences, and lost revenue, led the insurance companies to sue the production.
Victor/Victoria played for 734 performances before closing on July 27, 1997.
The musical received its London premier at the Bridewell Theatre in January, 2004.
Though not widely performed, Victor/Victoria is available for licensing through Tams-Witmark.
Filmed Production Notes
Following on from Pacific Overtures (1976), and The Will Rogers Follies (1991), Victor Victoria was the third Broadway musical to be taped for distribution on Japanese television.
It was broadcast on the Japanese television network NHK TV on December 23, 1995.
The recording was later made widely available in the United States on television and VHS, and on DVD and Blu-Ray.
An Amazon review suggests that, rather unusually, the Blu-ray and DVD versions are different performances, with the DVD being a superior performance and capture than the Blu-ray.
Reviewers agree the quality of the capture was very good, though Jeffrey Kauffman notes that the Blu-ray occasionally suffers from color issues due to the way stage lighting appears on screen.
Film critic and historian David Bleiler describes Victor/Victoria as “a most entertaining adaption…a delight and time well spent.”
Victor/Victoria aired on North American television on Bravo in 1995, and again in 2000.
Image Entertainment released the VHS and DVD (paid link) of Victor/Victoria in 2000, and the Blu-ray in 2010. The musical is also currently available to view on Amazon (paid link).
Following on from Pacific Overtures (1976), and The Will Rogers Follies (1991), Victor Victoria was the third Broadway musical to be taped for distribution on Japanese television.
It was broadcast on the Japanese television network NHK TV on December 23, 1995.
The recording was later made widely available in the United States on television and VHS, and on DVD and Blu-Ray.
An Amazon review suggests that, rather unusually, the Blu-ray and DVD versions are different performances, with the DVD being a superior performance and capture than the Blu-ray.
Reviewers agree the quality of the capture was very good, though Jeffrey Kauffman notes that the Blu-ray occasionally suffers from color issues due to the way stage lighting appears on screen.
Film critic and historian David Bleiler describes Victor/Victoria as “a most entertaining adaption…a delight and time well spent.”
Victor/Victoria aired on North American television on Bravo in 1995, and again in 2000.
Image Entertainment released the VHS and DVD (paid link) of Victor/Victoria in 2000, and the Blu-ray in 2010. The musical is also currently available to view on Amazon (paid link).
Victor/Victoria PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Marquis Theatre, NYC
Producer: Blake Edwards, Endemol Theatre Productions, Polygram Broadway Ventures, Edwards-Adams Theatrical Inc, Metropolitan Theatrical Entertainment Inc.
Book: Blake Edwards
Music: Henry Mancini, Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
Director: Blake Edwards, Film: Matthew Diamond, Goro Koyobayashi
Musical Director: Ian Fraser
Orchestrations: Bill Bryers
Dance arrangements and incidental music: David Krane
Choreography: Rob Marshall
Scenic Design: Robin Wagner
Costume Design: Willa Kim
Lighting Design: Jules Fisher
Sound Design: Peter J. Fitzgerald
Hair and Wig Design: Michaeljohn
Cast:
Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri, Rachel York, Richard B. Shull, Adam Heller, Michael Cripe, Gregory Jbara, Michael-Demby Cain, Angelo Fraboni, Darren Lee, Michael O'Donnell, Vince Pesce, Arte Phillips, Rocker Verastique, Casey Nicholaw, Jennifer Smith, Christopher Innvar, Cynthia Sophiea, Devin Richards, Roxane Barlow, Caitlin Carter, Pascale Faye, Amy Heggins, Aixa M. Rosario Medina, Cynthia Onrubia, Tara O'Brien, Ken Land, Mark Lotito
Theatre: Marquis Theatre, NYC
Producer: Blake Edwards, Endemol Theatre Productions, Polygram Broadway Ventures, Edwards-Adams Theatrical Inc, Metropolitan Theatrical Entertainment Inc.
Book: Blake Edwards
Music: Henry Mancini, Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics: Leslie Bricusse
Director: Blake Edwards, Film: Matthew Diamond, Goro Koyobayashi
Musical Director: Ian Fraser
Orchestrations: Bill Bryers
Dance arrangements and incidental music: David Krane
Choreography: Rob Marshall
Scenic Design: Robin Wagner
Costume Design: Willa Kim
Lighting Design: Jules Fisher
Sound Design: Peter J. Fitzgerald
Hair and Wig Design: Michaeljohn
Cast:
Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri, Rachel York, Richard B. Shull, Adam Heller, Michael Cripe, Gregory Jbara, Michael-Demby Cain, Angelo Fraboni, Darren Lee, Michael O'Donnell, Vince Pesce, Arte Phillips, Rocker Verastique, Casey Nicholaw, Jennifer Smith, Christopher Innvar, Cynthia Sophiea, Devin Richards, Roxane Barlow, Caitlin Carter, Pascale Faye, Amy Heggins, Aixa M. Rosario Medina, Cynthia Onrubia, Tara O'Brien, Ken Land, Mark Lotito
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- David Bleiler, TLA Film, Video, and DVD Guide 2002-2003: The Discerning Film Lover’s Guide, Macmillan (2001)
- Thomas Hischak, The Oxford Companion to the American Musical, Oxford University Press (2008)
- Kenneth Jones, “Broadway's Victor/Victoria Gets Video and DVD Release, April 4” Playbill (April 4, 2000)
- Sheldon Patinkin, “No Legs, No Jokes, No Chance”: A History of the American Musical Theater, Northwestern University Press (2008)
- Douglass Pratt, “Doug Pratt’s DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult and More! Vol 2: L-Z, Unet 2 Corporation (2005)
- Mark A. Robinson, The World of Musicals: An Encyclopedia of Stage, Screen, and Song, Vol 2, ABC-CLIO (2014)
- Richard Stirling, Julie Andrews: An Intimate Biography, St. Martin’s Press (2008)
- John Wills, Theatre World 1995-1996, Hal Leonard Corporation (1998)
Articles
- Michael Billington, “Victor/Victoria,” The Guardian (Jan 15, 2004)
- Vincent Canby, “‘Victor Victoria,’ A Blake Farce,” New York Times (March 19, 1982)
- Vincent Canby, “Julie Andrews Is Back, in Drag, in Drag,” New York Times (Oct 26, 1995)
- Deb Flomberg, “The Theater Company of Lafayette brings 'Victor/Victoria' to the stage,” AXS (Feb 21, 2015)
- Jeremy Gerard, “Review: ‘Victor/Victoria’,” Variety (Oct 26, 1995)
- Anthony Horan, “Victor/Victoria,” DVD.net.au (undated)
- Jeffrey Kauffman, “Victor/Victoria: The Broadway Musical Blu-ray Review,” Blu-ray.com (Aug 27, 2010)
- Jerry Roberts, Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, Scarecrow Press (2009)
- Richard Severo, “Henry Mancini Dies at 70; Composer for Films and TV,” New York Times (June 15, 1994)
- John Simon, “Legends of the Fall,” New York Magazine (Nov 6, 1995)
Websites
- Amazon, “Victor Victoria: 1995 Broadway Production [Blu-ray],” Accessed via: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HTPI08/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_hTCUzbM63YNBW
- Biography in Context, "Blake Edwards." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, vol. 49, Gale, 2003. Biography in Context, Accessed via: i.ezproxy.nypl.org/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1609015728/BIC1?u=nypl&xid=87eaaae7
- Biography in Context, "Rachel York." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, vol. 42, Gale, 2002. Biography in Context, i.ezproxy.nypl.org/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1609014268/BIC1?u=nypl&xid=6d8a56df
- Playbill, “Victor/Victoria,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/victor-victoria-marquis-theatre-vault-0000008190
- Tams-Witmark, “Victor/Victoria,” Accessed via: http://www.tamswitmark.com/shows/victorvictoria/
Written by Luisa Lyons (September, 2017)