From: Widerman-AT-aol.com
Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:04:01 EDT
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: [Puptcrit] Bil Baird's "Alice"


 
This past week I had the pleasure of having a chat with George S. Irving,  
who supplied a deep basso voice for the Duchess in Bil Baird's "Alice  in 
Wonderland," first performed at Baird's Barrow Street Theater in 1974.
 
I was on-set working on a commercial (using marionettes underwater!) and  
George came in to tape something for another spot they were shooting the same 
 day. He recalled when Bil and Cora had a place where Lincoln Towers now 
stands  before they moved to Barrow Street. He remembered Carl Harms and 
lamented his  recent passing. I mentioned the Duchess voice to him and he said 
that  Marjorie Gray and Sheldon Harnick had recently sent him a copy of  that 
recording. (The songs were by Joe Raposo and I can't recall that song, but  
I can still play "The Lobster Quadrille" on the piano.)
 
George proceeded to record his spot, which involved his portrayal of a  
Star Wars Jedi knight, dressed and sounding like Alec Guinness. He had only one 
 line to say, which he performed in 100 different takes, each one unique, 
with  and without hand gestures for the camera. Each one was a gem, and it 
was a joy  to see him as a consummate professional at the age of 86!
 
     -Steven->
 

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