'Kismet,' Play About Muslim Poet, Pulled By School Over 9/11 Complaints

AOL ^ | 9/20/11 | Associated Press

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

JOHNSTOWN, Pa.

[miss marmelstein]

As I said, I’m absolutely gobsmacked. I think that portrait is by Everett Kinstler, but I could be wrong. I’m going to lift a toast to him. He was a bit before my time but I have the original soundtrack of “Oklahoma” and he’s great.

Ann Blyth was involved in the pro-life movement?

You blow my mind, girl.

[RitchieAprile]

Kismet isn’t of the culture of today, its of the culture
of the 50’s.

As are Brigadoon, Der Rosenkavalier, Oklahoma,
anything with Howard Keel, anything with Nelson Eddy/Jeannette MacDonald....etc.

[Borges]

Kismet isn’t culture from ‘today’.

[MEG33]

No!
Just plain silly and wrongheaded.

[EggsAckley]

Kismet is fAR from being a “POS”, Albie. The music is based on excellent classical music, and two major hit songs evolved from it. These two songs, “Stranger in Paradise” and “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads” are still extremely popular. The play is a well-loved classic, and for you to dub it a “POS” is just a tribute to your severe lack of musical education. To paraphrase another popular statement, “just shut up and listen.”

Personally, I can’t wait to see this fine work of art again.

[Liz]

Blyth and her physician husband were very pro-life-—they financed the publication of brochures about human life in utero.

Alfred Drake was a Broadway legend years ago-—but his work disappeared. Are recordings from all the hit shows he was in ever played?

Clip from Naughty Marietta-—Drake duet w/ Patrice Munsel-— Sweet Mystery of life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cz3QxwAQ4HA

[Romulus]

rub elbows with all the Limo Libs who attend them

You're an authority on this because you've seen all those stiffs in three Stooges films, right?

[miss marmelstein]

Interestingly, all of the show/operas you mention have become classics. Broadway now has some of the worst musicals known to man - although “Anything Goes” (Cole Porter!) is bringing them in in droves.

[Allegra]

Why was some POS like “Kismet” picked in the 1st place?

"Kismet" is a great show with Wright & Forrester's lyrics set to music by Alexander Borodin.

It doesn't promote Islam in any way.

It's one of the few classics I have yet to see on stage, but I'd jump at the opportunity to do so.

[Liz]

1957-—Vic Damone—Stranger in Paradise

Borodin’s Polovitsian Dance #2 from “Prince Igor”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHDCQtF1pMI

[muleskinner]

I, too, grew up listening to the soundtrack. Mom had it playing along with "Sound of Music" and a couple Montovani records, among others, as backround music during the day.

Nobody who was born within 5000 miles of Baghdad had anything to do with "Kismet".

What's next? Ban all the Sinbad movies from playing in West-Central Pennsylvania?Or the Popeye cartoon where Bluto played Ali Baba - a Popeye classic on Youtube.

[robowombat]

This post remind me of how far we (the US) has come in a depressing way. In college one of my friends was a Maronite Lebanese American who worked weekends at a ‘middle eastern restaurant’ owned by a Muslim Lebanese family. It was a nice place made up in kitschy faux Middle Eastern style. The musical version of Kismet played every evening along with the Borodin music and what Mr. Abbas called Arab elevator music. A signed picture of Howard Keel in his Kismet costume hung in a prominent place with some other tv and cinema tars including Danny Thomas. Mr. Abbas was my conduit to interviewing other Muslim businessmen and civic leaders for a senior poly sci paper. They tended to be Republicans and were about as un Islamacist Muslims as possible all expressing revulsion of terrorism.

[EggsAckley]

Allegra, I HAVE seen it live on stage, in the round. Fabulous. Hope you get to see it soon. It’s real treat.

[x]

You do realize that “Kismet” is an all-American Broadway show that starred the great Alfred Lunt?

Alfred Drake.

The Lunts weren't big in musicals.

Maybe it didn't have anything to do with Muslims or Islam.

Another case of blatant anti-goateeism.

The same pernicious prejudice that ruined Mitch Miller's and Burl Ives's careers.

[miss marmelstein]

I just watched your You Tube video: an enemy of America, I’ve never seen, lol!

I have the original recording of Alfred Drake in “Oklahoma,” in which he plays Curly (not Curley Howard!). He’s quite wonderful. Of course, the You Tube videos don’t give you quite the impression that they made on stage but thank God we have it.

[miss marmelstein]

Dear God: did I say Alfred LUNT? I’m afraid to look but I believe you. I meant Alfred Drake. Oy, is my face red...

[Liz]

Everett Raymond Kinstler is one of the nation's most gifted portrait painters. A comic book artist of the "golden age" era, he drew for The Shadow and created the Zorro comic books before turning to portraiture. His 1200 portraits include presidents and other well-known personalities. He painted Alfred Drake as Haj in "Kismet" on view at the Players Club, NYC. In 1999 Kinstler received the Copley Medal from the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian, its highest honor.

Everett Raymond Kinstler photo April 2008
© 2011 Trustees of Dartmouth College

[miss marmelstein]

If I may brag a bit, Ray is one of my friends - well, really my husband’s. He probably just tolerates me! A lovely man, hilarious storyteller. I have some art of his hanging on our wall now.

[Liz]

I AM impressed, Miss M .........(you with Barbara Streisand’s stage name in the Broadway play that made her a star-—”I Can Get It for You Wholesale”).

[Liz]

Alfred Drake was born Alfred Capurro in New York City, the son of immigrant parents. Drake began his Broadway career while a student at Brooklyn College. He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of Oklahoma!; Kiss Me, Kate; Kismet; and for playing Marshall Blackstone in the original production of Babes in Arms, (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in Kismet, for which he received the Tony Award. He was also a prolific Shakespearean, notably starring as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing opposite Katharine Hepburn.

Drake created the roles of Curley in “Oklahoma”, Fred in “Kiss Me Kate” and the Beggar Poet in “Kismet” in the original Broadway productions. Brother of Metropolitan Opera baritone Arthur Kent. He was first choice for the role of the King in the original 1951 Broadway production of “The King and I”, but turned down the role because of a full schedule. This was before Yul Brynner auditioned and was immediately selected for the role.

Drake won Broadway’s 1954 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for “Kismet,” as well as a Special Tony Award in 1990 “for excellence in the Theatre.” Was also nominated two other times for Best Actor (Musical) Tony Awards: in 1962 for “Kean” and in 1974 for “Gigi.” His salary of $5000 per week for the 1954 Broadway production of “Kismet” made him the highest-paid leading man in Broadway history, until Jackie Gleason demanded (and was given) $5,050 per week in the 1959 production of “Take Me Along”.

Interestingly-—Drake’s rare film role was as president of the Stock Exchange in the 1983 comedy “Trading Places” with Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy and Eddie Murphy.