At 12 I was the "littlest urchin" in the show on Broadway (fifty four years ago) and watched this from the wings every night. I will never tire of this. He was a genius.
@menobodyknows . Ahhhhhh ! I shared a dressing room with Sally Smith… ( Was the Female Swing; & was 2nd u/s for her, in Aspects of Love, 1989-90 in London … what a joy. Wasn't she LOVELY?! Adored her. So strong, so bawdy n;' irreverent ... I pretty much get chills imagining the experience you must’ve had. I’ve just adored Anthony Newley since I was a little kid …. My Dad even looks a lot like him! WHAT an unparalleled genius he was, indeed. I am so wistfully jealous here… 🤣 💕 Well… That’s just beautiful. What fantastic memories for you. Cheers, mate! 💜☮️🦅🌳🐸🌊♥️
Amazing, amazing, amazing! How lucky you were, and how talented to be in that production! I first saw it at the age of 9. My father had opened a college coffeehouse in 1967 in a place called Normal, Illinois. He had an art gallery upstairs showcasing local university painters and photographers and had poetry readings and plays put on in the main level. In 1969, he had pulled in this show from one of the local universities. When Cocky sang Who Can I Turn To, the black line of a tear fell down his painted white face every evening. I couldn’t get over it.
I am so knocked out by this performance, which is so mannered, so choreographed and more than a bit self-indulgent. And I love every single mannered, choreographed and self-indulgent moment of it! Thank you Anthony! You’re a star.
For everyone here and now in 2023 all alone in a world where all has gone wrong and almost out of hope..inspire your self with this song for a brighter tomorrow ❤
Incredible! A musical genius no less! No words can describe what I felt while watching Anthony Newley's incomparable performance. A master class indeed!
Bowie wanted to know what his vocal tricks were, and how he managed to create the illusion he was a great singer, when he was just a great showman, who used every trick in the book from Al Jolson to Charlie Chaplin to Judy Garland. Bowie copied him. Or tried to.
Saw him do this on Broadway-- still get chills. His passion was so genuine, and in context, you couldn't keep the tears away. Some were disappointed it wasn't another "Stop the World", but this was more layered and complex. Not many songwriters are the ones who perform their creations best.
You are right - I’d forgotten about that terrific aspect of the show. BTW, you don’t hear much about Broadway or off-Broadway these days days. I wonder if anything of value is happening there. I don’t mean the money-spinning tourist rubbish.
Has anyone thought of reviving this musical on Broadway or maybe make a musical of Anthony Newley’s life? He was such a musical genius in my opinion and he and his partner wrote some beautiful and wonderful songs for both stage and screen.
Anthony Newley and me were children during the 1940's although Anthony was five years older than me so w both began our schooldays as four year olds but Anthony left school at 14 years of age and I left school age 15 during 1951.
David listened to Anthony Newley as a child. With his mother Thank goodness, he encapsulated his music in the 80.90's. What a wonderful time of musicians and singers we had then.
my father took me and my sister to NYC to see Roar of the grease paint smell of the crowd. I was 13 at the time and was raised listening to Broadway musical soundtracks my whole life. but to see this on Broadway was magical for me. I've been a Newley fan for many yrs now, and still enjoy his music. He was a great talent and I miss his song writing style.
Wow what a performance ,sad powerful, recalled my lovely wife,always together ,Someone to "guide me and someone beside me " So very true .....For all the lost dreams and special loves ... .
Before the arrival of the Beatles, Newley's imported Broadway hit, "Stop The World, I Want To Get Off", revolutionized the structure of the American Broadway musical. It was a wonderful time to be a theater-loving teenager in NYC. God, I miss this genius!
+Bronxboy47 i'm bronxboy too and saw Roar on Broadway. Never got over it. Still haven't and its 2015. greatest time to be a teen in love with musicals on B'way. i miss the genius, too.
Bronxboy47. Wow So jealous of you having been able to see Greasepaint. That's the one disadvantage of more living on the East coast. What wonderful memories you have. Bravo!
I saw Mr newley in a small theatre in a place called Swindon UK, ln the wyvern theatre shortly before he passed away. I was enthralled I couldn't take my eyes off him, what a performance a pleasure to have been there.
My Mom saw Roar of the Greasepaint,Smell of the Crowd on stage in 1965. She became a big Anthony Newley fan afterwards and always saw whatever he was in on TV. I listened to the record Of the Broadway show many times and know many of it's songs, including this one.
An ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT performance! His movements definitely gives the song more meaning and depth. They convey the hopelessness and sadness of the character who believes that even God has abandoned him. I love this performance a lot!
I saw "Roar Of The Greasepaint" on Broadway when I was 15 years old. Anthony Newley was a unique and original talent. His voice was so different from anything out there that just about everyone (including myself) would imitate him. He was a brilliant talent and I hope that the younger generation rediscovers him.
This performance in my opinion is one of Anthony's Newley's best ever, I've forgotten how many times I have played this version so far, pure dynamite in my opinion this performance absolute Brilliance. So sad that he has passed. Sleep warm Tony
What an amazing & moving performance of such an emotional song. From the moment I saw Doctor DoLittle in the theater, as a child, I fell in love with Anthony Newley when he burst into "My Friend The Doctor". And I have been a fan ever since. I find it quite sad that this new generation will never come to understand and truly appreciate his talent. On a side note, am I the only one who finds him channeling the great Judy Garland in this performance? Simply beautiful!
I’ve watched this many times - such an incredible performance. I’ve shared it a LOT, and it’s not to everyone’s taste. Too mannered for some, and too emotionally vulnerable. Both of which are the reasons I love it, and come back to it again, and again, and again. Thank you Anthony for the spectacular and moving performance.
A beautiful man with a beautiful heart. I remember watching this performance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1965. I was 12 years old and have loved him ever since. So brilliant, yet so child like. Ed was certainly impressed.....so lovely. LOVE YOU FOREVER, ANTHONY.🥰🥰🥰
I could not take them as a young person in my twenties I didn't get it but as I got older in my 40s and 50s he grew on me and he was amazing ultimate performer God bless them and may He rest in peace
I have loved this song all my life and Tony Newley was a magnificent talent. I am glad I could find it here. I woke up this morning with this song in my head and had to hear it. Weird huh.
What a true star of stage,many people did not like some of his quirky ways,but any human who can give such an emotional performance must be blessed with this. For many years I ran an art gallery,and the best artists always had an abstract Personality quirk it was expected, I could watch Tony's performance over and over. Peace to the world
I first learned of Anthony Newley when I was a teenager, and I'd never heard anyone like him before, or since. Perhaps it was his British accent which initially captured me, as in pre-Beatles days, it was a rare thing to hear in America. But, ultimately, his incredible voice, dramatic flair, intonation and songwriting ability sealed the deal for this forever fan. I still recall this appearance on Sullivan as I previously had only seen photos of him, and was anxious to see him on live TV. Wow- was I blown away by his stage presence ! He, like Michael Jackson and Sammy Davis, Jr , was a child entertainer, so he had Malcolm Gladwell's prescribed 10,000 hours to perfect his craft. Perfect, indeed !
I once got to interview the great jazz singer Joe Williams, who said to me, "People go to hear Anthony Newley and have no idea of the greatness of what they are hearing."
2:50 Always brings me to tears, it is a sublime moment when the music, his voice and the small character he is performing all come together, this doesn't happen very often and when it does it is usually in an aria sang by one of the worlds top singers yet here he does it with no set or anything else, just him, the music and the lights, what a performance
With you I'm a new day who can I turn to if you turn away this song and Mr newllys brilliant performance brings tears to my eyes I have lived the majority of my life alone sent to boarding school in Conn at a young age song of my life this so g kept me going through rough spots thank you Mr newllys!!!
Saw a new production of this in London in the late 80s. It was tremendous but for some reason it closed after a few weeks. Newley was great and was glad to have seen him live.
The man is a genius, no question. What a great privilege to be able to enjoy and appreciate his work, long after he left us. Thank you, Anthony Newley ! .
