NOTES: Anyone Can Whistle (originally titled Side Show) was probably ahead of its time. At least some material offended every critic. Many people walked out. But nevertheless it was a masterpiece; an attempt to shake up the musical theatre formula, which, of course, Hair eventually did. Sondheim later perfected some of the concepts used for Whistle and the result was the successful Company. The following production notes are Stephen Sondheim's own instructions: "A Note on the Scenery: The play is written to be performed on a revolving stage against suggestive pieces rather than full, literal sets. The style should be bright, warm, and gay; the colors should be almost primary ... "A Note on the Cast: If the demands of the script were to be taken literally, the play would have to be performed by a cast of hundreds in an enormous arena—where it would die. Like the scenery, the staging should suggest, rather than duplicate literally. "'The many small parts should be performed by a small 'stock company' of five or six versatile musical actors. Although every possible zany costume device should be used, from wigs and eyeglasses to beards and false noses, there should not be any serious attempt to fool the audience. The 'stock company' plus the seven principals should be able to take care of all speaking parts (except mere bits) and musical soloists. "The many extras — rather loosely described as 'townspeople, cookies, tourists, pilgrims' — should be suggested by a small group of good singers and dancers; and, perhaps, by the imaginative use of dummies. "A Note on the Play: Because the style is obviously unconventional, do not look for symbols and/or hidden meanings: there are none. What is meant, is said. The main attempt is simply to tell a good story in farcical terms with wild (if sometimes vicious) humour and music." Anyone Can Whistle (First Complete Recording) Original Broadway Cast Anyone Can Whistle - Vocal Selection Carnegie Hall Concert Cast Recording -1995
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