Hello, fellow musical theatre aficionados! For this week’s Forgotten Musical Friday, we’re diving into the glitzy, glamorous world of Two on the Aisle, a sparkling gem that graced Broadway in the early 1950s. With a score by Jule Styne and the razor-sharp wit of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, this show is a delightful romp you’ll wish you’d found out about sooner!

Two on the Aisle was a landmark collaboration, Comden and Green’s first team-up with Jule Styne – and what a team they made! They went on to create classics like Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi and Hallelujah, Baby! while also having many successes outside their partnership. Comden and Green had already created On the Town with Leonard Bernstein and would soon work with him again on Wonderful Town, while Styne would go on to create one of the greatest musicals of all time with Stephen Sondheim, Gypsy.

Premiering at the Mark Hellinger Theater on July 19, 1951, Two on the Aisle was an evening of comedy routines and dazzling musical numbers, designed to showcase the legendary talents of Bert Lahr. Dolores Gray co-starred, adding her own sparkle to the proceedings, despite a well-documented backstage rivalry with Lahr. The show ran for 276 performances and left audiences cheering for more.

The many musical highlights in this show are all preserved on an excellent original cast album released by Decca. The show opens with a bouncy overture that sets the tone for an evening of fun and glamour. Show Train, the opening number, is a fantastic ride through Broadway’s hits of the time, packed with references to shows like Guys and Dolls and The King and I. Comden and Green’s sharp wit shines through, giving the audience a delightful ride into the revue. The ensemble is also given a chance to shine in the toe-tapping “Here She Comes Now.”

Gray has several numbers that showcase her appeal and vocal chops. “Hold Me, Hold Me, Hold Me” is charming and sweet, capturing the character’s yearning for affection over material wealth, while “If You Hadn’t, But You Did” sees her put off a song that starts off like a torch song, but delivers a twist that’s simply breathtaking. Comden and Green’s work in this latter song features some ingenious rhyming sequences and Gray’s performance is electrifying. “How Will He Know?” gives the audience a more typical period torch song, with Gray delivering a heartfelt performance as a woman in love with her boss. It’s sympathetic and touching, a quieter moment amidst the comedy and spectacle. Another song, the playful “Give a Little, Get a Little” is a joyful meditation on modern life, with rhythmic wordplay that’s utterly charming, even more so owing to Gray’s delivery of the lyric. The last of the showcase pieces created for Gray, “There Never Was a Baby Like My Baby,” stands out as a clever and memorable song, showcasing the kind of brilliance Comden and Green would show in their Hollywood classics, Singin’ in the Rain and The Band Wagon. Set to a seductive melody by Styne it’s a golden age song that begs to be rediscovered.

Gray teams up with Lahr in numbers like “Vaudeville Ain’t Dead/Catch Our Act at the Met,” a hilarious take on opera, filled with jolly puns and infectious energy. It’s a comedic goldmine that must have audiences of the time in stitches. Lahr’s star spot, “The Clown” is a great showcase for his unique talents. His work here proves that a little Lahr can go a long way. Those who loved his performance of “If I Were King of the Forest” as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, are sure to adore this number: it’s classic Lahr, full of whimsy and heart.

On the whole, Two on the Aisle is a blast from the past that deserves to be remembered and celebrated. The cast recording is a treasure trove of the show’s brilliant performances and catchy tunes. If you haven’t given it a listen, now’s the time. Grab your headphones and let Two on the Aisle” take you back to a time when Broadway was all about glitz, glamour, and pure, unadulterated fun. This material is too good to be forgotten – so let’s give it the recognition it deserves!