This musical deserved more than its short Broadway run, and has gotten new life in college and regional theaters. I had the honor of performing in a community theater version in 2000. The PBS version is a letdown. It is like a documentary with a few songs thrown in. Sometimes the characters are shown talking to the narrator instead of performing or the songs are sung over still photographs or filmed versions of the actors doing 'work,' which blunts the impact. Some of the songs have been cut, and the 'ensemble' cast rarely interacts or performs together. Plus, it is not all that well cast; Barbara Barrie and Beth Howland are very lackluster in their roles (although I usually like Barbara Barrie). Look for a live performance, it will be worth it.
Review of Working
