Lola: Original Cast Recording

Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's Lola attracted little attention when it was produced by the York Theatre Company for twenty performances in March 1982, with Jane White and Leigh Beery in the cast. A studio cast album was recorded in 1985 by Painted Smiles Records. It has now been remastered and rereleased on CD by Harbinger Records, and the score has much to recommend it. Richardson and Elmslie are best known for their ill-fated The Grass Harp, which lasted seven performances in 1971. The Grass Harp was flawed, certainly, and adversely affected during development by severe underfinancing; but much of the score is highly melodic and extremely ingratiating. Fans of The Grass Harp will not be surprised to find that Lola has similar attributes.

Track Listing 

1.    Lola Montez's Mazurka    
2.    Mirrors and Shadows    
3.    Shuffle the Cards    
4.    A New Life    
5.    Staying In    
6.    Uncrowned Queen of Californi-ay    
7.    Staring    
8.    Hooked!    
9.    Palace Memories    
10.    The Whores Behind the Doors    
11.    Beauty Secrets    
12.    Winter Comes in Summer    
13.    Down Under    
14.    Many Happy Returns    
15.    Oranges From Seville / My Lola    
16.    The Pledge    
17.    The Palace of Pleasure    
18.    Beauty Secrets -- Barbara Cook (Bonus)