Oh, That Apple Tree!

 Yup, that's Alan Alda back in 1966 in The Apple Tree,

the creation of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.

The musical actually consisted of 3 separate stories, 

with a common theme of 

"you think you want something, but then once you get it...

you realize you don't really want it anymore." 

(Sounds sort of like that Woody Allen joke.)

In fact, the show's first title was Come Back! Go Away! I Love You!

I can relate.

The first act was based on 

Mark Twain's "The Diaries of Adam and Eve."

The 2nd, Frank Stockton's "The Lady or the Tiger?"

and the 3rd, "Passionella" written by Jules Feiffer. 

 Also in the cast, Barbara Harris (in her Passionella fluff)

and Larry Blyden.

Director Mike Nichols had originally hoped that Dustin Hoffman

would play one of the leads,

but forgot he was directing a musical and realized later

that Dustin can't sing.

So Alan Alda can? 

No worries, cuz just a year later Mike would cast him

in The Graduate. 

Below Alan and Barbara as Adam and Eve.

 Lots of Tony nominations,

including Best Composer and Lyricist, Best Direction,

and Best Choreography (Lee Theodore),

but Barbara took home the only win.

It ran for one year (1966-67),

and replacements for the cast included

Phyllis Newman for Barbara's role

and Hal Holbrook subbed in for Alan Alda.

Larry Blyden, below!

 There's Hal in Alan's wig, above.

 Oh, I got it!

She's the apple tree.

Jeez.

 Barbara as the Chimney Sweep,

just before her movie star wish comes true

(Oh, to be one...!).

 Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick,

whose other musicals range from

She Loves Me to Fiddler On The Roof

(and several in between and after!).

Jerry passed away in 2010, at the age of 80.

Sheldon turned 96 this past April.

 Who wore it better,

Babs or Kristen?

In 2005, Encores! staged a concert rendition of the musical,

ANNNND in 2007 a full blown production 

was mounted at Studio 54,

Kristin Chenoweth (below) in Barbara's role (and with similar body parts).

Also in the cast:

Brian d'Arcy James and Marc Kudisch.

Alan Alda had a voice over part as God. 

 The only thing good about the revival

was Kristin?

Well, that's what the critics all said.

"Creaky with age", "music uninspired",

you get the drift.

But everyone seemed to love the Chen!

It ran for just over 100 performances.