Georgia Brown

A soaring talent with little to do

One of the most brilliant artists that British musicals mostly ignored was born Lillie Klot in Whitechapel on 21 October 1933 of a working-class family, and was educated at The Central Foundation Grammar School, London. She became Georgia Brown (the name taken from the song 'Sweet Georgia Brown', reflecting her interest in singing jazz), a leading lady who shot to fame when she created the role of Nancy in Lionel Bart's Oliver!

Her first appearance in London was in February 1956 at the Royal Court in a notable revival of The Threepenny Opera, billed here as 'a Soho musical'. Sam Wanamaker's production had a fascinating cast, including Bill Owen as Macheath, Warren Mitchell as Crookfinger Jack, Ewan MacColl as the Street Singer, Daphne Anderson as Polly Peachum and Georgia Brown as Lucy. The show was successful enough to enjoy a transfer to the Aldwych Theatre in March 1956, and in September 1957 she made the first of several appearances in New York when she played the same role in the off-Broadway edition of The Threepenny Opera. Again at the Royal Court, in January 1960 she was cast as Jeannie, the leader of 'a girls' teddy gang', in Harry Cookson's musical The Lily White Boys. She was in good company among the small cast that included Albert Finney, Ronnie Stevens, James Grout and Willoughby Goddard.

Her most remembered success came when she played Nancy in Oliver! at the New Theatre in June 1960, playing the role in London until she repeated it in Los Angeles in August 1962, opening on Broadway in December 1962. She deservedly won critical plaudits for her memorable performance, and had a terrific second act aria 'As Long As He Needs Me' which suited her smoky, dark tones admirably. Her recording of the ballad on the original cast recording (and it has never been bettered by the blown-up revivals that have followed) is a classic. It was obvious that in Brown British musicals had a leading lady with guts and a voice that belonged to a genuine, probably great, singer. It might have alerted British writers and producers to use her unique qualities, but they didn't respond. There should have been shows built around her, but no one had the imagination to create them.

The best she could get on returning to London was a take-over from Rachel Roberts in the title role of Lionel Bart's Maggie May at the Adelphi Theatre in February 1965. In fact, Bart had originally offered the part of Liverpool's most famous tart to Brown, but she had turned it down. She went back to the Royal Court in a play in 1971, but it was Broadway that seemed to offer the best opportunities, and Brown had set up home there. Unfortunately, the shows she got into didn't work.

There was general agreement that she was excellent in the title role of the Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane show Carmelina, but the piece didn't impress. After opening on Broadway in April 1979 it was off after only 17 performances. Admirers of Miss Brown will not want to be without the superb cast recording, made after the show had closed. In Britain she starred in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in August 1984. Back on Broadway, she led the company of another flop, Roza, in October 1987, but it closed after 12 showings. It wasn't Brown's fault, for she delivered another wonderful performance. Neither New York or Britain had anything else to offer except a one-night charity performance of Mack and Mabel at Drury Lane in February 1988 during which Brown sang 'Time Heals Everything'. Fortunately, beside the original cast recordings she left behind, there are also studio session recordings (including the LPs 'Georgia Brown Sings Gershwin' and 'The Many Shades of Georgia Brown') that prove what a distinctive, dramatic and rare performer she was. And the British theatre let her slip away.

Georgia Brown died in England in July 1992.

Selected discography

Oliver! Original London cast
Carmelina Studio Recording with members of original Broadway cast
Mack and Mabel Concert performance recordings

 

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