Impersonators

Sergei Prokofiev; Peter And The Wolf; Orchestre De L'Opera De Lyon; Kent Nagano, conducting; Patrick Stewart, narrating

Sergei Prokofiev wrote the music and narration to “Peter and the Wolf” in just four days in 1936. He had received a commission from Natalya Sats of the Central Children’s Theatre in Moscow. A very small and only casually interested audience attended its premier. Under those circumstances, how could he have foreseen the level of success his playful classic would receive?

When I was in high school, my friend Steve. N. and I purchased a tape called “The White House Rides Again” featuring the impersonations of Rich Little. We couldn’t get enough of it; funniest thing either of us had ever heard. Mr. Little did impressions of Presidents Reagan, Carter, Ford and Nixon, Johnny Carson and a host of others. We discovered later that this recording paid homage to comedian Vaughn Meader who produced a 1962 comedy album entitled “The First Family” that good-naturedly ribbed the JFK White House.

Rich Little was one of the first guests to take the stage with the Boston Pops under the baton of John Williams in the 1980's. In the latter part of the show, he charmed his audience with his imitations of Neil Diamond, Anthony Newley, Frank Sinatra and Kermit the Frog. But the first part of his appearance with the Boston Pops comprised of his narration of “Peter and the Wolf”.

I’m sure that you are aware that Mr. Prokofiev assigned different themes and specific instruments to each character in the story. In that very same spirit, Mr. Little lent the voices of various celebrities and politicians to each character in the story. Leading the charge as the narrator, Jimmy Stewart brought an element of class to the absurd cast of VIPs who had starring roles. The following list presents the Little – Prokofiev all-star “Peter and the Wolf” character-instrument-celebrity lineup:

Peter / string instruments / Johnny Carson

Bird / flute / Paul Lynde

Duck / oboe / Carol Channing

Cat / clarinet / Kirk Douglas

Grandfather / bassoon / President Ronald Reagan

Wolf / French horns / President Richard Nixon

How do you follow an act like that? Maybe by presenting the whole scenario as a news story. “Peter and the Wolf: A Special Report” features such famous NPR voices as Robert Siegel, Linda Wertheimer, Ann Taylor, and Steve Inskeep as they provide a clever contemporary spin on the Masterwork in the style of an “All Things Considered” episode. Maybe. Where’s the fun for the kids, though?

I prefer to hear my old buddy Captain Picard, Patrick Stewart, bringing authority, perceived wit and a voice honed by decades of live English theatre. Peter, in the voice of Mr. Stewart, has a little more bravery, a little more confidence, and a lot more adventure in his daring departure from the safety of his grandfather’s yard.

As I recall, Mr. Little, in his rendition, didn’t stray far from the script. When Jimmy Stewart reveals, however, that, in his haste, the wolf had swallowed the duck alive, President Nixon, as the wolf, declares, “That’s all I need in my stomach: Duck Tape!”

Credits: To Jimmy Stewart, for simultaneously being the model gentleman, actor, General, humanitarian, American and man. Thank you for Mr. Smith, Harvey and the poem about your dog “Beau”.