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An E-mail From Peggy
(Peggy Gordon is on the far left.)
I was able to contact Ms. Peggy Gordon of the original New York cast of Godspell through e-mail, and had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about being a part of the show. She still has many memories as far as the history of the play, performing in it, and of course continues to remember all her friends that worked with her during its many performances. I thought I'd share bits of our e-mails. Please enjoy!
Hi Annette,
Yes, Jeffrey Mylett was one of my best friends. In fact, what made the original cast so special is that we'd all been best friends at Carnegie for several years before coming to New York with the show. It's truly indescribable how joyful and fulfilling it was to create such a meaningful piece of work with your best friends in the world -- who continue to be so!
In the original version, before Stephen Schwartz joined us, we had a hodge podge of songs, one of which was Jeffrey's gorgeous song, "Creation." When Stephen was brought on board to write new music for the show, all the old songs were taken out, with the exception of mine. However, when we opened at Cherry Lane that magical summer, the second act needed many cuts and we cut a verse of "By My Side."
Jeffrey is the one playing guitar in the background with Gilmer on the New York cast soundtrack. When we did the show originally at LA MAMA, the orchestrations were sparse because the songs were sort of a fun garage rock. There weren't too many of them and they were written by a friend of John-Michael Tebelak's from Cleveland with the exception of Jeffrey's and mine. They were fun to sing, but not that great to listen to. So, when the show was picked up from LA MAMA, our Producers felt strongly that the show really needed new songs.
Stephen was also a Carnegie alum and knew several of us. He wrote these great songs in one month!!! When we reassembled to go into rehearsal for off-Broadway, Stephen told me that he tried to write something to go into the space where BY MY SIDE was but couldn't write anything he liked better so he decided to keep it. Needless to say, he is one of my favorite people on the planet. He continues to be such a good friend and fan. He found out last summer that Tori Amos was covering BY MY SIDE on tour and e-mailed me with great excitement. Stephen and Jeffrey were also incredibly close friends and Stephen took Jeffrey's loss so hard. He still talks about it.
A few years ago I was asked to perform at a Broadway benefit, the theme of which was how you got your big break. I was asked to sing the song. I requested that if we do that I'd like to restore the verse that was cut during previews. We did. Barbara Walsh, a wonderful Broadway star in her own right, recreated Gilmer's original harmonies perfectly. It was recorded onto a CD. All my original cast members (who got the CD as a Christmas present), now have the original version of the song, Gilmer, Jeffrey and I played.
Jeffrey or "Jeffy" (as I would call him) and I were in the same class at Carnegie and became close friends from the jump. He was such an exuberant, loving friend. When we were improvising the show, it became obvious to us that we were creating staging that put the closest of friends together. Jeff and I wound up having so much "business," together on stage. His loss was devastating. I wrote him a parting letter that just said I LOVE YOU all over the page on both sides. He inspired love, he was so loyal as a friend.
I had a chance to visit your amazing site and all I could hear was Jeffrey's infectious laughter as I looked at it. Annette, he would be both so honored and so tickled by your site. Jeff had a healthy ego but he was also so humble and always so appreciative of being loved, which, trust me was easy!
I had a great memory when I looked at your site. It was on a Sunday matinee day at the Cherry Lane Theater. There was a huge thunder storm. During intermission, after Jeff and I gave out our wine to the audience, we ran outside in front of the theater and splashed around in these huge puddles as the rain totally drenched us. We couldn't stop laughing. It was his laughter I heard as I looked at your site, Annette. I know he's smiling.
Thanks for reviving so many great memories,
Peggy Gordon
Thanks, Peggy!
The "By My Side" performance at the Broadway benefit is what you are hearing right now.
(Click the picture below of Peggy Gordon and Stephen Schwartz to return to the From the Godspellers section.)
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