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American Morning

Elliot Gould Remembers "The Fantasticks"

Aired January 14, 2002 - 09:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The curtain came down to end an era. The nation's longest running musical ever, celebrated it's last two shows yesterday. Going dark after some 17,000 performances. "The Fantasticks" was a Broadway engine with sold out shows, and a cast of actors over the decades that reads like a Who's Who.

Including, Elliot Gould, who has come a long way since starring opposite Liza Minelliti -- Minelli, that is -- in 1966. Gould, of course became famous in the movie "M.A.S.H.," long before there ever was a "M.A.S.H" television series. And he is currently featured on the big screen, in the remake of the "Rat Pack" classic heist film, "Ocean's Eleven."

But, as mentioned, before all that, Elliot Gould appeared in that little musical called "The Fantasticks." It opened to mixed reviews in 1960, at the tiny Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village. And I talked with Elliot, and asked him to try to remember.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

Elliot, it's great to see you, again.

ELLIOT GOULD, ACTOR: Thanks, Paula, I'm really thrilled to be here..

ZAHN: How does a show survive 42 years?

GOULD: Just having a great score. Having an amazing metaphorical story about innocence. And I'm sure through the devotion and love that the people who have been running it for all of these years, being committed to it.

ZAHN: When you heard about the story for the first time, and you saw the score...

GOULD: Yeah...

ZAHN: ...and you were asked to potentially consider being part of it, did you this show was going to make it?

GOULD: Well, my first consciousness of it was I -- my first show, I started out in the chorus in 1957. And we're always looking for work. And there's so few opportunities for us. And in "Show Business," which is a weekly newspaper that says where there are opportunities for actors and performers, there was an ad saying this is going to be a new show. Its called "The Fantasticks," and it's written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt It's going to be directed by Ward Baker (ph).

And there's a part of a girl -- one girl, a boy, a narrator, two fathers, and old Indian and an old actor. And I thought, oh -- and Off Broadway, at that time, was something that was sort of new. And it's sort of lasted through my entire career.

ZAHN: You've done a lot of work in your career. But you look back at your work in "The Fantasticks," both in New York and on the road as a very special experience.

GOULD: Yeah. You know, I mean I got to sing "Try To Remember." I think I probably did 60 some performances maybe 70 some. No more than 80. And once I really nailed it. I sang it really well once. I also was reminded by somebody that I did it on "THE TONIGHT SHOW" with Johnny Carson. You know, "Try To Remember."

ZAHN: You only give yourself credit for getting it right 1 out of 80 times.

GOULD: For nailing once. I mean, I'm okay -- in terms of doing live theater, the difference between being "okay" and being "really good" is a hair. As you know, as a professional, you know.

ZAHN: Oh, yeah! We hate everything we do. We're glad it goes away every day, and we can come back and try it again the next day.

GOULD: You know, being a perfectionist is very limiting. But, I mean, what a score. You know, "soon it's going to rain." And the originals, Rita Gardner, whose husband, Herb wrote "Thousand Clowns." Rita as the original girl and Jerry Auerbach, who nobody liked, Jerry Auerbach really sang it. So I was approached to do this production with Liza, who had done something called, "Best Foot Forward." And Ward Baker directed us, and it was an amazing experience. And it's really hard to accept that it's going to close. But I feel that, evidently, business-wise, it has to close. Only for it to reopen again in the future as a major revival.

ZAHN: Well, we were delighted to give you the opportunity to reflect on the show and what it's meant to you in your life. Elliot Gould, great to see you again.

GOULD: And I am delighted, Paula. Thanks. Nice to be with you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: A real end to the hour.

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