Some Enchanted Evenings

The Glittering Life and Times of Mary Martin

By: David Kaufman

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 17 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Mary Martin was one of the greatest stars of her day. Growing up in Texas, she was married early to Benjamin Hagman and gave birth to her first child, Larry Hagman. She was divorced even more quickly. Martin left little Larry with her parents and took off for Hollywood. She didn't make a dent in the movie industry and was lured to New York, where she found herself auditioning for Cole Porter and his new show Leave It to Me! After she sang the bawdy "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", she ended up on the cover of Life magazine. Six years later, she became the toast of Broadway when she starred in South Pacific. After that, she flew as Peter Pan, yodeled in The Sound of Music, took Hello, Dolly! on the road, and shared a four-poster with Robert Preston in I Do! I Do!

Her personal life was just as interesting: in NYC, she met and married Richard Halliday, a closeted upper-class homosexual who adored her, Broadway, and interior decorating (though probably not in that order). They were a powerful twosome. There were rumors about Martin, too, being in a lesbian relationship with both Janet Gaynor and Jean Arthur. Peopled with legends like Ethel Merman, Ezio Pinza, Noël Coward, and a starry cast of thousands, David Kaufman's Some Enchanted Evenings is the delectable story of the one and only Mary Martin, a self-described chicken farmer from Texas who became Peter Pan and captured America's heart.

©2016 David Kaufman (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good Biography

Good biography of Mary Martin starting with her beginnings and how she rose to fame.

A Wonderful Tribute To The Greatest Star

As a life long fan of Mary Martin, I found this book a wonderful, thorough, romp through the ups and downs of the life of “the soul that will never grow up.” Offering fair and detailed accounts of performances, reviews, and life events, I was only sad that it didn’t go on longer. I truly felt that I was there, watching her life play out. 10/10 would recommend!

Mary Was Not Who I Thought She Was

If you could sum up Some Enchanted Evenings in three words, what would they be?

A great read.

What other book might you compare Some Enchanted Evenings to and why?

Angelica Houston's memoir. The craft of acting and the work of celebrity are illuminated in both books.

What does Bernadette Dunne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Witty impersonations of famous voices.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mary's turning down the lead role in Hello, Dolly. Whoops. She was great in the road company and had the humility and the canniness to turn her version into yet another feather in her cap.

Any additional comments?

I didn't know she was lesbian and her husband was gay. Their marital life wasn't entirely a sham, though. They were each other's biggest fans.

"Glittering" Book - NOT

Waaaaaaaay too long and repetitive. The author managed to make an interesting woman boring.The narrator contributed by droning on in a flat tone except when she ineptly tried to mimic Mary Martin's inimitable voice. I was surprised by her performance, because I have listened to and liked many of her other narrations. I gave up listening and will ask for a refund.