Dear World, composer-lyricist Jerry Herman’s 1969 musical that closed after a four-month run, is now remembered chiefly on two counts. First, it was Herman’s unsuccessful follow-up to his juggernaut, Mame—especially in providing another star turn for the great Angela Lansbury, still early in her ascendancy as a first-tier musical theater legend. Second, it has a handful of first-rate Herman songs.

For these reasons and maybe a few more, it seemed inevitable from the beginning of the Encores! series in 1994 that they would present it. If there’s a surprise here, it’s that it took almost three decades to make it happen.

For me, any delay is more understandable now that I’ve seen it. In fairness, I should report that the crowd clearly adored Dear World. I can’t say the same…

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