Opening night: 19th April 1951
Performances: 267
Composer: Arthur Schwartz
Book: George Abbott
, Betty Smith
Performers: Shirley Booth
Johnny Johnston
Marcia van Dyke
Nathaniel Frey
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Musical Numbers
The Bride Wore Something Old (cut)
Call On Your Neighbour
Don't Be Afraid
Growing Pains
He Had Refinement
I'll Buy You A Star
I'm Like A New Broom
If You Haven't Got A Sweetheart
Is That My Prince?
Look Who's Dancing
Love Is The Reason
Make The Man Love Me
Mine 'Til Monday
Oysters In July (cut)
Payday
That's How It Goes
Tuscaloosa (cut) |
This
show is Fields' closest in style to the new musical play pioneered
by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The story concerns a feckless but charming
dreamer, and his hard-working wife. It was based on an autobiographical
novel of the same name which concentrated on the viewpoint of the
couple's daughter; the daughter's part was much reduced in the musical.
Broadway legend George Abbott wrote the book and directed the first
production. He had two inexperienced stars in Johnny Johnston and
Marcia van Dyke; for both, this was their only stage musical. In the
pivotal role of the heroine's sister, Shirley Booth found a part which
fitted her unusual talents perfectly.
Schwartz wrote a beautiful melodious score and Fields found a new
voice, showing real sympathy for and understanding of the struggling
Brooklyn characters. A simple but memorable piece of proletariat philosophising
is at the centre of Payday , the second
act opener.
Clothes, clothes, clothes, clothes …
You wear 'em, you soil 'em,
You soak 'em, you boil 'em,
You dry 'em, then iron 'em,
Laugh in 'em, cry in 'em,
Live in 'em, die in 'em
That's how it goes
Why the lord knows
But that's how it goes.
She also displayed her talent for character comedy in the hilarious
He Had Refinement, in which the singer praises her former husband's
refinement, unwittingly revealing his profound lack of it.
Shirley Booth and her character are reckoned to have been the show's
greatest strength and its greatest weakness. Great comic material
was written for her and performed magnificently by her, but this unbalanced
the show completely. Her character was not central to the plot and
yet the show ended up revolving around her, reducing the dramatic
impact created by the main storyline.
The part of the daughter was played by the late Nomi Mitty who was
an experienced child performer. A friend of hers reveals that although
Mitty could not sing at all.. " somehow George Abbott fought to
hire her and keep her in the show, much to the dismay of Arthur Schwartz
and Dorothy Fields (understandably). According to Nomi, Francie originally
had three or four quite wonderful songs but as rehearsals went forward,
they all had to be cut because she couldn't sing. She said by the
time the show had reached New York, she cringed every time she was
around Schwartz or Ms. Fields, because she felt so guilty at their
wonderful songs being cut because of her. She also said that Schwartz
and Ms. Fields tried to be pleasant to her, but were clearly upset
that they had a non-singing Francie. "
Sheet music cover for the song I'm Like A
New Broom:
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