LORELEI

Book: Kenny Solms and Gail Parent

Music: Jule Styne

Lyrics: Betty Comden and Adolph Green

        (Based on the musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes which ran for 740 performances in 1948 with a book by     

        Anita Loos and Joseph Freed, music by Jule Styne and the lyrics of Leo Robin)

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

Palace Theatre, January 27, 1974 (320 perf.)

Director: Robert Moore

Choreographer: Ernest O. Flatt

Musical Director: Milton Rosenstock

Orchestration: Philip J. Lang and Don Walker

 

Principals:

Lorelei- Carol Channing-

Dorothy- Tamara Long-

Mrs. Spafford- Dody Goodman-

Gus Esmond- Peter Palmer-

Henry Spafford- Lee Roy Reams-

Chorus and Smaller Roles:

SYNOPSIS

        The play opens in a cemetery where widow Lorelei Lee is paying her last respects to her deceased husband. Lorelei, complete with diamonds, tells the audience about her wonderful life with Gus (LOOKING BACK- L to F Solo).

        The scene flashes back from 1944 to 1924 where Lorelei is preparing to sail on the Lle De France without Gus, whose father insists he attend the button makers� convention in Atlantic City; Gus bids her farewell, complete with a gift (BYE BYE BABY- Sc to M/F Duet and Mixed Chorus).

        Dorothy, an Earl Carrol Vanities Chorine, is acting as Lorelei�s chaperone, but with the Olympic team on board, Dorothy probably won�t do much chaperoning (IT�S HIGH TIME- F Solo and Chorus).

        Lorelei, after meeting Henry Spafford, a wealthy young man, decides that Dorothy and he would be a perfect match. After all, why waste time on athletes when there�s wealth around?

        Gus sends Lorelei a telegram, notifying her that Mr. Esmond is searching Lorelei�s past. She confides to Dorothy that her background is a lie; she wasn�t from an old Virginia family (A LITTLE GIRL FROM LITTLE ROCK- L to F Solo). Dorothy is convinced that Lorelei should tell Gus the truth, but she ignores the advice and sets out to find a wealthy substitute, just in case.

        She chances to meet Mr. Gage, a wealthy man with world wide patent rights to the zipper. She instantly foresees the button as becoming obsolete and sets her cap for the Zipper King, but Mr. Gage is a very quiet man (I�M A TINGLE, I�M A GLOW- M Solo and M Chorus).

        The Olympic team works out daily (WORK OUT SONG). Dorothy ignores Lorelei�s advice; she is a sucker for spirited athletes (I LOVE WHAT I�M DOING- F Solo).

        The Lle Lands in Paris, a mecca for American tourists (PARIS, PARIS- Mixed Chorus).

        In Paris, Henry vows undying love for Dorothy (I WON�T LET YOU GET AWAY- Sc to M Solo).

        At the hotel, Lorelei and Dorothy greet the Olympic team, who have just lost but vow to keep trying to win for their President (KEEPING COOL WITH COOLIDGE- 2F/M Trio and Chorus).

        In the midst of the hotel party, Gus enters, shocked at Lorelei�s behavior and furious that her new dress is closed by a zipper. He storms out while Lorelei vows never to marry him. Lorelei and Dorothy sing their views of the opposite sex (MEN- F Duet, Vaudeville style).

        Act II opens at a Paris nightclub, where Lorelei, to further infuriate Gus, is performing a specialty act in her new zipper dress (MAMIE IS MIMI- F Solo).

        A fight ensues when Gus discovers Gage is a zipper manufacturer. He is knocked out, but, upon reviving, tells Lorelei he loves her and has left his father�s business for her (LORELEI- M Solo). Lorelei wisely tells Gus she will only marry him with his father�s permission, so everyone heads home on the Lle de France (HOMESICK BLUES- F Duet to Mixed Chorus).

        At the wedding party, where Dorothy and Henry have been dancing for seventy two hours while waiting for Gus�s father to make a decision, Henry declares he could dance with Dorothy forever (JUST A KISS APART- Sc to M/F Duet) and proposes they get married alongside Lorelei and Gus. Gus�s father breaks down when he hears Lorelei�s business idea and happy couple is united.

        The scene returns to 1944 where Lorelei comments on her wonderful marriage and all she has to show for it (DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL�S BEST FRIEND- F Solo).

NOTES ON THE PRODUCTION

        A remake and update of the original Carol Channing musical needed its star to make it work. While not actually a revival, most of the best material was retained from the original and it did serve as a way to bring Miss Channing plausibly into the role of the young Lorelei Lee.

SONGS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

Instrumentation:

Script: NP (see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)

Vocal Selections: Consolidated Music Publishers

Record/CD: MGM

Rights: Tams-Witmark