Sally (musical)

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Sally is a musical comedy with music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Clifford Grey and book by Guy Bolton (inspired by the 19th century show, Sally in our Alley), with additional lyrics by Buddy De Sylva and P. G. Wodehouse. It was originally produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, opening on December 21, 1920 at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. It ran for 570 performances, which was one of the longest runs on Broadway up to that time. By the time it closed in 1924, it would prove to be among the top five money makers of the 1920s. There were also successful productions in 1921 in London and in 1923 in Australia by the J. C. Williamson company.

The show was designed as the musical comedy debut of Marilyn Miller, a 22-year old Ziegfeld Follies girl. Miller would continue to be a star on Broadway until her untimely death in 1936. Kern, Bolton, and Wodehouse had collaborated on a number of musical comedies at the Princess Theatre. The story combined the innocence of these earlier "Princess musicals" with the lavishness of the "Follies" formula. The score recycles some material from previous Kern shows, including "Look for the Silver Lining" and "Whip-poor-will" (with lyrics by De Sylva, from the flop "Zip Goes a Million"); "The Lorelei" (lyrics by Anne Caldwell); and "You Can't Keep a Good Girl Down" and "The Church 'Round the Comer" (lyrics by Wodehouse). Grey supplied the lyrics for the few new songs in the score. At the request of Ziegfeld, Victor Herbert was engaged to write the music to "The Butterfly Ballet" in Act Three.

The plot hinges on a mistaken-identity - Sally, a waif, is a dishwasher at the Alley Inn. She poses as a famous foreign ballerina and rises to fame (and finds love) through joining the Ziegfeld Follies. There is a rags to riches story, an exquisite ballet as a centrepiece and a wedding as a happy finale.

"Look for the Silver Lining" continues to be one of Kern's most familiar songs. A 1929 film version was made with a screenplay by Waldemar Young.

[edit] Roles and original cast

"Pops", Proprietor of the Alley Inn, New York: ALFRED P. JAMES.
Rosalind Rafferty, a manicurist: MARY HAY.
Madame Nookerova's Maid: MARY HAY.
Sascha, Violinist at the Alley Inn: Jacques Rebiroff.
Otis Hooper, a Theatrical Agent: WALTER CATLETT.
Mrs. Ten Broek, a Settlement Worker: DOLORES.
Sally of the Alley, a Foundling: MARILYN MILLER.
Madame Nookerova, a Wild Rose: MARILYN MILLER.
Premier Star of the Follies: MARILYN MILLER.
Connie, a Waiter at the Alley Inn: LEON ERROL.
Duke of Czechogovinia: LEON ERROL.
Miss New York, a Niece: Agatha Dehussey.
Admiral Travers, a gay one: Phil Ryley.
Blair Farquar, an Only Son: IRVING FISHER.
Jimmie Spelvin: STANLEY RIDGES.
Alta: Alta King.
Betty: Betty Williams.
Barbara: Barbara Dean.
Vivian: Vivian Vernon.
Mary: Mary McDonald.
Emily: Emily Drange.
Richard Farquar: Frank Kingdon.
Foundlings (6): Miss Rhinelander: Miss Kingsley. Miss Vanderbilt: Miss Otis. Miss Worth: Miss Maide. Miss Bryant: Miss Henderson. Miss Audubon: Miss Freeland. Miss Bowling Green: Miss Vernon.
Billy Porter: Wade Boothe.
Harry Burton: Jack Barker.
Ensemble of children and dancing girls

[edit] Musical numbers

Act I:

"The Night Time" Jimmy and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey)
"Way Down East" Rosalind Rafferty and Ensemble
"On with the Dance" Otis Hooper, Rosalind Rafferty, Betty and Harry Burton (lyrics by Grey)
"This Little Girl" Mrs. Ten Broek, "Pops" and Foundlings
"Joan of Arc" ("You Can't Keep a Good Girl Down") Sally of the Alley and Foundlings (lyrics by Grey & Wodehouse)
"Look for the Silver Lining" Sally of the Alley and Blair Farquar (lyrics by De Sylva)
"Sally" Blair Farquar and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey)

Act II:

"The Social Game" Jimmie Spelvin and Ensemble
"Wild Rose" Sally of the Alley and Diplomats (lyrics by Grey)
(On the Banks of) "The Schnitza Komisski" Duke of Czechogovinio and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey)
Pzcherkatrotsky Duke of Czechogovinio
"Whip-poor-will" Sally of the Alley and Blair Farquar (lyrics by De Sylva)
"The Lorelei" Otis Hooper, Rosalind Rafferty and Jimmie Spelvin (lyrics by Anne Caldwell)
"The Church Around the Corner" Rosalind Rafferty and Otis Hooper (lyrics by Grey & Wodehouse)

Act III: