Little Me (musical)
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- This article is about the musical. For the book, see Little Me.
| Little Me | |
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| Original Broadway Cast Recording | |
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| Music | Cy Coleman |
| Lyrics | Carolyn Leigh |
| Book | Neil Simon |
| Based upon | Little Me, a novel by Patrick Dennis |
| Productions | 1962 Broadway 1964 West End 1982 Broadway revival 1984 West End 1998 Broadway revival |
Little Me is a musical written by Neil Simon, with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh. The original Broadway production was memorable with Sid Caesar in multiple roles with multiple stage accents playing all of the heroine's husbands and lovers. The best known song from the musical is "Real Live Girl."
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[edit] Background
The musical Little Me is based on the novel by Patrick Dennis titled Little Me, The Intimate Memoirs of that Great Star of Stage, Screen and Television/Belle Poitrine, an illustrated autobiography of an imaginary diva (published in 1961). In his memoir, Rewrites:A Memoir, Neil Simon wrote that aside from tailoring the musical's book to the talents of Sid Caesar, the second attraction of the project was a chance to work with choreographer Bob Fosse. "With the exception of Jerome Robbins, for my money Fosse was the best choreographer who ever worked in the theater." [1] (Simon and Caesar had worked together on the television variety program "Your Show of Shows.")
[edit] Productions
Little Me opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 17, 1962 and closed on June 27, 1963, running for 257 performances. Directed by Cy Feuer and Bob Fosse with choreography by Fosse, Sid Caesar starred playing multiple roles, with Virginia Martin as Young Belle and Nancy Andrews as Old Belle.
The London production opened at the Cambridge Theatre on November 18, 1964 and ran for 334 performances. Bruce Forsyth and Eileen Gorlay starred.
The 1982 revival at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre opened on January 21, 1982 and closed on February 21, 1982 after 30 previews and 36 performances. The multiple Caesar roles were split between Victor Garber and James Coco. The director was Robert Drivas and choreographer was Peter Gennaro, with Mary Gordon Murray as Belle; Bebe Neuwirth was in the ensemble.
Little Me was revived on the West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre, opening on May 30, 1984 and running for 334 performances. Russ Abbot and Sheila White starred.
Little Me was revived on Broadway by the Roundabout Theatre Company at the Criterion Center Stage Right as a vehicle for Martin Short, opening on November 12, 1998 and closing on February 7, 1999 after 99 performances and 43 previews. With direction and choreography by Rob Marshall, Faith Prince played the combined roles of Old and Young Belle. According to Rob Marshall: "Without Marty, we wouldn't do it. And we're fortunate that we still have Neil and Cy with us, and they'll be working with us and tailoring it for Marty."[2]
[edit] Plot
- Act I
Belle Poitrine (nee Schlumpfert) writes her autobiography with the help of Patrick Dennis ("The Truth"). As a child from Twin Jugs, Illinois, she lived in poverty, but when she meets Noble Eggleston, from the "right" side of the tracks, she decides that he is the boy for her ("The Other Side of the Tracks/Rich Kids Rag"). Noble's mother disapproves and sends her away, while Belle and Noble profess their love ("I Love You"). Belle is determined to find wealth, culture and social position to win Noble, and sets off on a journey, meeting an assortment of men who will help her.
Her first conquest is old, rich banker Mr. Pinchley ("Deep down Inside") who is accidentally killed when a gun goes off. Arrested and put on trial for murder, she meets Benny and Bernie Buchsbaum in jail and they advise her to "Be a Performer". Acquitted, she becomes famous and performs in vaudeville, where she meets and romances French entertainer Val du Val, who performs his number "Boom-Boom".
At a party during World War I she meets and marries poor-sighted soldier Fred Poitrine ("Real Live Girl"), but Fred dies in a plane crash.
- Act II
Belle and Val go on a ship where she meets Noble again ("I Love [Sinking] You"), but Val du Val dies by falling off the boat and forgetting how to swim. Belle sues the boat company and becomes rich--she attains the wealth she had been seeking.
She then goes to Hollywood to become a star, with the help of Bernie and Benny ("Poor Little Hollywood Star"), and meets the director Otto Schnizler ("Be a Producer"). As they shoot a movie Otto shows an actor what to do with a stage knife but actually stabs himself; Belle laments ("Little Me").
She next journeys to Monte Carlo and meets Prince Cherney. When he has a heart attack and needs his hypodermic needle Belle gives him his fountain pen and he dies ("Goodbye"), but in gratitude he has made her "Countess Zoftig"--she has attained social position.
Through another series of misadventures, Belle and Noble finally unite and her story ends happily.
Note: in the original production one actor played all of the men in Belle's life.
[edit] Musical numbers
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Songs not in the standard production:
- The Gift Of A Second Chance — Belle (cut during previews)
- Don't Ask A Lady — Older Belle (used in the Garber and Coco revival)
- I Wanna Be Yours — Belle and Mr. Worst (used in the Garber and Coco revival)
- Little Me (alternate version)Belle and Servants (used as the opening number of the Martin S — Short revival)
- Mama's Little Girl — Mama and Belle (cut during previews)
- Smart People Stay Single — Belle (cut during previews)
- Be A Performer (Reprise) — Bernie and Benny (Alternate version, salvaged from Gypsy. Only used in the Charles Busch mini-revival, though the lyrics are the ones found in the Vocal selections.)
[edit] Characters
- Mama — mother of Belle. A hooker with a heart of gold. Often played in drag. Her first name, Tallulah, is only given in the Garber and Coco revival.
- Belle Poitrine — the heroine, nee Schlumpfert. Played by two women, Older Belle and Younger Belle in the original version, and by one woman in the Martin Short revival.
- Mrs. Eggleston — Noble's mother. Her first name, Flo, is only given in the Garber and Coco revival. Often played in drag.
- George Musgrove — a young, handsome gambler who falls in love with Belle. Renamed Frankie Polo, the gangster, in the Garber and Coco revival, and Lucky Malone in the Martin Short revival.
The Men in Belle's life:
- Noble Eggleston — Belle's true love
- Mr. Pinchley — old rich man
- The Buchsbaum Brothers — Benny and Bernie, two fast-talking vaudeville bookers
- Val du Val — an entertainer
- Fred Poitrine — a World War I private
- Otto Schnitzler — movie director
- Mr. Worst — An eccentric millionaire. Present only in the Garber and Coco revival.
- Prince Cherney — a Prince
NOTE: The parts of Noble, Mr. Pinchley, Val du Val, Fred Poitrine, Otto Schitzler and Prince Cherney are almost always played by the same actor, from Sid Caesar's days to today. Martin Short added the role of Benny Buchsbaum to this list. An occasional summer stock production has gone the extra mile, doubling Patrick Dennis and George Musgrove as well, but none of these doublings are essential or considered canon.
Other Characters:
- Patrick Dennis — A famous writer, ghost-writing Belle's autobiography. Present only in the original version, since the in-joke that the real Patrick Dennis wrote the fictional autobiography "Little Me" is essentially lost on audiences who do not remember him.
- Brucey — Noble's syncophantic, arrogant sidekick
- Ramona Nightengale — Noble's fiancee, chosen by his mother
- YulnickPrince Cherney's confidante.
- Butler/Hairdressers — At Belle Poitrines Southhampton house. Present only in the original production.
- Junior — Mr. Pichley's son.
- Mrs. Kepplewhite — Mr. Pinchley's secretary.
- Nurse — Mr. Pinchley's nurse.
[edit] Recordings
The Original Broadway Cast Recording (1962) was released on RCA in 1962; a CD was released on March 9, 1993. A London Cast recording (1964 cast) was released by Drg on July 27, 1993. The New Broadway Cast Recording of the 1998 revival was released by Varese Sarabande on March 9, 1999.
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Original Broadway
- Tony Awards
- Best Musical (nominee)
- Best Author of a Musical — Neil Simon (nominee)
- Best Composer and Lyricist — Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh (nominee)
- Best Actor in a Musical (nominee)
- Best Featured Actor in a Musical — Swen Swenson (nominee)
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical — Virginia Martin (nominee)
- Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Best Choreography Bob Fosse — (WINNER)
- Best Direction of a Musical — Cy Feuer (nominee)and Bob Fosse (nominee)
- Best Producer of a Musical — Feuer & Martin (nominee)
- Theatre World Award Swen Swenson (WINNER)
- 1982 Revival
- Tony Awards
- Best Actor in a Musical — Victor Garber (nominee)
- Best Actress in a Musical — Mary Gordon Murray (nominee)
- Best Choreography (nominee)
- 1998 Revival
- Tony Awards
- Best Revival of a Musical(nominee)
- Best Actor in a Musical — Martin Short (WINNER)
- Best Choreography (nominee)
- Best Orchestrations (nominee)
- Drama Desk Awards
- Outstanding Actor in a Musical (nominee)
- Outstanding Choreography (nominee)
[edit] References
- ^ "Rewrites:A Memoir", Neil Simon, p. 110, 1996, Touchstone, ISBN 0684826720
- ^ New York Times, ON STAGE AND OFF, Rick Lyman, March 27, 1998
[edit] External links
- Internet Broadway database listing
- Curtain-Up Review of the revival with Martin Short
- synopsis at nodanw
- New York Times review, 1/22/82
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