| Tom Foolery | |
|---|---|
| Music | Tom Lehrer |
| Lyrics | Tom Lehrer |
| Book | Cameron Mackintosh |
| Productions | 1980 West End 1981 Off Broadway |
Tom Foolery is a musical revue based on lyrics and music that Tom Lehrer first performed in the 1950s and 1960s.
Devised and produced by Cameron Mackintosh, it premiered in London at the Criterion Theatre, directed by Gillian Lynne, on 5 June 1980, where it had a successful run. It subsequently opened on December 14, 1981 off-Broadway at the Top of the Gate in Greenwich Village, New York, where it ran for 120 performances.[1][2] The cast included Jonathan Hadary.[3] Lehrer himself was brought in as a consultant.
The revue features 28 of Lehrer's satirical songs that were written in the 1950s and 60s, known for their "witty naughtiness".[3] Stage directions suggest each actor use their own name and wait onstage in a bar area while the others perform.[2]
Lehrer later played two songs from this revue (and from his many albums) at the Cameron Mackintosh celebration Hey, Mr. Producer!.[4] One number is available on a videotape of the same name.
Two cast recordings have been released, one by the original London cast (Robin Ray, Jonathan Adams, Martin Connor and Tricia George),[5] the other much rarer one by the Canadian cast.
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