 BYE BYE BIRDIE
Book by Mike Stewart Lyrics by Lee Adams; Music by Charles Strouse
Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway 14 April, 1960 (607 perfs)
Her Majesty's Theatre, London - 15 June, 1961
Synopsis
THAT this American musical should centre upon an English
" pop " singer of the Beatle type when his original was already to hand
in the shape of Elvis Presley, is evidence of how wide a currency our
version of this class of entertainer obtains nowadays.
Although he has an important role, the magnetic Conrad
Birdie is not the hero of the play, but rather his manager Albert Peterson,
aided by the latter's secretary Rose Alvarez. She urges Albert to abandon
this mode of existence and fulfil his academic calling, but he must first
find fifty thousand dollars compensation for Conrad and the 3 Birdies
upon termination of contract due to their having been conscripted into
the American Armed Forces. Rose soon has a plan to realise this sum. Albert is to
compose a " hit " tune, One Last Kiss, for the televising on The
Ed Sullivan Show of a personal farewell to Conrad by the Secretary
of the Birdie Fan Club, Kim Macafee, who lives in Sweet Apple, Ohio. News
of the call-up so upsets one young fan that Albert feels obliged to restore
her spirits in Put On a Happy Face. The Birdies' reception by the
local worthies is the occasion for Conrad's " pop " philosophical Honestly
Sincere, which provokes the usual screams and faintings (not always
confined to the teenage generation).
When Albert's Mother (non-singing) mischievously introduces
the vampish Gloria (non-singing) to Albert, Rose responds by getting Kim's
" steady," Hugo Peabody (non-singing), to wreck the television show by
settling his differences with Conrad in front of the cameras.
Later, Kim joins Rose in singing What Did I Ever See
In Him? then informs her parents she has A Lot of Living to Do
with Conrad. The severely strained relationships are highlighted by the
dissension between the younger and older generations as Mr. and Mrs. Macafee
sing Kids. Kim's and Conrad's example is followed by others, among
whom Rose, firstly in Spanish Style, then near-Turkish, dances her way
into a private meeting of Sweet Apple Rotarians. Albert gets her back
only by at last putting an end to his mother's interference. When Conrad
sees how his supposed view of life is misconstrued by Kim he is glad to
drop the pose. He regards his call-up as a redemption and relieves Albert
of his contractual obligations.
|
