CRAZY FOR YOU

THE NEW GERSHWIN^® MUSICAL

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin; Book by Ken Ludwig

Co-conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent. Inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan.

Originally produced on Broadway by Roger Horchow and Elizabeth Williams

THE STORY

Act I | Act II | List of Characters | List of Scenes | Musical Numbers

ACT ONE

It is backstage at the Zangler Theater in New York City in the 1930s during a performance of the "Zangler Follies."

Impresario Bela Zangler is in love with Tess, his Dance Director but since Zangler is married, Tess rejects his advances. Also back stage is Bobby Child, heir to a wealthy banking family, who yearns to be in show-business. Bobby talks Zangler into letting him audition on the spot, but the audition is not a success. Outside the theatre, Bobby is accosted by Irene, his wealthy fiancée, whom he doesn't want to marry, then by his mother, who insists that he go to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on a property. Bobby escapes the argument by conjuring up the Follies Girls. When he returns to reality, he chooses Deadrock over Irene and hurries off to Grand Central station and for Deadrock.

Deadrock is a has-been mining town where the only woman in town is Polly Baker, a feisty postmistress. Her father, Everett, owns the Gaiety Theater that has now gone to seed. Everett has received a letter from New York stating that a banker named Bobby Child has been sent to foreclose on the theatre as the mortgage payments have not been made. Polly vows that if she ever meets this "Bobby Child "she'll do "something ugly". Moments later, Bobby staggers into town, sees Polly and falls instantly in love with her. Polly, beneath her brusque exterior, yearns privately for a man she can love.

The towns saloon is owned by Lank Hawkins," a man of vision" who wants to marry Polly and buy Everett's Theatre. Inside the saloon, Polly meets Bobby for the first time, and Bobby declares her love for her. Polly is unimpressed with his Eastern Ways, but Bobby urges her to "have her fling" and teaches her to dance.

As they dance Polly falls deeply in love with Bobby. That night, on the stage of the Gaiety Theater, Bobby gets an idea: the theatre can be saved by putting on a show! After Polly is persuaded to join the plan, Bobby introduces himself. " I'm Bobby Child" The name sinks in and Polly slaps him across the face. He's from that bank! This is a trick! Heartbroken , Polly flees in tears, never wanting to see him again . Bobby, too, is heartbroken, when suddenly, spying a trunk of costumes, he gets another idea: "Bela Zangler!" Three days later, ten glamorous Follies Girls arrive in Deadrock to the amazement of the men folk. Along with the girls is Bobby masquerading as Zangler complete with beard, cane and Hungarian accent. He's been sent, he says, by Bobby Child. Polly and Everett readily agree to let the great impresario put on a show to save the theatre.

Everyone rushes off to the first rehearsal. Two weeks later, preparation for the show are in full swing. Although the men-folk are still disastrous performers. "Zangler" (i.e. Bobby) changes all that in the course of a single rehearsal. Irene now shows up, looking for Bobby She recognises him and threatens to expose him to Polly if he doesn't promise to return with her to New York. When Irene leaves, "Zangler" tries to persuade Polly to give Bobby a chance; but Polly confesses that she's madly in love with him - "Zangler". Bobby is horrified. This is not what he was planning. The following evening, the cast is busily preparing for the show. Lank is desperate to stop the show, and Irene is desperate to find Bobby, who's been hiding from her all day. When people are spotted coming from the station, the cast assembles excitedly on the street. Alas, the only arrivals are an English couple. These are the Fodors who are writing a guide book to the American West. They come to review Lank's saloon. Lank, triumphant, leads the Fodors gleefully into his establishment. The company has now hit rock bottom, and "Zangler" is the most desolate of all. He apologies for failing the town, but as he starts to leave, Polly speaks up. So what if they didn't sell any tickets? Since "Zangler" come along, something magical happened. The whole town has been working together, caring for each other, and "feeling alive!". As despairs turns to celebration, the real Zangler staggers into town and collapses on the street. In their frenzy of joy, no one sees him.

ACT TWO

That night in the saloon, the town is still celebrating. Bobby, his time running out, asks Polly to marry him. When she turns him down, confessing that she is in love with "Zangler", he explains that he is "Zangler" the man she fell in love with. She doesn't believe him - and as he tries to convince her, the real Zangler staggers in. As Polly kisses Zangler with passion, Bobby grabs a bottle of liquor and exits. When Polly leaves, Zangler explains to Tess that his wife left him and that he come to Deadrock to be with Tess! Suddenly she gets an idea; he, Zangler, could save the theatre! As an experienced producer, he'd know how to advertise . When Zangler refuses, Tess walks off.

Zangler is now drunk, and a moment later, Bobby reels out of his room, also drunk, dressed us "Zangler" to prove to Polly that he wasn't lying. The two Zanglers bewail the loss of their women. The next morning, Polly sees two Zanglers out cold under the table and realises that Bobby was telling the truth. But instead of loving him for it, as Bobby expects, she's totally humiliated and storms angrily out of the saloon. By now, Lank is a complete wreck from catering to the Fodors. When Irene finds him, he goes into a rage, and realises that she and Lank - soul mates in frustration - are made for each other. She wastes no time in seducing him. A few minutes later in the refurbished theatre, the cast is having a meeting. With two weeks left on the mortgage, the issue is whether to try putting on the show again or to let the bank foreclose. As everyone bickers, the Fodors step forward and offer their own, very British philosophy. By the end of the number, Polly is now no longer angry with Bobby. The issue is put to a vote, and to Bobby and Polly's amazement, the decision of the company is to give up. They tried the show once and it didn't work. Why should it work a second time?

The company straggles off and Bobby says goodbye to Polly. He's going back to New York. Polly is shocked, but when Bobby hints that he'd stay for her sake, she's too proud to admit that she loves him. After thanking her for so many fond memories, Bobby leaves: Polly mourns the loss of her one true love. Suddenly, Zangler sweeps into the theatre . Having seen the company perform "Stiff Upper Up" he's decided to revive the show and writes check after check to pay for a new effort. Zangler then confesses to Tess that although the Cowboys are good dancers, he's really doing it all for her. He truly loves her. Tess, for once, is speechless. Six weeks later, in New York, Bobby is trying to be a banker, but all he can think about is Polly and Deadrock. Mother , however, has a present for him. She's foreclosed on the Zangler Theater, and she gives him the deed. At first Bobby is delighted; but when he learns that Zangler lost the property by wasting his money on that theatre in Nevada " - all for Tess's sake - he's suddenly bereft.

The Follies Girls now appear in his mind and remind him that fame and money are transitory; only love matters . His fighting spirit renewed, Bobby tears up the deed to the Zangler Theatre and heads for Deadrock. Back in Deadrock, the town sparkles. The saloon is now a spiffy café run by Lank and Irene, who are happily married. And the theatre has been playing to full houses and has paid off its mortgage . However, a crisis is in progress. Polly, now the star of the show, has realised how desperately she misses Bobby, and she's leaving for New York to find him. After she leaves, Bobby runs in and learns that the show he prepared has saved the theatre. He realises that at lost he's accomplished something. As this sinks in, Everett and Mother see each other and full in love. But only when Polly unexpectedly reappears that all is resolved. As the Town looks on Polly and Bobby run into each other's arms - and start to dance.

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES  

ACT ONE

Scene 1: WINGS & STAGE OF ZANGLER'S BROADWAY THEATER. - Just before a Follies finale.
Scene 2: STREET IN FRONT OF THE ZANGLER THEATER, N.Y. - Five minutes later.
Scene 3: MAIN STREET, DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Morning.
Scene 4: INSIDE LANK'S SALOON. DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Immediately following.
Scene 5: MAIN STREET & DESERT. DEADROCK, NEVADA. - As evening falls.
Scene 6: STAGE OF THE GAIETY THEATER. DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Immediately following.
Scene 7: MAIN STREET, DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Morning, three days later.
Scene 8: LOBBY OF THE GAIETY THEATER. - Mid-morning, two weeks later.
Scene 9: STAGE OF THE GAIETY THEATER. - Immediately following.
Scene 10: BACKSTAGE OF THE GAIETY THEATER. - Saturday night, about 7 o'clock.
Scene 11: MAIN STREET, DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Immediately following.

ACT TWO 

Scene 1: INSIDE LANK'S SALOON. - Fifteen minutes later.
Scene 2: LANK'S SALOON. - The next morning, about 10 o'clock.
Scene 3: STAGE OF THE GAIETY THEATER. - Ten minutes later.
Scene 4: STREET IN FRONT OF THE ZANGLER THEATER, NEW YORK - Six weeks later.
Scene 5: MAIN STREET, DEADROCK, NEVADA. - Three days later. 

CAST

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

1. Overture Orchestra
2. K-r-a-z-y for you - Bobby
3. 1 can't be bothered now - Bobby & Girls
4. Bidin' my Time - Moose & Men
5. Things are looking up - Bobby
6. Could you use me? - Bobby & Polly
7. Shall we Dance - Bobby & Polly
8. The "Follies" Girls arrive in Nevada - Chorus
9. Someone to watch over me - Polly
10. Slap that bass - Bobby (as Zangler) Moose & Company
11. Embraceable You - Polly & Bobby (as Zangler)
12. Tonight's the Night - Chorus
13. I got rhythm - Polly & Chorus
    

ACT TWO

14. The real American Folk song - Chorus
15. What causes that? - Bobby & Zangler
16. Naughty Baby - Irene, Lank & Men
17. Stiff Upper Lip - Eugene, Patricia, BobbyPolly & Chorus
18. They can't take that away from me - Bobby
19. But not for me - Polly
20. Nice Work if you can get it - Bobby & girls
21. French Reprise: Bidin' my time - Moose, Pete & Wyatt
22. Reprise : Things are looking up - Everett
23. Finale - Company