 FINGS AIN'T WOT
THEY USED T'BE
Book by Frank Norman, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Produced under the direction of Joan Littlewood at the Theatre Royal,
Stratford, London 1959 and subsequently at the Garrick Theatre, London Synopsis
Fred Cochran, the hero, is a down-at-heel gangster, trying
to make a comeback. Lil Smith is his loyal moll, a tart with a heart
of gold, who longs for respectability and keeps a marriage licence ready
for her lucky day. Fred's shpieler (gambling den) provides a refuge for
the failures of the underworld: Paddy the gambler, Tosher the ponce with
his girls Betty and Rosey, and Redhot, a sad little burglar who never
manages to get warm. They all look to Fred for a living and when he wins
on the horses it seems the gang may be back in business. Fred redecorates
his place, all "contempery" and at the opening the Horrible
Percey Fortesque comes to gamble and a rival leader, Meatface, is beaten
in a razor fight. The play ends with a wedding - Lil and Fred are giving
up crime to go straight; handing over the shpieler to the constable on
the beat who has long wanted to go crooked!
The author admits that the final published version of Fings owes
much to the improvisation that took place during rehearsals by the Theatre
Workshop Company who originally staged it. It was conceived as a straight
play with music rather than a musical play; but it does provide opportunities
for extras and for some lively ensembles. The music is all in unison and
the play is therefore specially suited to the dramatic society looking
for a musical show. |
