GIGI

Book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner : Music by Frederick Loewe : based on a novel by Colette and the MGM film.

As produced by Edwin Lester for the Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Opera Associations and by Saint Subber for Broadway.

Uris Theatre, Broadway - November 13, 1973 (103 perfs)

Synopsis

Gigi is a story of La Belle Epoque, Paris at the turn of the century: a world of beauty and luxury and sophisticates like Honoré and his handsome nephew Gaston. In this world love is a work of art and also a business arrangement. Little Gigi is being trained by her Aunt Alicia; she must learn how to allure, how to recognise the blue flame at the heart of an emerald, how to choose a cigar - but Gigi doesn't want just to be someone's mistress, even Gaston's. To his surprise Gaston discovers that Gigi is the only girl who doesn't bore him.

Gigi is a show that bubbles like champagne that flows through its vivid scenes. There is a tang of salty French wit, too, and a lacing of all-time hits; "Gigi", "The Night They Invented Champagne", "I Remember It Well", and "Thank Heaven For Little Girls".

CAST:

Male - 18: Female - 5: plus chorus and dancers.

Honoré Lachailles
Gaston Lachailles
Liane d'Exelmans
Inez Alvarez (Mamita)
Gigi
Aunt Alicia
Charles - her butler
Mâitre du Fresne
Mâitre Duclos
Sandomir

Waiters, Artist, Count, Dancing Teacher, Manuel, Law Clerks, ensemble.

Musical Numbers:

1. Overture
2. Thank Heaven for Little Girls
3. It's a Bore
   a. Change of Scene
4. The Earth and Other Minor Things
   a. Change of Scene
5. Paris Is Paris Again
   Dance
6. She Is Not Thinking of Me
   a. Change of Scene
7. It's a Bore-Reprise No. I
   a. - Reprise No. 2
8. The Night They Invented Champagne -Dance
   a. -Encore
   b. Trouville Lobby-Part 1
   - Part II
   - Part III
   - Part IV
9. I Remember It Well
10. Finale - Act I: I Never Want to Go Home Again. 
11. Entr'acte
12. Opening - Act II: The Telephone
    a. The New Dress
13. Gigi
    a. End of Scene
14. The Contract
    a. Change of Scene
    b. Change of Scene
15. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
    a. - Encore
    b. Change of Scene
16. In This Wide, Wide World
    a. End of Scene
17. At Maxim's-Can-Can
    a. - Waltz Underscore
    b. - Can-Can & Change of Scene
18. Finale-Act II: Thank Heaven for Little Girls
    Curtain Calls
    Exit Music  

Scenes and settings:

Act I

Scene 1: A park, then a restaurant in the Bois de Boulogne
Scene 2: Mamita's apartment immediately following
Scene 3: Aunt Alicia's apartment a short time later
Scene 4:

1. Transition to the restaurant of the Eiffel Tower
2. Restaurant of the Eiffel Tower evening

Scene 5:

• Stage L - Aunt Alicia's apartment
• Stage. R - Honoré's dressing room early afternoon, the following day

Scene 6: Mamita's apartment three weeks later, in late afternoon

1. En route to Trouville immediately following

Scene 7:

1. Lobby of the Grand Hotel, Trouville
2. The beach at Trouville the following afternoon

Act II

Scene 1: Mamita's apartment four weeks later, in mid-afternoon
Scene 2: The street outside Mamita's apartment immediately following
Scene 3: Legal office of Mâitre Dufresne a day or two later
Scene 4: Mamita's apartment the following day
Scene 5: A street cafe an hour later
Scene 6: Mamita's apartment later that day
Scene 7: Maxim's that night
Scene 8: Mamita's apartment immediately following

 

ORCHESTRATION:

Violin 1 & 2; Viola; Cello; Bass; Reed 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5; Horn 1 & 2; Trumpet 1, 2 & 3; Trombone 1 & 2; Percussion; Piano-celeste; Harp

Discography:

Original Cast Recordings Available - Broadway and London