 THE GIRL IN PINK TIGHTS
A Musical Extravaganza in Two Acts, 17 Scenes. Book by Jerome Chodorov
and Joseph Fields. Music by Sigmund Romberg. Lyrics by Leo Robin.
Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York - 5 March 1954 (115 perfs)
The Story
As the play opens, the scene is New York City, just after the close
of the Civil War. New Yorkers are excited about the promised opening
of a French ballet company at the Academy of Music, but Lotta Leslie
is not so interested: the ballet is opening just across the street
from Niblo's Garden, which she operates, and she has only a lurid melodrama
called 'Dick the Renegade' to offer in competition. The play was written
by Clyde Hallam, a veteran of the war. When the ballet troupe arrives,
lead by Lisette Gervais and Maestro Gallo, Clyde at once falls in love
with Lisette. The Maestro explains that his girls, far from being loose
women, although they appear in tights, are actually delicate young
ladies and begins a flirtation with Lotta.
Clyde and Lisette find that the course of true love is far from smooth,
arguing and making up, and even making a visit to Battery Park to take
a ride on the new Elevated Railway during which they decide nothing would
be sweeter than to be In Paris and in Love. The Maestro, however, feels
that Lisette is making a mistake in giving away her heart, and that she
should concentrate on her career as a dancer: when she is fifty, she
will have time for love.
Lisette sneaks away from her rehearsal to watch a run-through of Clyde's
play across the street, and Lotta explains the perils of theatrical production.
The Maestro arrives and orders Lisette back to her own rehearsal, and
she goes, unwillingly. At the ballet rehearsal, the Maestro is experimenting
with a few unusual stage effects, and some gunpowder explodes, setting
fire to the Academy. The Volunteer Firemen and the Fire Department arrive
but are unable to save the building. Lisette, locked in her room, is
in danger of being burned to death, but Clyde climbs a ladder and carries
her to safety.
However, the ballet troupe has now lost its theatre, and, for lack
of funds, must return to France, steerage. Clyde comes to bid farewell
to Lisette at the dock, but before the troupe can leave, Lotta arrives
with the news that she has persuaded a man-about-town to finance a new
idea she has just had: the combination of the ballet troupe with Clyde's
melodrama, for which she has very dim hopes, thus producing a play with
music, something entirely new in the theatre! The Maestro assents, and
everyone agrees to try the experiment. Rehearsals proceed with considerable
difficulty, since Clyde, in true author style, resents any changes in
his manuscript; the Maestro has suggested combining Clyde's frontier
drama with the Faust legend, among other things. Almost the only people
who see eye to eye are Lotta and the Maestro and Lisette and Clyde quarrel
constantly about which is more important: the play or the ballet. At
length, Lisette goes off in a fit of anger to a rendezvous with the man
about-town at the Hotel Brevoort. Clyde breaks into the room, furious,
but is immediately floored by a single blow from his rival, and Lisette
flees.
On opening night, Clyde, with a black eye, swallows his pride and returns
to the theatre just in time for the performance, and the show goes on,
to enormous success, which naturally solves everyone's problems. Included
in the performance is a brilliantly foolish finale, incorporating a formal
French garden at the time of Cardinal Richelieu, bits and pieces of the
Faust legend, a ballet involving bats, and Clyde's woolly melodrama.
There are also skyrockets, pinwheels, a waving American flag, and Lisette
clad in tights and a Civil War cap.
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CAST
(in order of appearance)
Boris
Volodya Kuzentsov
Lisette Gervais
Maestro Gallo
Lotta Leslie
Clyde Hallam
Eddington
Hattie Hopkins
Van Beuren
British Tars
Policeman
Newspaper Boy
Shoe Shine Boy
Mike
Bruce |
Nellie
Hollister
Simone
Mimi
Lucette
Odette
Gisele
Paulette
Fire Chiefs (2)
Jenny
Blanchette
Emile
Sommelier
Gypsy Violinist
Singers; Dancers |
Scenes & Settings
The action of the play takes place immediately following the Civil
War in the theatrical district of New York.
Act 1
Scene 1: A Rehearsal Hall, the Academy of Music.
Scene 2: A Street near the Academy of Music and Niblo's
Garden.
Scene 3: Outside the Academy of Music and Niblo's Garden.
Scene 4: A Street near the Theatrical District.
Scene 5: Bowling Green.
Scene 6: The Stage at Niblo's Garden.
Scene 7: A Corridor, the Academy of Music.
Scene 8: The Stage at the Academy of Music. Three days
later.
Scene 9: A Street.
Scene 10: In front of the Academy of Music.
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Act 2
Scene 1: A Pier at Battery park. A week later.
Scene 2: A Theatrical Costumer's. Two weeks later.
Scene 3: The Stage at Niblo's Garden.
Scene 4: A Private Dining Room at the Hotel Brevoort.
Scene 5: A Corridor Backstage at Niblo's Garden.
Scene 6: Clyde's Dressing Room.
Scene 7: The final scene of The Soul of Dick the Renegade.
The Bill Is Due! It Must Be Paid.
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Musical Numbers
Ballet Class - Danced by the French Ballet Company
That Naughty Show from Gay Paree - Singing Ensemble
Lost in Loveliness - Clyde Hallam - Lisette: First Lover: Second
Lover: Lovers:
I Promised Their Mothers - Gallo
Up in the Elevated Railway - Lisette, Clyde Hallam, Kuzentsov,
Hattie, Newsboy, Shoe Shine Boy, Singing Ensemble
In Paris and In Love - Clyde Hallam, Lisette
You've Got To be a Little Crazy - Lotta, Nellie, Mike, Bruce
When I Am Free to Love - Lisette
Pas de Deux - Danced by Lisette, Kuzentsov
Out of the Way/Roll Out the Hose, Boys - Singing Ensemble
Finale (Act 1) - Entire Company
My Heart Won't Say Goodbye - Clyde Hallam, Lisette, Singing Ensemble
We're All in the Same Boat - Entire Company
Lost in Loveliness (reprise) - Clyde Hallam
Bacchanale - Danced by the French Ballet Company (Dionysius.
The Wayward Nymph, Nymphs, Satyrs, Messenger, Attendants)
My Heart Won't Say Goodbye (reprise) - Lotta
Love Is the Funniest Thing - Lotta, Gallo
When I Am Free to Love (reprise) - Lisette
The Cardinal's Guard Are We - Lotta, Singing Ensemble, Grand
Imperial Ballet - (Lucifer, Hecate. Devils, Evil Spirits, Bats,
Dancing Batlets, Batlets, Attendants)
Finale (Act 2) - Entire Company
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