THE GOLDEN APPLE

Music by Jerome Moross, Book & Lyrics by John Latouche: based on Homer's The Odyssey and The Iliad 

Phoenix Theatre, New York 11 March 1954 (173 perfs)

Synopsis

Set in Angel's Roost near the town of Rhododendron, Washington State, the story relocates the mythical tale of Penelope and Ulysses to the first decade of the 20th Century.

Ulysses has been fighting in the Spanish /American War but is now on his way home to be reunited with his beloved Penelope. Paris is a salesman who lands by balloon at the county fair and promptly falls in love with local farmer's daughter, Helen. They decide to elope to Rhododendron but unfortunately Helen is already married - to the local sheriff, Manelaus. Ulysses sets out on a ten year journey to find Helen. Eventually he reaches Rhododendron where the local mayor, Hector, tries to distract him with earthly pleasures, including the attention of enchantresses Circe and Siren.

Ulysses is not distracted however, and, after a fight with Paris, brings back Helen to Angel's Roost and her husband and he is reunited with his wife Penelope.

Songs: (In alphabetical order)

Calypso
The Church Social
Circe, Circe
Come Along, Boys
Doomed, Doomed, Doomed
Goona-Goona
Hector's Song
Helen Is Always Willing
The Heroes Come Home
Introducin' Mr Paris
It Was A Glad Adventure
It's the Going Home Together
The Judgement of Paris
Lazy Afternoon
Mother Hare's Seance
My Love Is On the Way
My Picture in the Papers
Nothing Ever Happens In Angel's Roost
Scylla and Charybdis
The Sewing Bee
Storebought Suit
Ulysses Soliloquy
Windflowers (When We Were Young)