 ON THE TOWN
Music by Leonard Bernstein: Book and lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph
Green
Adelphi Theatre, Broadway - December 28, 1944 (462 perfs)
Prince of Wales Theatre, London - 30 May, 1963
Synopsis
The show opens a few minutes before 6 a.m., at the
Brooklyn navy yard. A half-asleep crane driver turns up for work. He
is in time to see the day's consignment of sailors erupt from a troop
ship, eager for their shore leave. Amongst them are three pals: Chip,
who has an old map supplied by his father to track down as many sights
as possible; Ozzie, out to meet as many girls as he can; and Gabey,
who seeks plain, old-fashioned romance.
In the subway, the friends see a bill-sticker put
up a poster announcing 'Miss Turnstiles', the attractive young lady
chosen to decorate the city's train stations for the month. Largely
idealised, Ivy Smith is studying singing and ballet at Carnegie Hall,
painting at the Museum of Modern Art, and is described as a champion
sportswoman, home-loving but swingingly into the club scene. This is
all too much for Gabey's romantic imagination, and he removes the poster
in order to search for ivy. Outraged at this 'vandalism', an old lady
calls a cop, who will pursue the three throughout their day.
The trio agree to split up and use the clues on the
poster to hunt for Ivy. Alone in the city jungle, the unsuspecting
Chip is immediately set upon by a man-hunting woman cabbie called Hildy.
Ozzie also gets waylaid when he visits, in error, the Museum of Natural
History (he's supposed to be at the Museum of Modern Art) and is admired
by female anthropologist Claire for his amazing resemblance to homo
pithecanthropus. More trouble with the law ensues when Claire and
Ozzie accidentally demolish an intricately constructed dinosaur skeleton
before fleeing from the museum.
On his way to Carnegie Hall, Gabey discovers how,
even in the city, one can still feel isolated. At Madam Dilly's studio
in the Hall, Ivy is having her lessons, which she pays for by taxi
dancing at Coney Island. While Madam Dilly steps out to replenish her
Scotch, Gabey meets Ivy and arranges a date with her later at Times
Square. On her return to the studio, Madam warns Ivy that, in her experience,
sex and perfecting one's art definitely do not mix.
At Claire's glitzy apartment, Claire and Ozzie are
getting seriously intimate. Meanwhile, at Hildy's place, Hildy is doing
her best to seduce Chip. Gabey hopefully awaits Ivy in Times Square,
but a reluctant Ivy has been advised by Madam to earn her keep at Coney
Island. Instead of Ivy, Gabey's friends meet him, with their girls
on their arms.
At the various night-spots - Diamond Eddie's, the
Congacabana and the Slam-Bang - the gang frenziedly attempt to cheer
up Gabey. At the first club, a terrible girlie routine on stage doesn't
help with its negative lyrics. At the next club, the friends try to
counteract the effect of the equally dreary entertainment by reminding
Gabey that he can rely on them. Finally, prior to returning to the
ship, they all head for Coney island on the subway. On the way, in
melancholy mood, the friends regret how the 24 hours have flown by.
At Coney Island, Gabey is startled to discover Ivy
performing a bump 'n' grind at a booth, but delighted to have found
her none the less. The gang of six are now complete, but are suddenly
surrounded by the police, who have been pursuing them all day. In the
early morning, the police and the girls see the threesome off at the
navy yard. As they walk up the gangplank, a new consignment of sailors
rush out for shore leave.
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