 TEDDY AND ALICE
A musical play in 2 acts, a prelude and 15 scenes. Music by John
Philip Sousa, adapted and with original music by Richard Kapp; lyrics
by Hal Hackady; book by Jerome Alden. Artisitc Consultant - Alan
Jay Lerner
Opened 12 November, 1987 - Minskoff Theatre - (77 Perfs)
SYNOPSIS
This rousing musical on the life and family of Theodore Roosevelt,
one of the great American presidents, features four wonderful principal
roles, five Roosevelt children, amusing character parts (including Franklin
and Eleanor Roosevelt) and a large, flexible chorus.
STORY:
ACT I
After the Overture the curtain rises to
reveal the facade of the Executive Mansion. 1901. The atmosphere has
a dark, dingy, cluttered Victorian look. Delicate pieces of black crepe
cover the windows and furniture. A portrait of the late President McKinley
is draped in black. Edith Roosevelt enters, followed by all the Roosevelt
children, (Ted, 16; Kermit, 14; Ethel, 12; Archie, 9; Quentin, 7) carrying
various toys, animals, books and belongings. Finally Theodore Roosevelt
charges onstage - he looks over room and observes the sad atmosphere.
He tells everyone (reporters included) that though it is sad about
President McKinley's untimely passing, he has a job to do getting the
country back in shape. The reporters do question Roosevelt
about political issues; however, what they are most interested in is
the behaviour of his daughter, Alice, who has been seen smoking in
public and betting at the racetracks. Rather than respond to either
issue, general chaos seems to reign as Teddy plays football with his
kids. The other politicians watching are horrified as they realise
that this man is now president of the United States. By the end of
the scene, Teddy has all the black crepe pulled down and the house
transformed into the bright place we know today.
Later, in the White House garden, there is the sound of a 1901 automobile
speeding by. A Stanley Steamer driven by Alice (with Eleanor Roosevelt,
Nick Longworth and Franklin Roosevelt along for the ride) comes into
the yard and crashes into a tree. An officer writes out a summons for
Alice - driving fifteen miles per hour in a ten mile zone. It appears
that all the havoc was caused because Alice's pet snake got loose in
the front seat. Teddy enters to survey the situation. It appears that
Alice and Eleanor were over at the House listening to the debate on
the Panama Canal. There, they met Congressman Nick Longworth who offered
them a lift home and Alice asked to drive. They all argue with Teddy
about the building of the canal, and finally the President gets them
to remove the car from the lawn while having a little talk with the
policeman. The reporters question Alice about her crazy behaviour.
When asked about possibly marrying Senator Longworth, Alice reminds
everyone that she has a lot to do before settling down.
In the President's Office, Teddy takes out a large rolled up map and
lays it on the floor. He and his cabinet members begin discussing the
crisis in Panama. Just how are they going to deal with the reluctant
Columbians as they attempt to have the Panama Canal built? Unfortunately,
everything seems to stop when Alice comes in to talk with her father.
Not only is she seeking permission to have a coming-out party in the
Rose Garden, but she also offers political advice about the Panama
Canal and other things that Teddy takes to heart. After Teddy and Alice
leave, the cabinet members begin to wonder who's running the country:
the President or the Princess.
Lights come up to reveal Alice's bedroom on a different day. Alice
is talking with Eleanor about her relationship with Nick. Eleanor disapproves
of Nick saying that he is far too old - and bald! Alice, on the other
hand, loves dating an older man, while having a bit of a wild time.
Alice also shows Eleanor a box that her Aunt gave her last week as
a coming-out present. It was a present that Teddy gave her mother on
the night of Alice's birth. The box was never opened since Alice's
mother died only hours after she was born. Teddy was so devastated
by his first wife's (Alice Lee) passing that he never allows anybody
to even mention her name. Luckily, he now has Edith who Alice sees
as the best mother a girl could have. Eleanor and Alice then discuss
their own dealings with men in more detail. Eleanor has a mad crush
on Franklin who doesn't even notice her. For her, love speaks in whispers
and is very soft. Alice sees it as flashes and roman candles.
After
a bit, Eleanor begins to get a bit wild and even starts to imagine
things the way Alice does. Eleanor then leaves to catch a train to
New York just as Teddy is coming in to talk with Alice. At first, he
reprimands his daughter about smoking and then questions her about
the guest list for her coming-out party. Most of all, he wants to
know why she would invite Nick Longworth. She then asks her father's
opinion about what dress she should wear for the party, and he's taken
aback while watching her in the mirror. Obviously, she reminds him
of his first wife. When Alice finally shows him the box her aunt gave
her, he seizes it from her and storms out proclaiming that Alice Lee
(Alice's mother) must never be spoken of - ever!
Some days later, in the Presidential Bedroom Suite, Edith is reading
to the children from Alice in Wonderland. Upon finishing the
story, she attempts to convince the children to get ready for Alice's
party; instead, they convince her to let them play San Juan Hill with
Ethel dressing as Teddy, the colonel, and lead the charge! Teddy enters
and proclaims that he play "the colonel" (himself) and everyone
else act as the soldiers. Teddy and the children act out the battle.
Alice enters in her dressing gown demanding that everyone get dressed
for her party. After a bit of play, they all go off to change while
Teddy and Edith sit and ruminate about everything from Alice growing
up - to politics - to their own relationship. All in all, they adore
each other. Alice re-enters, looking ravishing in her Alice-blue-gown.
This could be scandalous since at that time girls always wore white
for their coming-out parties; however, Alice gets her way as usual
and wears the blue dress. She doesn't care what people will think.
They hear the guests begin to arrive and Teddy and Alice go off to
greet them while Edith goes to put the final touches on her woman's "armour." While
doing this, she thinks about how it is now that Alice is grown up.
Alice is the picture of her mother - a woman Edith has competed with
her entire marriage. A woman that Teddy has never forgotten. With Alice
now becoming a woman, it's strange how Alice Lee is back in the picture.
Out in the Rose Garden, the guests are dancing at Alice's party. Nick
is dancing with Alice - completely smitten with her. Teddy notices
this and has a pretty woman talk to Nick. Teddy then sweeps Alice into
a dance. Oddly, a ghost figure of Alice Lee appears and moves in unison
with Alice. Teddy is really caught off guard. Finally, the dance ends
and Nick moves in to talk with Alice. Alice asks Nick if he is shocked
by the colour of her gown. He isn't. This is what he considers a proper
and safe coming-out party. Hearing that, Alice wants the party to get
a bit wild and leads everyone in a naughty 1901 dance.
At the end of the dance, even Teddy and Edith join in with the kids
and have a bit of fun. Once again, Nick is noticed talking with Alice
and Teddy pulls her away. Nick realises that even though he's crazy
about Alice, he needs to back off and remember that he's a congressman
and that Teddy "runs
the town." The cabinet members on the otherhand
see just how crazy Nick is about Alice, and they egg him on to go after
Alice. They feel that with Alice in the arms of another man, she won't
be so close to her father and be attempting to run the government.
By the end of it all, Nick realises that he really is in love with
Alice after all!
The next scene takes place a few months later in the White House where
Teddy is nervously pacing back and forth. It's 3 a.m and Alice isn't
home. Edith comes down and tells him to calm down. Alice is an adult
now and can take care of herself. Teddy is more upset that she's been
going out with Nick for the past three months. After Edith goes back
to bed, Teddy thinks that maybe she's right. After all, Alice is his
daughter, and he's brought her up very well.
Alice does finally come home and brings Nick in for a late night snack.
Alice invites Teddy to join them, but Teddy tells them to run along
- he's not hungry. As they are about to leave, acting on an impulse,
Teddy tells Alice that he is planning to send her on a four-month goodwill
tour of the Orient. Alice is excited; however, Nick sees this as a
plot to separate them. Alice doesn't understand what he means. Going
to the Orient would be a great opportunity for her. Nick just wants
Teddy and Alice to grow up! Teddy
gets uncomfortable hearing the truth and goes to the kitchen. Alice
tells Nick that four months really isn't that long a time.
Three weeks later, the senior advisors are commenting on how Teddy
has vetoed the romance between Alice and Nick. The men decide that
they must find a way for Nick to go along with Alice to the Orient.
They get a ticket for Nick aboard the same ship. As
Alice readies herself to go, Teddy says farewell to her - commenting
that it's too bad she'll miss the G.O.P. Convention. Alice is convinced
that her father will get the party nomination. After Alice leaves,
J.P. Morgan and some other senior advisors confront Teddy - telling
him that they don't want him to run for president. His conservation
policies have alienated many groups, and his handling of the Panama
Canal is terrible. They remind him that he wasn't elected to the job.
He's only there because McKinley was shot! They tell him they are going
to fight to get him out of office and he tells them he's going to fight
even harder to stay in.
At the Republic National Convention, Summer 1904, protesters are proclaiming
that Roosevelt is a tsar, a Socialist, a tyrant! Teddy tells J.P. Morgan
and the others that yes he is a radical, but that he plans to fight
for "human
need before human greed"! As he continues
rallying, the convention gets behind him and untimely nominates him
for president.
ACT II
It is the entrance hall of the White House, Summer 1904, and
Teddy is given the phone. He learns bits and pieces about Alice's behaviour
as U.S. ambassador to the Orient. He probably can deal with her wild
behaviour - he always has before. What upsets him more this time is
the fact that he finds out the Nick Longworth is with her creating "international
fireworks." Alice returns,
and once Teddy sees her, he turns to mush. When he sees Nick, however,
he yells at him for courting his daughter on taxpayers' expense. Nick
quickly tells him that he had a mandate from Congress. Before things
get too crazy, Alice's other siblings run on demanding that she give
them their exotic presents and she goes off with them to do just that.
Nick asks to talk with Teddy privately, but rather than give in, the
President avoids him by getting everyone to go for a bit of wild exercise
- even the foreign diplomats.
Eleanor and a number of ladies come for a tea party and are dying
to know all about Alice's trip. Most of all, they want to know what
happened with Nick. Alice dresses them
in grass skirts and does a hula. She also gives them Japanese fans
and shows them how to use them. All the time she avoids discussing
anything to do with Nick. Teddy re-enters being followed by the persistent
Nick who is still trying to talk with Teddy. Teddy exits and Nick follows.
The girls re-enter and insist that Alice tell them about Nick. She
finally gives in and confesses that she is now seeing "fireworks"!
Edith asks Alice if she wants to marry Nick. Alice isn't sure if she
wants to lose her freedom. Nevertheless, she is in love with Nick.
In the North Portico, Teddy is still being followed by an exhausted
Nick who finally blurts out that he's wants to marry Alice. It seems
that Alice won't discuss marriage with him until she has her father's
approval. This makes Teddy happy since he sees Nick as simply an opportunist
who is attempting to further his own political career. Teddy continues
leading everyone in exercise and Nick continues to follow as the entire
group moves outside of the White House. Teddy finally tells Nick that
the answer is "no." Nick is defeated and angry - Alice runs
to his rescue. Nick tries to get her to run off and marry him; however,
she reminds him that he promised to not discuss the marriage until
her father approves. She loves Teddy too much to go behind his back.
Nick tells her that she can't live in her father's sheltered world
forever or she may lose a husband in the process.
After a bit of thought, she realises that she can't live without Nick
and that she has somehow to convince her father that he is okay.
On election night, Teddy and his cronies wait as the results come
in. It appears that he is losing. Some blackmail has happened in the
unions where they have been told not to vote for him. Teddy tells them
that he was simply following the law of the land. He simply reinstated
a government worker who was fired for not belonging to the union. Somehow,
union leaders saw this as a sign that Teddy is against them. Teddy
Angrily leaves. After he does, the advisors comment just how sad it
is that Teddy won't listen to them.
In his office, Teddy is upset as he thinks about even having to leave
the White House. Alice bursts in very determined and tells her father
that she must marry Nick. Teddy has no intention of giving in to his
daughter's wishes. She has no intention of giving up either! She plans
on marrying Nick wearing her mother's wedding dress - with her father's
blessing! Alice tearfully runs off as Edith comes in to talk with her
husband. Edith tells him to let Alice go. Also, he needs to let the
ghost of his past - namely his late first wife - go as well. Teddy
forbids her to talk any more. She, too, runs off in tears. Alone, Teddy,
takes the gift box he took from Alice and opens it. Inside is a music
box. As it plays, he remembers all that has passed.
Later that night, Teddy is camping out in the woods with his children.
After tucking them all in, he stands lost in thought as the ghost of
Alice Lee appears before him. She tells him she's having a baby. Other
ghosts appear to congratulate him on the birth of his new daughter.
Finally, the ghost of his brother appears telling him not to go and
see his wife - she's dead. By shooting a gun he has with him Teddy
rids himself of the ghosts - just as Edith and others come to tell
him that he's going to win the election by a landslide. After all the
union nonsense everybody was with him. Everybody is with him now -
except Alice. They all go inside while Teddy ponders the situation.
Alice
finally enters and congratulates her father on his victory. He talks
with her about her mother and all that she meant and still means to
him. He then takes the music box out of his pocket and gives it to
her - as a wedding present. Alice throws her arms around her father
crying as they go off to celebrate his victory.
Waiting at the wedding of Alice and Nick everyone has their own "Private
Thoughts": The senior cabinet celebrates that they have succeeded
with their plan. Alice's brothers are happy that one sister is finally
out. Edith is happy that her husband is finally letting go of his first
wife. Alice finally enters and marries Nick. All is wonderful. |
Musical Numbers
- Prelude: The
Thunderer - Orchestra
- This
House - Teddy,
Family,
Friends,
Staff,
Reporters
- But
Not
Right
Now - Alice
- She's
Got to
Go - Taft,
Root,
Lodge
- The
Fourth of
July - Alice,
Eleanor
- Charge - Teddy,
Edith,
Ted
jnr.,
Kermit,
Ethel,
Archie,
Quentin
- Battlelines - Edith
- The
Coming-Out Party
Dance - Teddy,
Alice,
Nick,
Edith,
Guests
- Leg
O'
Mutton - Alice,
Nick,
Guests
- Not
Love - Nick,
Taft,
Root,
Lodge
- Her
Father's Daughter - Teddy
- Perfect
for
Each
Other - Nick
- He's
Got
to
Go (reprise) - Taft,
Root,
Lodge,
Nick
- Wave
the Flag - Teddy,
Edith,
Eleanor,
Ted
jnr.,
Kermit,
Ethel,
Archie,
Quentin,
Compers,
J.P.
Morgan,
Hecklers,
Supporters
- (The)
Fourth
of
July (reprise) - Teddy
- (The)
Fourth
of
July (reprise) - Alice,
Eleanor,
Edith,
Ladies
- Nothing
to Lose - Nick,
Alice
- Election
Eve - Taft,
Root,
Lodge,
Gompers,
J.P.
Morgan,
Reporters
- Perfect
for
Each
Other (reprise) - Alice
- Can
I Let
Her Go? - Teddy
- Private
Thoughts - Taft,
Root,
Lodge,
Edith,
Ted
jnr.,
Ethel,
Kermit,
Archie,
Quentin,
Servants,
Staff,
Reporters
- This
House (reprise) - Teddy,
Edith,
Guests
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