Showlist Z
ZIP GOES A MILLION
A musical extravaganza in 2 acts by Eric
Maschwitz adapted from Brewster's Millions by G.B. McCutcheon,
Winchell Smith and Byron Ongley.
Music by George Posford, orchestrations by Debroy Somers
Palace Theatre, London - 20 October, 1951
Synopsis
Zip Goes a Million was conceived around the talents of
George Formby although it was difficult to see him in the same role
as the original debonair Jack Buchanan who
created the role in Brewster's
Millions. The show had an almost disastrous opening in Coventry
in 1951 but after playing at the Palace Theatre Manchester in September
of that year it successfully transferred to the Palace Theatre London
in October 1951 running for 544 performances until its close in
1953.
Six months after the opening, however, Formby suffered a heart
attack. His role was undertaken by Reg Dixon who made the character
of Percy Piggot his own. He also had hit parade success with "Ordinary
People" |
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Cast:
- Sheriff MacOwen - non singing
- Lilac Delany - Dancing. Contralto Low A to top D
- Buddy Delany - Baritone Low A to top G
- Jed Harper - non-singing
- Motty Whittle - Non-singing
- Sally Whittle - Mezz. Low A to top G
- Percy Piggott - Light tenor. Low B to top F#
- George Connelly - non-singing
- Paula van Norden - non-singing
- Hairdresser - non-singing
- Manicurist - non-singing
- Barber - non-singing
- Shoe-shine Boy - non-singing
- Eddie - non-singing
- James van Norden - non-singing
- The Musical Director - non-singing
- #1 & #2 Policement - non-singing
- Lefty - non-singing
- Touch - non-singing
- Elevator Boy - Dancing non-singing
- Captain - non-singing
- Wireless Operator - non-singing
- Kelly - non-singing
- Plus Singing girls, Singing boys; Dancing girls, Dancing Boy
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Scenes from "Garter Girl" - the show within a show giving Zip
Goes a Million the "Zip" |
Musical Numbers:
- Afternoon in Texas - Ballet
- Saving Up For Sally - Percy & Chorus
- The Thing About You - Lilac and Buddy
- Ordinary People - Percy and Company
- It Takes No Time To Fall In Love - Percy and Sally
- Zip Goes a Million - Percy and Company
- The Story of Chiquita - Lilac, girls and boys
- Nothing Breaks But the Heart - Buddy
- I Owe You - Percy and Sally
- Trouble With My Heart - Motty and Sally
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| Orchestration:
6 violins; 1 Viola; 1 Cello; 1 Bass;
1 1st Alto Sax dbl Clarinet; 1 2nd Alto Sax dbl Flute & Piccolo; 1
st Tenor Sax dbl Clarinet; 1 2nd Tenor Sax dbl Clarinet; 2 Trumpets; 2
Trombones; 1 Percussion; 1 Guitar dbl Hawaiian Guitar, Banjo & Mandolin;
1 Piano
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| Discography:
Studio cast recording - (First complete recording) Bayview RNBW014 |
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