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Applause (musical)

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Applause
Original Cast Recording
MusicCharles Strouse
LyricsLee Adams
BookBetty Comden and Adolph Green
BasisAll About Eve
by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The Wisdom of Eve
by Mary Orr
Productions1970 Broadway
1972 West End
1972 Buenos Aires
1973 U.S. television
2004 Buenos Aires Revival
2008 Encores!
2016 Mexico City
AwardsTony Award for Best Musical
Lauren Bacall in the TV production of Applause (1973)

Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The musical is based on the 1950 film All About Eve and the short story on which the movie is based, Mary Orr's "The Wisdom of Eve". The story centers on aging star Margo Channing, who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man.

The musical opened on Broadway on March 30, 1970, and ran for 896 performances. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Lauren Bacall won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.

History

Composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Lee Adams (who had previously collaborated on the score to Bye Bye Birdie, among others) wanted to write a musical version of the 1950 movie, All About Eve.[1] However, Twentieth Century Fox, which owned the rights to the movie, refused to grant them the rights to the script or the title.[1] They were, however, able to purchase the stage rights to the short story on which All About Eve had been based, Mary Orr's "The Wisdom of Eve".[1] The resulting musical could not contain any dialogue or characters that had been created for the movie but could use the original material that the movie also used.[1] In April 1969, it was announced that Strouse, Adams, and book writer Sidney Michaels were beginning to work on the show, with Lawrence Kasha and Joseph Kipness producing.[2] In July 1969, movie star Lauren Bacall was cast as aging theater star Margo Channing, the role played by Bette Davis in All About Eve.[3] Bacall greatly identified with the role, explaining, "The Margo Channing of Applause and myself were ideally suited. She was approaching middle age. So was I. She was being forced to face the fact that her career would have to move into another phase as younger women came along to do younger parts. So was I. And she constantly felt that the man she was in love with was going to go off with someone else, someone younger of course, and I, too, had had those feelings".[4]

Bacall, Strouse, Adams, and Kasha came to the conclusion that Michaels' book was insufficient, so Kasha hired Betty Comden and Adolph Green to write a new book.[1] They updated the story so that it was set in the present day (1970) instead of the 1950 setting of All About Eve.[5] Comden and Green also created new characters to replace the characters created specifically for the movie.[1] Addison de Witt, the snide and articulate drama critic played in the film by George Sanders, was replaced by Howard Benedict, producer of the play in which Margo Channing is appearing. Margo's loyal assistant Birdie Coonan, the only character in the film who is suspicious of Eve from the start, was replaced by Duane Fox, Margo's gay hair stylist. Strouse commented that this change also made the show more relevant to the 1970s. (A memorable moment: Margo asks Duane, "Are you going to be her hairdresser too?" Duane's response: "Only when she's laid out!")[1] At a later point, Twentieth Century Fox reversed its original decision and granted the musical's creators full rights to All About Eve's script; however, by that time, the show was so far along in its development that major changes could not be made to the book.[1] However, Strouse and Adams did write a song based on one of the film's most famous lines, "Fasten Your Seat Belts".[6]

Production history

The Broadway production opened on March 30, 1970, at the Palace Theatre, and closed on May 27, 1972, after 896 performances and four previews.[7][8] The closing date has also been reported as July 27, 1972.[9][10][11] Directed and choreographed by Ron Field with orchestrations by Philip J. Lang, the original cast included Lauren Bacall, Len Cariou, Penny Fuller, Bonnie Franklin, Lee Roy Reams, Robert Mandan, Brandon Maggart, Ann Williams, and Nicholas Dante.[10]

When Bacall's contract was up in 1971, Bacall went on tour with the show. The producers initially decided to cast film legend Rita Hayworth as a replacement for the role of Margo on Broadway. Hayworth was very interested and flew to New York to audition for the role. However, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, Hayworth was suffering from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease and could not retain lyrics or dialogue. Anne Baxter, who had portrayed Eve in the original film, replaced Bacall as Margo Channing. When Baxter departed the show in 1972, actress Arlene Dahl replaced her for one month before the show closed.[citation needed]

The musical was later adapted for television, starring Bacall, with Larry Hagman replacing Len Cariou in the role of Bill Sampson. It aired in the United States on CBS on March 15, 1973. It has not been released commercially, but it is available for viewing at the Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) in New York City and Beverly Hills, California.[citation needed]

The musical opened in the West End at Her Majesty's Theatre on November 16, 1972, and ran for 382 performances. Lauren Bacall starred, along with Ken Walsh (Bill Sampson), Angela Richards (Eve Harrington), Eric Flynn (Duane Fox), Basil Hoskins (Howard Benedict), and Sarah Marshall (Karen Richards).[12]

The Australian production with Eve Arden and Judi Connelli opened at the Metro Theatre in Kings Cross, Sydney in December 1975.[13]

In 1980 Antonello Falqui directed the original Italian production at Teatro Nazionale in Milan and Teatro Sistina in Rome. It started Rossella Falk (Margo Channing), Ivana Monti (Eva), Gianni Bonagura (Mike), Liù Bosisio (Karen), and Gino Pernice (Duane).

New York City Center's Encores! presented a staged concert of Applause from February 7 to 10, 2008. It was directed by Kathleen Marshall and starred Christine Ebersole, Michael Park, Erin Davie, Megan Sikora, Mario Cantone, Tom Hewitt, Chip Zien, and Kate Burton.[14][11]

The Library Theatre Company in Manchester produced a UK revival of the show in 1987 starring Josephine Blake, Kathryn Evans and David Dale. It was directed by Paul Kerryson.

In the fall of 1996, the musical was revised for a Broadway-bound tour that began at Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey starring Stefanie Powers (Margo) and Kate Jennings Grant (Eve) under the direction of Gene Saks, and choreographed by Ann Reinking. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, the tour visited Tampa, Baltimore, Grand Rapids, and Columbus where the closing notice was posted on November 24, 1996.

Porchlight Music Theatre presented Applause as a part of their "Porchlight Revisits" season in which they stage three forgotten musicals per year. It was in Chicago, Illinois, in March 2016. It was directed and choreographed by Christopher Pazdernik and music directed by Nick Sula.[15]

Plot

Act One

Middle-aged actress Margo Channing presents the Tony Award to rising star Eve Harrington, who graciously thanks "my producer, my director, my writer and above all, Margo Channing". In flashback, Margo recalls the opening night for one of her plays a year-and a-half before, when Eve entered her life. Margo's admirers crowd her dressing room and fill the air with "Backstage Babble". Among the admirers is Eve, a young woman who says that she, alone and friendless in New York, has found solace in watching her hero, Margo, perform. As soon as Margo can be alone with Bill Sampson, her director and fiancé, she tries to convince him to stay with her and not go to Rome to direct a movie. Bill firmly but lovingly tells her goodbye ("Think How It's Gonna Be"). Margo dreads facing the opening night party alone, and, wanting to have a good time, she persuades, Duane, her gay hairdresser, to take her and Eve to a gay nightclub in Greenwich Village ("But Alive").[16] The lively evening ends back at Margo's apartment. Eve declares that it has been the best time she's ever had ("The Best Night of My Life"). Margo, seeing her 19-year-old self in one of her old movies on TV, senses the impact her increasing age will have on her career and sarcastically asks "Who's That Girl?".

Four months later, Eve has become Margo's indispensable assistant, impressing Margo's close friends, including her producer, Howard Benedict. Howard takes Eve to a "gypsy" hangout. "Gypsy," Howard explains,"is the name dancers affectionately give themselves as they go camping from show to show." The "gypsies", led by one of their own, Bonnie, celebrate "the sound that says love" – "Applause". That night, at three a.m. after a phone call from Bill in Rome, Margo longingly wishes he would "Hurry Back". Bill arranges to hurry back two weeks later, but at Margo's welcome home party for him a misunderstanding leads to a disastrous evening ("Fasten Your Seat Belts"). Eve, as Margo's ever-present assistant, knows Margo's part in the play completely, and Eve contrives to get herself hired as Margo's understudy. Margo, feeling betrayed and threatened, faces Eve with an ironic "Welcome to the Theatre". Bill accuses her of being paranoid about Eve, and after a bitter fight, he says goodbye to Margo, ending his relationship with her. Margo is left alone on an empty stage.

Act Two

Margo is visiting her friends, playwright Buzz Richards and his wife Karen, in their Connecticut home. Karen, thinking Margo behaved unfairly to Eve, arranges for Margo to miss a performance by draining the car's gas tank so they cannot return to New York in time for the evening's performance. Stuck in the country for the night, they express their warm feelings as "Good Friends". Back in New York, Eve gives a triumphant performance in Margo's role. Howard again takes Eve to the "gypsy" hangout where she snubs Bonnie and her friends, who do a scathing parody of a girl who becomes an overnight star ("She's No Longer a Gypsy").

Margo is devastated when she reads a nasty interview that Eve has given in which she refers to "aging stars." Bill now realizes what Eve's true intentions are and rushes back full of love for Margo, telling her she's "One of a Kind". Margo, though, is too focused on her career to want to return to Bill. Eve, who has made an unsuccessful pass at Bill, ensnares the playwright, Buzz, and she rejoices that she now has a man who can help her career ("One Hallowe'en"). Her plans with Buzz are crushed by Howard who claims her for himself, telling her "We both know what you want and you know I'm the one who can get it for you" – Eve needs Howard's influence as a producer as well as his silence concerning her devious rise to stardom.

Margo seems to have lost everything because of Eve, but suddenly she realizes she could be the winner because she now has a chance at "Something Greater" – a life with Bill. In the finale, she and Bill join with everybody answering the question "why do we live this crazy life?" – "Applause".

Principal Cast

Character Broadway
(1970) 		Tour
(1971-72) 		Tour
(1972-73) 		London
(1972-73) 		Television
(1973) 		Tour
(1996) 		Encores!
(2008)
Margo Channing Lauren Bacall Patrice Munsel Lauren Bacall Stefanie Powers Christine Ebersole
Bill Sampson Len Cariou Don Chastain Virgil Curry Eric Flynn Larry Hagman John Dossett Michael Park
Eve Harrington Penny Fuller Virginia Sandifur Diane McAfee Angela Richards Penny Fuller Kate Jennings Grant Erin Davie
Bonnie Bonnie Franklin Leland Palmer Pia Zadora Sheila O'Neill Debbie Bowen Role cut Megan Sikora
Duane Fox Lee Roy Reams Bryan Spencer Ken Walsh Harvey Evans Darrell Carey Mario Cantone
Howard Benedict Robert Mandan Norwood Smith Ed Fuller Basil Hoskins Robert Mandan Nick Wyman Tom Hewitt
Buzz Richards Brandon Maggart Ted Pritchard Stephen Everett Rod McLennan Stuart Zagnit Chip Zien
Karen Richards Ann Williams Beverly Dixon Lisa Carroll Sarah Marshall Janet Aldrich Kate Burton

Song list

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1970 Tony Award Best Musical Won
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Len Cariou Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Lauren Bacall Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Brandon Maggart Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Bonnie Franklin Nominated
Penny Fuller Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Ron Field Won
Best Choreography Won
Best Scenic Design Robert Randolph Nominated
Best Costume Design Ray Aghayan Nominated
Best Lighting Design Tharon Musser Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance Lauren Bacall Won
Outstanding Director Ron Field Won
Outstanding Choreography Won
Theatre World Award Len Cariou Won
Bonnie Franklin Won

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Denkert, 54
  2. ^ "Two Broadway Shows Planned by Kasha", The New York Times, April 8, 1969, p.42
  3. ^ "Lauren Bacall Will Play Lead Role in 'All About Eve'", The New York Times, July 10, 1969, p.29
  4. ^ Denkert, 55
  5. ^ Filichia, 40
  6. ^ Denkert, 57
  7. ^ "Openings of the Week". The New York Times. No. New York edition. 29 March 1970. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  8. ^ "'Applause' Closes Saturday". The New York Times. No. New York edition. 24 May 1972. p. 53. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  9. ^ Filichia, Peter (2010). "1969-1970, The Biggest Hit: Applause". Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit and the Biggest Flop of the Season, 1959 to 2009. Applause Theatre & Cinema. pp. 66–72. ISBN 9781423495628. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Applause – Broadway Musical – Original: IBDB". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  11. ^ a b Gans, Andrew (8 April 2005). "Casting Complete for Reprise! Applause". Playbill. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  12. ^ Green, Stanley. Applause Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, Da Capo Press, 2009, ISBN 078674684X, p. 13
  13. ^ Allen, Peter (7 December 1975). "Eve Arden and New Girl Might Save Applause". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  14. ^ Sommer, Elyse.Encores review, curtainup.com, February 9, 2008
  15. ^ "Porchlight Revisists…Applause". Around the Town Chicago with Al Bresloff. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2018-05-15.
  16. ^ Musicals 101: Our Love Is Here To Stay VII, Stonewall & After by John Kenrick Retrieved 8 February 2010.

References

  • Denkert, Darcie (2005). A Fine Romance. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN 0-8230-7774-8
  • Filichia, Peter (1993). Let's Put on a Musical!. New York: Back Stage Books. ISBN 0-8230-8817-0
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