Past Productions -
Crazy For You
Book by Ken
Ludwig, based upon the original book by Guy Bolton & John
McGowan Music by George Gershwin Lyrics by Ira Gershwin&
additional lyrics by Gus Kahn & Desmond Carter Opened on
Broadway 19 February 1992 Produced by Elizabeth Williams and
Roger Horchow
9th to 14th
March 1998
At Gordon Craig Theatre,
Lytton Road,
Stevenage
Production Director - Jim Snell, Musical Director - John
Edwards, Choreographer - Mollie Gilbert.
The "new
Gershwin musical ", "Crazy for you" was based upon the 1930
Gershwin' musical "Girl Crazy" . However, whilst the
storyline of a New York playboy going West and falling in
love with a local girl was retained, along with five of the
Gershwins' unique and well-loved songs; the authorisation by
the Gershwin estate to write a new book and their consent to
access and use songs from the Gershwin canon led to the
realisation of one of the great revivals of the 1990's, both
on Broadway and in the West End. The "new musical" is the
summation of a number of ingredients imperative for magical,
foot tapping entertainment: a wonderful score, a witty and
clever book, a traditional tale of love with a happy ending
and energetic choreography from beginning to end. The
Hitchin Thespians are proud to be given the opportunity to
be one of the first amateur companies in the UK to present
this musical. This show will be produced by Jim Snell, with
John Edwards as Musical Director and choreography by Mollie
Gilbert.
Synopsis:
ACT 1 - Bela
Zangler, producer of the Zangler's Follies, is in love with
his dancer director, Tess. Bobby Child, heir to a banking
family, longs to be in show business. Irene, Bobby's fiancιe
is haranguing him about this or that. Bobby's mother is
insistent that he goes to Deadrock, a small mining town in
Nevada, to foreclose on a property.... three days later,
Bobby staggers into Deadrock whereupon he sees Polly, the
only woman in town, and immediately falls in love with her.
Polly's father, Everett, owns the very theatre that Bobby
has business with. They receive a letter to say a certain
Bobby Child is charged with foreclosing the property but
when Polly meets and falls in love with him, she is unaware
this is the character to whom she promised to "do something
ugly" if she met him. When she does find out, Polly slaps
him across the face and flees, heartbroken. Bobby has an
idea that if they put on a show in the theatre, they could
save it. He persuades his friends, the Follies, to come to
Deadrock and masquerades as Bela Zangler: saying he has been
sent by Bobby Child. The preparations for the show proceed
but on the opening night only two visitors arrive - they had
not come to see the show, but to write a review of the
saloon owned by Lank. The company are down but Polly points
out that since "Zangler" came along, the whole town has come
alive. Their gloom turns to celebration and in their
jollity, nobody sees the real Zangler arrive.
ACT 2 - Still
celebrating, Bobby asks Polly to marry him. She refuses
saying she is in love with "Zangler". Bobby tries to explain
that he is "Zangler" but Polly doesn't believe him. The real
Zangler tells Tess that because his wife has left him, he
has sought her in Deadrock. The two "Zanglers", both drunk,
bemoan their fortunes. When Polly finds them out cold the
next morning, she realises Bobby was telling her the truth
but rather than being pleased, feels humiliated. The company
decide not to try to revive the show so Bobby returns to New
York . Polly is too proud to admit that she loves him and
lets Bobby leave. Zangler in the meantime decides to revive
the show and succeeds in drawing full houses. Lank and Irene
marry . But all is not well in Deadrock or New York, Polly
and Bobby are still in love and go in search one for the
other. With such realisation of love, Everett and Mother
fall in love and when Polly unexpectedly returns to Deadrock,
the tale of love is complete as Polly & Bobby run into each
others arms and begin dancing.
Cast
(In order of
appearance)
Tess
Allison Smyth
Patsy Michelle Arnold
Bobby Child Jonathan Underwood
Bela Zangler David Springate
Mitzie Ranae Gray
Irene Roth Veronica Crowley
Mother Sheila Soothill
Mingo Iain Rutherford
Sam Mark Savage
Polly Baker Lesley Houldcroft
Moose Jack Lardent
Everett Baker Arthur Warne
Lank Hawkins Brain West
Eugene Fodor Roger Newman-Turner
Patricia Fodor Katy Bonja
Zangler
Follies
Michelle Arnold, Samantha Balch, Eileen Bone, Lucy Day,
Ranae Gray, Michelle Johnstone, Marie Knight, Donna Potter,
Allison Smyth, Alison Willis
Deadrock
Townsfolk
Paul Adams, Ron Burton, Elise Carr, Joanna Chugg, Chris
Drake, James Hamilton, Louise Hollingworth, Neil Johnston,
Nick Morgan, Keith Mortland, Carl Rutherford, Vivienne
Tadman, Barbara Thomas, Andrew Wyllie
A
selection of pictures from the show. Click on images to
see larger version.
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Song: "Can't be
bothered now". |
Finale Act 1, "I've
got rhythm". |
Shall we Dance?
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Stiff Upper Lip |
The Finale Act 2. |
The Cast on stage. |
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