Irene (musical)
Irene | |
---|---|
Basis | James Montgomery (play Irene O'Dare) |
Productions | 1919 Broadway 1923 Broadway revival 1973 Broadway revival |
Irene is a
The musical opened on Broadway in 1919 and ran for 675 performances, at the time the record for the longest-running musical in Broadway history, which it maintained for nearly two decades. It starred Edith Day in the title role, who repeated the role in the London production. It was revived on Broadway in 1923, filmed twice, and had a major Broadway revival in 1973, starring Debbie Reynolds, that ran for 594 performances, followed by a 1976 London run that lasted 974 performances.
Early productions
The original Broadway production, directed by
Irene enjoyed a brief Broadway revival at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre in 1923 with Dale Winter as Irene, Jere Delaney as Madame Lucy, and Walter Regan reprising his role as Donald. Eventually there were 17 national touring companies, and it was filmed twice, first as a 1926 silent movie with Colleen Moore and again in 1940 with Anna Neagle.
Later productions
In 1971, the revival of the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with film star Ruby Keeler proved to be a hit. Its producer, Harry Rigby, deciding to cash in on the nostalgia craze by reviving another vintage show with another glamorous movie star as its centerpiece, zeroed in on Irene, engaging Debbie Reynolds to make her Broadway debut in the title role. Rigby hired librettist Hugh Wheeler to rework the show, which retained only five of the original songs and added tunes written by McCarthy with other composers and original numbers by Charles Gaynor and Otis Clements, with additional material written by Wally Harper and Jack Lloyd for the revival. Actor John Gielgud was hired to direct.
The production was troubled from the beginning.
After 13 previews, the revival opened on March 13, 1973 as the inaugural production of the
The success of this revival led to a 1973 Australian production with
Synopsis (1973 version)
- Act I
Irene O'Dare is a humble but ambitious, hard-working Irish girl from the
Donald's ne'er-do-well cousin Ozzie wants help to jump-start a fashion business to be run by his friend, "Madame Lucy", a flamboyant male artiste, who pretends to be a famous French couturier. Irene and her pretty best friends, Helen McFudd and Jane Burke, are recruited to model Madame Lucy's gowns, and Donald provides financing. Irene agrees to pose as a society girl to convince everyone to shop at Madame Lucy's, but she becomes angry with Donald when he asks her to continue the ruse. Meanwhile, Irene's mother and Donald's mother do not see eye-to-eye.
- Act II
Madame Lucy, Helen, Jane and Ozzie are overjoyed at their success, as Madame Lucy's creations are now world-famous. Donald realizes that he loves Irene. He goes to the piano store but on the way he runs into some unsavory fellows who beat him badly. He and Irene reconcile but then argue again, and he runs out. Helen and Jane give Donald some advice about acting like a man and wooing Irene properly. Following their counsel, he sweeps her into his arms and kisses her passionately, which results in more bruises, this time from her.
At the grand ball at Donald's estate, Irene finds her mother brokenhearted over Liam O'Dougherty, the love of her life. It turns out that Madame Lucy is Liam O'Dougherty, and he reunites happily with Irene's mother. Donald announces that he loves Irene, and her true identity is revealed. He tells her: "You made me love you", and all ends happily.
Song list
Original production
- Act I
- Hobbies – Eleanor Worth and Ensemble
- Alice Blue Gown – Irene O'Dare
- Castle of Dreams – Eleanor and Ensemble
- The Talk of the Town – Madame Lucy, Helen Cheston and Jane Gilmour
- To Be Worthy (of You) – Irene and Ensemble
- Act II
- We're Getting Away with It – Madame Lucy, Donald Marshall, Robert Harrison, Helen and Jane
- Irene – Irene and Company
- To Love You – J. P. Bowden and Irene
- Sky Rocket (Skyrocket) – Irene and Ensemble
- The Last Part of Every Party – Helen, Jane and Ensemble
- There's Something in the Air – Ensemble
1973 production
- Act I
- The World Must Be Bigger Than an Avenue – Irene (Lyrics by Jack Lloyd; music by Wally Harper)
- The Family Tree – Mrs. Marshall and Debutantes
- Alice Blue Gown – Irene
- They Go Wild, Simply Wild, Over Me – Lucy and Debutantes (Music by Fred Fisher)
- An Irish Girl – Irene and Company (Lyrics by Otis Clements; music by Charles Gaynor)
- Stepping on Butterflies – Lucy, Irene, Helen McFudd and Jane Gilmour (Music by Harper)
- Mother Angel Darling – Irene and Mrs. O'Dare (Music and lyrics by Gaynor)
- The Riviera Rage – Irene and Company (Music by Harper)
- Act II
- I'm Always Chasing Rainbows – Irene
- The Last Part of Every Party – Company
- We're Getting Away with It – Lucy, Helen, Jane and Ozzie Babson
- Irene – Irene and Company
- The Great Lover Tango – Donald Marshall, Helen and Jane (Lyrics by Gaynor; music by Clements)
- You Made Me Love You – Irene and Donald (Music by James Monaco)
- You Made Me Love You (reprise) – Lucy and Mrs. O'Dare
- Finale – Company
Awards and nominations
- 1973 Broadway revival
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical(Reynolds, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical(Irving, winner)
- Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical(Kelly, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
- Theatre World Award (Markham, winner)
- Outer Critics Circle Awardfor Outstanding Performance (Reynolds, winner)
Adaptations
Irene was adapted for a 1926 silent film starring Colleen Moore,[7] a June 1936 Lux Radio Theatre production with Jeanette MacDonald and Regis Toomey,[8] and a 1940 film remake starring Anna Neagle and Ray Milland.
References
- ^ a b c Watters, Jim. "Unsinkable Debbie Reynolds: at 42, She Salvages Her Career", People Magazine, November 25, 1974, accessed December 28, 2016
- ^ Barnes, Clive. "Theater: Irene Bustles Merrily and Relentlessly", The New York Times, March 14, 1973, accessed December 28, 2016
- ^ Gussow, Mel. "Jane Powell, Soft and Smiling, Takes Over as Irene", The New York Times, February 8, 1974, accessed December 28, 2016
- ISBN 1476603294
- ^ "Irene: London Production (1976)", Ovrtur.com, accessed January 5, 2015
- ^ "Irene: Australian Revival Version (1974)" Archived 2015-01-06 at the Wayback Machine, Ovrtur.com, accessed January 5, 2015
- ^ Irene at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Irene at Turner Classic Movies
External links
- Irene at the Internet Broadway Database
- Recording of Edith Day singing "Alice Blue Gown" (1920)
- Background information from the Musical Theatre Project
- Extensive information about the show, particularly the 1973 revival
- Information from the Guide to Musical Theatre
- Profile of the show at Broadway Musical Home