Broadway 2 A Day: 1971 - 1973 (Grease, Pippin & some duds)

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Hi all. I've been falling behind on these because I've actually been leaving the house and seeing friends! Who would've thought?

Every decade has been better than the last so I'm excited to keep working my way through the 70s. Let's dive in.  Part two coming later today.
  • Two Gentleman of Verona
    • Have I heard of it before? The play yes, not the musical
    • Did I enjoy it? Very forgettable music
    • Synopsis: Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name. (Wikipedia)
    • Favorite song: I Am Not Interested in Love
  • Inner City
    • Have I heard of it before? Nope
    • Did I enjoy it? No but the plot seems interesting in theory 
    • Synopsis: Based on Eve Merriam’s The Inner City Mother Goose, it dealt with the classic nursery rhymes repertory, suffused with social protest attitudes that were not in the original, the whole thing set to music by Helen Miller, and directed by Tom O’Horgan. (Masterworks Broadway)
    • Favorite song: Nub of the Nation
  • No, No, Nanette
    • Have I heard of it before? I think they referenced this in The Producers but that's all I know
    • Did I enjoy it? This was a pretty classic score, fun to listen to but not super memorable 
    • Synopsis: No, No, Nanette is a lighthearted romp showcasing the charming music of Vincent Youmans. The wacky story involves three couples sharing a cottage in Atlantic City in the midst of a blackmail scheme, with plenty of deception, romantic mishaps, and comical misunderstandings. (Concord Theatricals) 
    • Favorite song: I Want To Be Happy
  • Don’t Play Us Cheap!
    • Have I heard of it before? Nope
    • Did I enjoy it? No, I skipped through most of this
    • Synopsis: Don't Play Us Cheap is a 1972 musical written, produced, and directed by Melvin Van Peebles, about an imp and a devil who take human form and try to break up a Harlem house party. (Wikipedia)
    • Favorite song: Saturday Night
  • Grease
    • Have I heard of it before? Of course
    • Did I enjoy it? Yeah, I'd never actually listened to the Original Broadway Cast before, just the movie soundtrack and the soundtrack from Grease Live!
    • Synopsis: I think we all know the plot at this point.
    • Favorite song: Those Magic Changes (wish it was performed in the movie)
  • Pippin
    • Have I heard of it before? Yes, I love a lot of the songs. I was once at a summer theatre  camp and they tried to teach us some of the original Fosse choreography to Glory and it was so freaking hard and that's when I knew I was not destined for the stage. 
    • Did I enjoy it? Yes
    • Synopsis: As told by a traveling troupe of actors led by the cunning and charming Leading Player, Pippin is the story of a young prince, heir to the throne, who is searching for his own “corner of the sky.” Pippin returns from university certain that he will find a fulfilling purpose in life. As encouraged by the Leading Player, Pippin dabbles in bloody battle, licentious and lusty sexual entanglements, and savvy political maneuvers, only to discover that true happiness is more complicated than he thought. (Stage Agent)
    • Favorite song: Glory (but they are all great)
  • Irene
    • Have I heard of it before? No
    • Did I enjoy it? Pretty forgettable
    • Synopsis: ‘Irene’ concerns a delightful and strong-willed Irish girl, Irene O’Dare. While helping her widowed mother in a little shop in New York City, she dreams of being a successful businesswoman. She successfully manages a dress salon and eventually marries the shop’s financial backer, Donald Marshall. (Stage Agent)
    • Favorite song: The World Must Be Bigger Than An Avenue

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