''Garrick Gaieties'' is a

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, the first successful musical by this songwriting team. It debuted in 1925 on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

and was the first of three ''Garrick Gaiety'' revues, which were subsequently produced in 1926 and 1930. The show parodied current subjects, such as the New York City Subway system and the Theatre Guild (producer of the show). The ''Garrick Gaieties'' is remembered as "bringing Rodgers and Hart their first major recognition." Their hit song "

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

" was introduced in this revue.

Productions and history

The revue first opened on

at the Garrick Theatre on May 17, 1925, as a 2-performance benefit for the Theatre Guild. The reviews were favorable, and Rodgers and others persuaded the Theatre Guild to continue the production, which re-opened on June 8, 1925 and ran until November 28, for 211 performances.Hyland, William. ''Richard Rodgers'' (1998), Yale University Press, , pp. 29- 33 Several writers contributed the material for the sketches, including Edith Meiser, Sam Jaffe, Benjamin Kaye,

Morrie Ryskind Morris "Morrie" Ryskind (October 20, 1895 – August 24, 1985) was an American dramatist, lyricist and writer of theatrical productions and movies, who became a conservative political activist later in life. Life and career Ryskind was born in ...

and Howard J. Green. Directed by

Philip Loeb Philip Loeb (March 28, 1891 – September 1, 1955), was an American stage, film, and television actor, director and author. He was blacklisted under McCarthyism and committed suicide in response. Early life Philip Loeb was born March 28, 1891, ...

with musical staging by Herbert Fields, the cast included Romney Brent, June Cochrane,

Sterling Holloway Sterling Price Holloway Jr. (January 4, 1905 – November 22, 1992) was an American actor and voice actor who appeared in over 100 films and 40 television shows. He did voice acting for The Walt Disney Company, playing Mr. Stork in '' Dumbo'', A ...

, Libby Holman, Philip Loeb, Edith Meiser, Sanford Meisner, Betty Starbuck and

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American theatre director, actor and acting teacher. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931 ...

Subsequent productions

There were two sequels, also titled ''Garrick Gaieties''. They were produced on Broadway by the Theatre Guild with direction by Philip Loeb at the Guild Theatre, and opened, respectively, on May 10, 1926, June 4, 1930, and, in a return engagement for 10 performances, October 16, 1930. Sterling Holloway appeared in all of the sequels, and Edith Meiser appeared in all but the final one. Notable performers included Imogene Coca and

Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, comedienne, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in the H ...

. Ruth Tester sang, "Sing Something Simple". The music and lyrics for the 1926 Gaieties was written by Rodgers and Hart and introduced their famous song "

Mountain Greenery "Mountain Greenery" is a popular song composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart for the musical '' The Garrick Gaieties'' (1926). It was first performed on stage by Sterling Holloway. Lyrics The lyrics display Hart's characteristic u ...

". The music and lyrics for the 1930 version were written by many, including Marc Blitzstein, Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin, and Johnny Mercer.

Sketches and musical numbers

The opening number, "Soliciting Subscriptions" was a spoof of the Theatre Guild's "serious pretensions", along with the following song, "Gilding the Guild". Ryskind wrote skits including a satire of President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, and a parody of the Scopes Trial, which was dropped from the show after

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (March 19, 1860 – July 26, 1925) was an American lawyer, orator and politician. Beginning in 1896, he emerged as a dominant force in the Democratic Party, running three times as the party's nominee for President ...

died on July 25, 1925. Libby Holman's solo, "Black and White" was later dropped. Sterling Holloway and June Cochrane introduced the song "Manhattan", as its "easygoing strolling melody and ingeniously rhymed lyric related all of the everyday pleasures to be found in New York". The "wittily unsentimental" "Sentimental Me" was praised by the critics and was a hit money-maker as well.

Songs

''Note:'' music by Rodgers and lyrics by Hart except as noted. ;Act 1 *Soliciting Subscriptions *Gilding the Guild *Butcher, Baker, Candle-Stick Maker (Lyrics by Benjamin M. Kaye, Music by Mana Zucca) *An Old-Fashioned Girl (Lyrics by Edith Meiser) *April Fool *Stage Managers' Chorus (Lyrics by Hart and Dudley Digges) *The Joy Spreader ;Act 2 *Rancho Mexicano (Music by Tatanacho) *Ladies of the Box Office *Mr. and Mrs. *

*The Three Musketeers *Do You Love Me (I Wonder)? *Black and White * "Sentimental Me (And Poor Romantic You)" was also in the revue although not listed in the Internet Broadway Database.Sentimental Me
lorenzhart.org, accessed April 7, 2009

References

*Hischak, Thomas S. ''The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia'' (2007), Greenwood Publishing Group,

Notes

External links

Internet Broadway database listing, all productions

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrick Gaieties, The 1925 musicals Broadway musicals Revues Musicals by Rodgers and Hart