Lyrics Ira Gershwin Playwright Ira Gershwin Composer George Gershwin | First performance 22 November 1927 Lyricist Ira Gershwin | |
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Book Paul Gerard Smith
Fred Thompson Productions Alvin Theatre (1927)
244 performances Similar George Gershwin plays, Musicals | ||
Frank crumit s wonderful 1928 george gershwin funny face
Funny Face is a 1927 musical composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Fred Thompson and Paul Gerard Smith. When it opened on Broadway on November 22, 1927, as the very first show on the newly built Alvin Theatre, it starred Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire. It was in this show that Fred Astaire first danced in evening clothes and a top hat.
Contents
- Frank crumit s wonderful 1928 george gershwin funny face
- Whispering jack smith funny face 1927 george ira gershwin
- Plot
- Original Broadway production
- Adaptions and inspirations
- References
Originally called Smarty, it first opened in Philadelphia on October 11, 1927 to poor reviews. This led to major rewrites and caused critic-humorist Robert Benchley, who had contributed to the script, to walk out. The rewrites and changes continued as the musical moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. (October 31); to Atlantic City (November 7); to Wilmington (November 14); before reaching Broadway and the Alvin Theatre on November 22, now renamed Funny Face. It became a major Broadway hit, and after 244 performances, the whole company transferred it to London, where Fred and Adele Astaire had a successful run of Lady, Be Good! just before starting the rehearsals of Smarty in Philadelphia.
Whispering jack smith funny face 1927 george ira gershwin
Plot
Jimmy Reeve is the legal guardian of three pretty sisters, Dora, June and Frankie, whose prize belongings he keeps in his safe. June's pearl necklace is locked in there, and so is Frankie's diary, after having been confiscated by Jimmy. However, the diary contains very incriminating things, so Frankie convinces the aviator Peter Thurston to steal it from the safe. But somehow he manages to steal the pearls instead, setting off a merry chase that takes the cast to the Atlantic City pier. And to make matters even more complicated, two bumbling burglars, Herbert and Dugsie, also try to break into the safe and are swept along in the chase. At one point, they have a falling out, but Herbert is unable to shoot Dugsie as he has forgotten to get a shooting license.
Original Broadway production
The show opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 22, 1927, and ran for 244 performances. It was directed by Edgar MacGregor, with choreography by Bobby Connolly.