Synopsis

A play of psychoanalysis. Liza Elliott, the protagonist, is an extremely successful editor of a fashion magazine, and several desirable men want to marry her, but she is miserable. She goes to a psychiatrist, who delves into her feelings by way of her dreams. She recounts three dreams (which are actually extended musical sequences)--of glamor, of marriage, and finally a manic trial scene in which she is forced to defend herself against the charge that she refuses to make up her mind. Finally the analyst explains that her feelings toward her mother are the root of her problem, and they are symbolized by a childhood song which haunts her, but which she is unable to remember in full. She comes to terms with her memories, remembers the song, and realizes that the man she really wants is her advertising manager, who had not previously been a candidate.

Song list

• Oh Fabulous One
• Huxley
• One Life to Live
• The Girl of the Moment

• Mapleton High Chorale
• This is New
• The Princess of Pure Delight

• The Greatest Show on Earth
• Dance of the Tumblers
• The Best Years of His Life
• Tchaikovsky
• The Saga of Jenny

• My Ship

Performance Information

Speaking roles -- Dr. Brooks, Miss Bowers, Miss Stevens, Maggie Grant, Alison Du Bois, office boys, models, children, dancers.
Orchestra: fl (picc), Reed 1 (cl, alto sax), Reed 2 (cl, bass cl, alto sax, bar. sax), Reed 3 (cl, ten. sax, ob); 3 tpt, 1 tbn; Hammond organ, piano, timp & perc; strings (without violas).
Duration: full evening, 65 minutes music
Authorized Translations: German -- Marianne Schubart & Karl Vibach; Maria Teichs

• January 23, 1941, New York, Alvin Theater, Moss Hart, dir., Maurice Abravanel, cond.
• May 24, 1951, Kassel, Paul Ross, dir., Willy Krauss, cond. (in German)
• September 11, 1976, Lübeck, Bühne der Hansestadt, Karl Vibach, dir., Wolfgang Peters, cond. (in German)
• December 28, 1989, Chicago, Light Opera Works, Peter Amster, dir., Edward Zelnis, cond.
• March 30, 1996, Tokyo (and other cities), Tokyo Art Sphere (in Japanese)
• March 11, 1997, London, Royal National Theatre, Francesca Zambello, dir., Mark Dorrell, cond.

ORIGINAL PRODUCTION

Alvin Theatre, January 23, 1941 (467 perf.)

Director: Moss Hart

Choreographer: Albertina Rasch

Musical Director: Maurice Abravanel

Orchestration and Vocal Arrangements: Kurt Weill

 

Principals:

Dr. Brooks- Donald Randolph-

Miss Bowers- Jeanne Shelby-

Liza Elliott- Gertrude Lawrence- mezzo

Sutton/Miss Foster- Evelyn Wyckoff-

Miss Stevens- Ann Lee-

Maggie Grant- Margaret Dale-

Alison Du Bois- Natalie Schafer-

Russell Paxton- Danny Kaye- tenor

Charley Johnson- Macdonald Carey-

Randy Curtis- Victor Mature-Baritone

Kendall Nesbitt- Bert Lytell

Chorus and Smaller Roles: 11M/12F

78: Decca 208		Studio Cast 194 Hildegarde Hannon, Robert Hannon Harry Sosnik, cond
LP RCA LPV-503 CD ASV LIVING ERA 5265 (extraits) CD Prism PLATCD 999		Original Broadway Cast 1941 Gertrude Lawrence Maurice Abravanel, cond.
CD AEI-CD003		[excerpts] Original Cast members 1950 Gertrude Lawrence, MacDonald Carey, Hume Cronyn,  Arthur Vinton Maurice Abravanel, cond.
LP RCA Victor LM-1882 EP 45 RCA Victor ERB-1882 CD AEI CD 041 CD Sepia 1052 CD Documents Historische Ton 4032250197830 (2 CDs)		Television Cast 1954 Ann Sothern, Carleton Carpenter, MacDonald Carey James Daly, Luella Gear, Shepperd Strudwick Charles Sanford , cond
LP Columbia COS-2390 CBS MK 44689 CD Sony MHK 62869		Studio Cast 1963 Risë Stevens, Adolph Green, Lehman Engel, cond. (Sony CD includes tracks featuring Danny Kaye's recordings from 1941)
JAY 1278 TER 1244		Original London Cast 1997 Maria Friedman, James Dreyfus, Paul Shelley Mark W. Dorrell, conductor  (complete score) includes "Liza, Liza", "Woman at the Alter"
Film Lady in the Dark  (1944)		Paramount 100 min. Starring : Mischa Auer, Warner Baxter, Jon Hall, Ray Milland Ginger Rogers, Barry Sullivan Director Mitchell Leisen Producer Richard M. Blumenthal Original Story Moss Hart Director of Photography Ray Rennahan Editor Alma Macrorie Composers Johnny Burke Ira Gershwin James Van Heusen Kurt Weill Screenwriters Frances Goodrich Albert Hackett

Performance Information

Orchestra: 2 (picc).2 (Eng hn).3 (bass cl).2; 4.3.3.1; harp, celesta (or piano), timp & perc; strings.
Duration: 12 minutes
First known performance: July 29, 1949, New York, Lewisohn Stadium, New York Philharmonic, Maurice Abravanel, cond.

Naxos 8.557481

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop