Love Life
(1948)

Vaudeville in two acts.
Books and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.

The Cooper family: Front, Johnny (Johnny Stewart) and Elizabeth (Cheryl Archer).
Back, Susan (Nanette Fabray) and Sam (Ray Middleton).

Synopsis

Love Life tells the story of family values in America from colonial days to the mid-twentieth century. Samuel and Susan Cooper and their two children, who do not age, progress through different eras, and we see how their relationship changes and weakens as stress from outside the home grows. The scenes are interspersed with different kinds of vaudeville numbers (such as magic acts, vocal ensembles, a trapeze act) which comment on the story. At the end, Samuel and Susan are trying to save their marriage, their resolve strengthened by their hard-won knowledge of all the pressures that face them. Love Life is generally regarded as one of the first "concept" musicals.

Song list

Who is Samuel Cooper?
My Name is Samuel Cooper
Here I'll Stay
Progress
I Remember It Well
Green-Up Time
Economics
Mother's Getting Nervous
My Kind of Night
Women's Club Blues
Love Song
I'm Your Man
You Understand Me So
Madrigal - `Ho, Billy O!'
Is It Him or Is It Me?
This is the Life
The Minstrel Show - We're Sellin' Sunshine
Madame Zuzu
Takin' No Chances
Mr. Right

Performance Information Cast: Singing roles -- Susan Cooper (soprano), Sam Cooper (bass baritone), Elizabeth Cooper, Johnny Cooper, Mary Jo, George Hamilton Beacon, Jonathan Anderson, Charlie, Hank, Will, Tim, three children, Slade, Boylan, Harvey, Leffcourt, Miss Horoscope (coloratura soprano), Miss Mysticism, Miss Ideal Man, Mr. Cynic, ensemble of vaudevillians, townspeople, minstrels.
Speaking roles -- Magician, Walt, Trapeze Artist, William Taylor, dancers.
Orchestra: Reed 1 (cl, alto sax), Reed 2 (cl, bass cl, alto sax, fl), Reed 3 (cl, ten. sax, fl, picc), Reed 4 (cl, ten. sax, ob), Reed 5 (cl, bar. sax, bn); 3 tpt, tbn; guitar (banjo), piano (accordion), timp & perc; strings (without violas).
Duration: full evening, 110 minutes music

Principal productions

October 7, 1948, New York, 46th Street Theater, Elia Kazan, dir., Joseph ittau, cond.
June 6, 1990, Philadelphia, American Music Theater Festival, Barry Harman, dir., Robert Kapilow, cond. (script adapted by Thomas Babe)
December 22, 1995, Leeds, Opera North, Caroline Gawn, dir., Wyn Davies, cond.

Recordings

LP Heritage H0060 CD DRG 5246	Alan Jay Lerner, Kaye Ballard, et al. (excerpts)	Love Song Economics Here I'll Stay Green Up Time Progress Susan's Dream Mr. Right
CD EMI 7243 5 55563 2 5	Kurt Weill on Broadway (excerpts) Thomas Hampson London Sinfonietta John McGlinn, cond.	Who is Samuel Cooper? My Name is Samuel Cooper Here I'll Stay I Remember It Well This is the Life
sk.ioffer.com (2 CDs)	American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia Neal Ben-Ari, Debbie Shapiro and Richard Muenz Revival 16 June 1990	Complete

"Ho, Billy O!" from Love Life (1948)

Madrigal for SATB chorus a cappella, with divisi.
Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.

Performance Information

Duration: 6 minutes
Published Editions: TRO #S7071
First performance: (Probably) July 20, 1985, New York, Festival of American Music Theatre, The National Chorale, Martin Josman, cond.

Recordings

Premier
PRCD 1030
Songs of Humor and Satire
The Gregg Smith Singers