Gershwin’s Broadway hit musical Of Thee I Sing and its star spangled sequel Let ‘em Eat Cake are 1930s feel-good treasures with sharp witty lyrics and sparkling music. The stories were written by Marx Brothers collaborators George Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind (Ryskind wrote Animal Crackers) and the book for Of Thee I Sing won a Pullitzer prize.
The drama of Obama versus McCain was nothing compared to the adventures of our hero, John P Wintergreen, who faces impeachment and even a war with France, all over a beauty contest. Luckily, the people of America know where their priorities lie – baking and babies are enough to bring everyone back to their senses!
But not for long…the fun continues in Let ‘em Eat Cake when four years later, Wintergreen loses the election and bored of his new life selling shirts, decides to lead a revolution. So the White House is taken over by Blue Shirts, war debts are settled through a baseball match and only the guillotine threatens to spoil the party. Can a fashion show save the day?
Of Thee I Sing is sponsored by Manchester Airports Group
Let ‘em Eat Cake is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank.
THE STORY
John P. Wintergreen is running for President and campaigning on the thing everyone wants – love. A beauty pageant is staged where first prize is the President’s hand in marriage. Glamorous French belle Diana Devereaux wins, but when the President falls for Mary, an all-American muffin-making secretary instead, the would be First Lady turns her rejection into an international scandal. Wintergreen needs a new idea to save the day, and maybe Mary can produce the answer…
Four years after his triumph, Wintergreen’s dusty promises are being knocked to pieces by a new contender, John P Tweedledee. Conceding defeat, the former golden couple set up shop selling blue shirts in New York. But Wintergreen starts talking about a revolution and he even persuades the head of the Army to join in. At first things appear to be going well: tanks roll up on the White House lawn. But then Wintergreen’s plan for a baseball match to settle differences between the American Supreme Court and the League of Nations goes badly wrong and the guillotine looms. Will the ever-resourceful Mary be able to rescue things this time?
THE music
Conductors Mark Dorrell and Wyn Davies talk about the music:
The music of Of Thee I Sing is a kaleidoscope of styles, including Tin-Pan-Alley-inspired vaudeville, jazz and a Gilbert and Sullivan pastiche. There are lilting Viennese-style waltzes, rousing Sousa-type marches, infectious soft-shoe numbers, patriotic anthems and seamless extended musical scenes.
Let ‘em Eat Cake has an even wider harmonic range, as though Gershwin said ‘why have three notes in a chord when you could have five, seven, or even nine?’ Like the story, the music is darker, and goes down some unexpected routes; the score calls for the same orchestral forces as Of Thee I Sing but sounds punchier in the revolutionary scenes and more exotic in the lyrical scenes. The introduction to Act Two sounds like Ravel on Broadway!
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Send & Win
Send this e-flier to a friend and you could win a complimentary weekend night’s stay at Residence 6* by Bridgestreet Worldwide, in the incomparable luxury of a One Bedroom Apartment.
» Prize Information
Located in the heart of the city centre in one of Leeds' landmark buildings, The Old Post Office, Residence 6* reflects the ultimate expression of comfort and refinement in luxury apartments, and provides a refreshing alternative to a five star hotel. Offering 23 private apartments and two superb restaurants (Restaurant Bar and Grill and Loch Fyne Seafood Restaurant), here you will enjoy an incomparable level of space and luxury in a refreshingly unique and personal environment where you can truly relax and feel at home. For more information, please visit www.residencesix.com.
» Free Prize Draw Terms & Conditions
No purchase necessary. Closing date for entries 7.3.2009. The draw is not open to employees of Opera North, its agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion. The promoter can accept no responsibility for entries lost, delayed or damaged by email; proof of email sending is not proof of receipt. One winner will be selected at random after the closing date, and receive a one night weekend stay for two at Residence 6* in a One Bedroom Apartment. Any other expenditure incurred during the stay is due to be settled on departure. A letter will be sent to the winner which needs to be presented at check in. The prize is subject to availability and valid until 30 June 2009. There is no cash alternative and negotiations will not be entered into. In the event of circumstances out of Opera North's control this prize may be substituted for a prize of equal or greater value. The draw will be independently supervised and the winner will be emailed within 28 days of the draw close date. The name and county of the winner will be available by sending a SAE to the draw address 28 days after the close date. Winners may be required to participate in publicity as a result of winning the prize. Promoter: Opera North, Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds. LS1 6NU.
Gallery
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REVIEWS
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Buy your tickets for Of Thee I Sing and its sequel Let ‘em Eat Cake at the same time and get Let ‘em Eat Cake for half price.
Full price tickets only. Same number of tickets only.
DATES
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Of Thee I Sing |
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Let ‘em Eat Cake |
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LEEDS GRAND THEATRE
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12 Feb; 14 Feb* at 2pm |
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29, 31 Jan; 6, 13, 14 Feb |
£10 to £58 |
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0844 848 2720 |
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SADLER'S WELLS, LONDON
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18 Feb at 7.30pm; 21 Feb* at 2.30pm |
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20, 21 Feb at 7.30pm |
£10 to £60 |
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0870 787 5790 |
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THE LOWRY, SALFORD QUAYS
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28 Feb* at 2pm |
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27, 28 Feb |
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£14 to £51.50
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0870 787 5790 |
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THEATRE ROYAL, NEWCASTLE
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7 Mar at 2pm |
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6, 7 Mar |
£14.50 to £54.50 |
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0844 811 2121 |
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All performances start at 7.15pm unless otherwise stated.
*Audio described performance by Vocaleyes
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