One Touch of Venusis a 1943musicalwith music written byKurt Weill,lyrics byOgden Nash,and book byS. J. Perelmanand Nash, based on the 1885 novellaThe Tinted VenusbyThomas Anstey Guthrie,and very loosely spoofing thePygmalionmyth. The show satirizes contemporary Americansuburbanvalues, artistic fads and romantic and sexual mores. Weill had been in America for eight years by the time he wrote this musical, and his music, though retaining his early haunting power, had evolved into a very differentBroadwaystyle.[1]
| One Touch of Venus | |
|---|---|
 Sheet Music Cover | |
| Music | Kurt Weill |
| Lyrics | Ogden Nash |
| Book | Ogden Nash S. J. Perelman |
| Basis | Thomas Anstey Guthrie's novellaThe Tinted Venus |
| Productions | 1943Broadway 1948Film 1992Barbican Centre 1995BBC Radio 1997Light Opera Works 2000Royal Opera House 2001King's Head Theatre |
Story
editRodney Hatch, a barber, is engaged to Gloria Kramer. While visiting an art museum, he feels drawn to a sculpture ofVenus,the Roman goddess of love, though other patrons dismiss it as out of step with current art trends. On a whim, Rodney puts his engagement ring on the statue's finger, bringing the statue to life. Venus falls in love with Rodney and begins pursuing him, causing turmoil in his relationship with Gloria. When Venus becomes annoyed with Gloria, she transports her to theNorth Pole.To further complicate matters, with the statue missing from the museum, Rodney is arrested for art theft, but Venus helps him escape. Rodney begins to fall in love with the goddess, but their time together is cut short when she is called away by the gods and becomes a statue again. When Gloria returns from the North Pole, she is furious with Rodney and breaks off their engagement. Rodney returns to the museum and looks at the statue again. He unexpectedly bumps into a young woman from out of town who bears a striking resemblance to the statue. Rodney leaves the museum with her, and as she starts to tell him her name, he responds, "You don't have to tell me. I know."
Original production
editThe original Broadway production opened at theImperial Theatreon October 7, 1943 and closed on February 10, 1945 after 567 performances. It was directed byElia Kazan,featured choreography byAgnes de Mille,and was co-produced byJohn WildbergandCheryl Crawford.It starredMary Martin,Kenny Bakerand Paula Laurence.[2]Marlene Dietrichreportedly backed out of the title role during rehearsals, calling it "too sexy and profane", which gave Martin the opportunity to establish herself as a Broadway star.[3]
Film version
editThe musical was made into a1948 film,directed byWilliam A. Seiterand starringAva GardnerandRobert Walker.ActressEve Ardenco-starred. The movie version changed Hatch's first name from Rodney to Eddie and omitted much of the Broadway score; it received poor reviews.
Other productions
editIn 1987, the piece played at theGoodspeed Opera House.[3]Ian Marshall Fisher's DiscoveringLost MusicalsCharitable Trust has presented the work twice, first in 1992 at theBarbican Centre,and then in 2000 theRoyal Opera House's Linbury Studio Theatre.Louise Goldplayed the title role on both occasions. Both productions also found Myra Sands playing Mrs Kramer; whileDick Vosburghput in an appearance in the 2000 production.[4]
Its premiered in Germany on June 17, 1994, at theMeiningen Court Theatrein Meiningen, Thuringia.
In 1995, BBC Radio broadcast the piece withPaige O'Harain the title role. Other cast members includedKim Criswell,Peter Gale, Myra Sands (as Mrs. Kramer) andDick Vosburgh.
In 1996,New York City Center'sEncores!series presented the piece, directed byLeonard FogliawithMelissa Erricoin the title role. In 1997,Light Opera Worksin Illinois produced the work.[5]
In 2001, London's first major theatrical run opened at theKing's Head Theatrein Islington. With a new adaptation by director Tim Childs it starredPeter Landas Whitelaw Savory, Michael Gyngell, and newcomerKim Medcalfas Venus. It opened to glowing reviews but failed to transfer to theWest End,probably because Childs, with an eye to opening the same production on Broadway, workshopped it with Land reprising his role andSara Ramirezas Venus in New York two weeks after September 11, 2001. Not surprisingly, New York Producers did not want to commit to producing the piece at that time.[1]
Opera Northproduced the piece in 2004 at theGrand Theatre, Leeds,directed byTim Albery.[6]
42nd Street Moonproduced the musical in 2007 atEureka Theatrein San Francisco, directed by Greg MacKellan,[7]with musical direction & accompaniment by Dave Dobrusky, choreography by Tom Segal, lighting by Ellen Brooks, scenic decoration by Mike Figueira, and costume design by Louise Jarmilowicz. The cast included: Nina Josephs as Venus, Anil Margsahayam as Rodney Hatch, Peter Budinger as Whitelaw Savory, Amy Louise Cole as Molly Grant, Tom Orr as Julius E. "Taxi" Black, Juliet Heller as Gloria Kramer, Chris Macomber as Mrs. Florabelle Kramer, Tyler Kent as Stanley/Zuvetli/Dr. Rook, Jarrod Quon as Sam and Elise Youssef as Rose.
Metal Monkey Theatre Company produced a revival of the musical for the 2009Edinburgh Festival Fringe,Scotland, directed by Michael Hall,[8]with musical direction & accompaniment by Duncan White. The cast included: Chrissy Quinn as Venus, Michael Trakas as Rodney Hatch, John Kirkman as Whitelaw Savory, Emily Grogan as Molly Grant, Alex Murphy as Julius E. "Taxi" Black, Jo Britton as Gloria Kramer, Morven Rae Mrs. Florabelle Kramer, David Sanders as Stanley/Dr. Rook, Simon Motz as Zuvetli, Christopher Rorke as Sam, Sarah Block as Mrs Moats and Claire Kennard as Rose. They performed the show at Augustine's (Venue 152) in August 2009[9]and received a 5-star review from www.musicaltalk.co.uk[10]
On May 13, 2014, Jay Records released a two-CD production billed as the "First Complete Recording" ofOne Touch of VenuswithMelissa Erricoin the title role. John Owen Edwards and James Holmes conducted the National Symphony (U.K.).[11]The recording was thirteen years in the making (2000-2013) and involved studios in both London and New York City.[citation needed]Co-starring wereRon Raines(Whitelaw Savory),Victoria Clark(Molly Grant) andBrent Barrett(Rodney Hatch).[11]
Television adaptation
editIn 1955,Janet Blairstarred as Venus in a live production ofOne Touch of VenusonNBC-TV.[12]
Synopsis
editA long-lost, priceless statue of the goddessVenusis displayed in a New York art museum. A barber, Rodney Hatch, places the engagement ring intended for his fiancée on the statue's finger. The sculpture comes to life and falls in love with the hapless Rodney. Farcical complications ensue.
Musical numbers
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Act I
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Act II
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Principal roles
edit- Whitelaw Savory, a wealthy art collector (baritone)
- Molly Grant, Mr. Savory's secretary (mezzo-soprano)
- Rodney Hatch, a barber (tenor)
- Venus (mezzo-soprano)
- Gloria Kramer, Rodney's fiancée (mezzo-soprano)
- Mrs. Kramer, Gloria's mother (mezzo-soprano)
- Taxi Black and Stanley, two thugs
- Police Lieutenant
- Dr. Rook, a psychiatrist
- Zuvetli, a 'thoroughly unreconstructed' Anatolian
References
edit- ^abSheridan Morley(August 8, 2001)."London Theater: InTouch Of Venus,a Touch of Class ".International Herald Tribune(review of the 2001 London production) – viaThe New York Times.
- ^One Touch of Venusat theInternet Broadway Database
- ^abReview of 1987 production,The New York Times
- ^Information about the 2000 production
- ^Review of the 1996 Encores! production,The New York Times(subscription required)
- ^Review of Opera North's 2004 production,Opera Today
- ^Review of the 42nd Street Moon 2007 production
- ^Website www.onetouchofvenus.co.uk
- ^Edinburgh Fringe Ticket Site
- ^"MusicalTalk Podcast".
- ^abOne Touch of Venus,First Complete Recording,Jay Records
- ^Hischak, Thomas (2008).The Oxford Companion to the American Musical: Theatre, Film, and Television.Oxford University Press. p. 556.ISBN9780195335330.Retrieved8 September2015.
External links
edit- One Touch of Venusat theInternet Broadway Database
- One Touch of Venus,Kurt Weill Foundation
- One Touch of Venus,CastAlbumsDB
- One Touch of Venus,ovrtur.com
