Call Me Madam
| Call Me Madam | |
|---|---|
 Original BroadwayPlaybill | |
| Music | Irving Berlin |
| Lyrics | Irving Berlin |
| Book | Howard Lindsay Russel Crouse |
| Productions | 1950Broadway 1952West End 1953 Australia |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Original Score |
Call Me Madamis aBroadwaymusicalwritten byHoward LindsayandRussel Crouse,with music and lyrics byIrving Berlin.
The musical is asatireonpoliticsandforeign policythatspoofspostwar America's penchant for lending billions of dollars to needy countries. It centers on Sally Adams, a well-meaning but ill-informedsocialitewidow, who is appointedUnited StatesAmbassadorto the fictional European country of "Lichtenburg". Signs in Lichtenburg are written in German, and inhabitants wear traditionalBavariancostume. While there, she charms the local gentry, especially Cosmo Constantine, while herpress attachéKenneth Gibson falls in love with Princess Maria of Lichtenburg.
Background[edit]
The lead character is based onWashington, D.C.hostess andDemocratic PartyfundraiserPerle Mesta,who was appointed Ambassador toLuxembourgin 1949. ThePlaybilldistributed at each performance humorously noted that "neither the character of Mrs. Sally Adams nor MissEthel Mermanresemble any person living or dead. "
In 1949, Merman and her family were vacationing at theHotel ColoradoinGlenwood Springswith Howard Lindsay and his wife,Dorothy Stickney.Watching Merman at poolside, while he was reading a magazine article about Mesta, Lindsay was struck by how typically "American" Merman was, and immediately envisioned her portraying a colorful character similar to the newly-appointed ambassador. When he proposed the idea to Merman, who had little interest in either society or political news, she responded, "Who's Perle Mesta?"[1]
Although Merman had announced she was interested in playing a dramatic role in her next project, Lindsay and Russel Crouse approached Irving Berlin and began working on thebookforCall Me Madamwhen Berlin expressed interest in composing the score. Berlin's last production,Miss Liberty,had failed to recoup its investment, and he was determined to repeat the success he had had withAnnie Get Your Gun.The three collaborators agreed they needed to treat their subject with care, to avoid any legal action by Mesta. As the work progressed, Merman conceded she would be willing to sing two or three songs, but eventually accepted the fact she was going to star in a full-scale musical comedy, instead of the drama she preferred.[1]
ProducerLeland Haywardbudgeted the production at $250,000. In exchange for the original cast recording and television broadcast rights, he arranged to have it financed 100% byRCA RecordsandNBC,with the two sharing 35% of the net earnings. In order to increase the profits, Hayward decided to charge an all-time high of $7.20 for orchestra seats.[1]
Hayward hiredGeorge Abbottto direct, and Abbott and casting directorHarold Princeauditioned thousands of actors for the twenty speaking roles and twenty-nine chorus members.Raoul Pene du Boiswas hired to design sets and costumes, while the wardrobe worn by Merman was the responsibility ofMainbocher.[1]
Once the script was completed, everyone agreed that, while it seemed originally little more than standardsituation comedymaterial—although as the years have transpired, many musical aficionados rate it much higher—it was a perfect vehicle for Merman, and that Berlin's score, raised to its pinnacle by Merman, was tuneful and memorable. Berlin wrote "Something to Dance About" to give the second act a lively opening. When the star requested a duet withRussell Nypeplaying her lovestruck press attaché, Berlin responded by writing thecounterpointtune "You're Just in Love"and it ultimately became a showstopper at every performance.[1]
Synopsis[edit]
Sally Adams, a wealthy widow from Oklahoma, lives in Washington, D.C., where she is known as "the hostess with the mostest," famed for throwing the best parties in town. Despite her complete lack of experience, she is tapped as ambassador to the tiniest country in Europe, the Grand Duchy of Lichtenburg. The young press attaché Kenneth Gibson accompanies her as her aide. Sally is disappointed to find that Lichtenburg's foreign minister, Cosmo Constantine, is a formal and standoffish person who refuses to accept America's offer of foreign aid. She hatches a plot to get Cosmo promoted to the office of Prime Minister, thinking that he can be replaced by a foreign minister more open to her American manners and way of thinking. Meanwhile, Kenneth meets the Princess Maria, daughter of the Duke and Duchess. Her parents are planning to marry her to a wealthy suitor whose fortune will help the Duchy financially. Despite the fact that she is forbidden to speak to commoners, the Princess and Kenneth fall in love.
Cosmo learns of Sally's plans for him and resigns his position, opening the way for the country's first general election in twenty years. Sally openly campaigns for Cosmo to become Prime Minister, and is recalled to Washington for interfering in another country's internal affairs. However, the spirit of democracy has awakened in Lichtenburg: Cosmo is elected Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess grant permission for Maria and Kenneth to marry.
Productions[edit]
Directed by George Abbott and choreographed byJerome Robbins,the musical premiered at theShubert TheatreinNew Haven, Connecticuton September 11, 1950. Reviews were mixed—Varietysaid it "inspires warm applause rather than cheer" —and Berlin wrote two new songs to bolster the sagging second act. It opened in Boston on September 19, and whileThe Boston Recordthought it offered "only an occasional flash of inspirational fire", it played to standing-room-only audiences throughout the run.[1]
With a record advance sale of $2 million,[1]theBroadwayproduction opened on October 12 at theImperial Theatre,where it ran for 644 performances and grossed more than $4 million.[1]In addition to Merman and Nype, the cast includedPaul Lukas,Pat Harrington, Sr.,Galina Talva,Lilia Skala,Tommy RallandRichard Eastham.Brooks AtkinsonofThe New York Timesthought it offered one of Berlin's "most enchanting scores: fresh, light, and beguiling, and fitted to lyrics that fall out of it with grace and humor", and theNew York Postcalled Merman "indescribably soul-satisfying", "a comedienne of rare skill", and "one of the joys of the world."[1]She remained with the show for the entire run and appeared in the limited four-week engagement staged to celebrate the reopening of theNational Theatrein Washington, D.C.[1]
Apart from playing Rose in the first national tour ofGypsy,the role of Sally Adams inCall Me Madamwould be the only stage role which Ethel Merman would reprise after originating it on Broadway. In July 1965 Merman would headline a revival by theValley Music Theaterin which Richard Eastham and Russell Nype also reprised their Broadway roles. The production played an encore engagement—without Nype—inHoustonthat October. Merman, Eastham and Nype again reprised their Broadway roles for a 1967summer stocktour ofCall Me Madam.
The national tour ofCall Me Madamwas headlined byElaine Stritch;Merman'sunderstudyduring the show's Broadway run, Stritch had never had occasion to perform as Sally Adams at the Imperial, her debut in the role being at a matinee performance during the show's May 1952 Washington D.C. engagement. Subsequent to engagements at theNixon Theaterin Pittsburgh and theHanna Theatrein Cleveland—with respective openings on June 2 and 9, 1952—theCall Me Madamnational tour opened at thePhilharmonic AuditoriumJune 23, 1952, with further engagements in nine other cities—including Chicago and Detroit—the finale being an engagement at theIroquois ParkAmphitheater inLouisvillein August 1953. Throughout most of the tour Stritch's leading man wasKent Smith,as Cosmo Constantine, althoughDick Smartwould take over the role before the tour's end. The cast of the national tour also included Pat Harrington, Sr. and Jay Velie reprising their Broadway roles. Stritch would reprise the role of Sally Adams in two regional theatrical productions, headliningCall Me MadamforSt. Louis Municipal Opera Theatrein 1954—with Russell Nype reprising his Broadway role—and for theValley Forge Music Fairin 1956.
Call Me Madamreturned to the New York stage for the first time since its original Broadway run via theNew York City CenterEncores!semi-staged concert version—withTyne Dalyheadlining a cast includingWalter Charlesas Cosmo Constantine,Lewis Clealeas Kenneth andMelissa Erricoas Princess Maria. Presented in February 1995[2]as the inaugural production of Encores! second season,Call Me Madamwas lauded as the company's first hit production. Encores! would present a fully-staged production ofCall Me Madamin February 2019, withCarmen Cusackheadlining a cast which includedDarrell Hammondas Grand Duke Otto,Carol Kaneas Grand Duchess Sophie,Stanley Wayne Mathisas Senator Borckbank,Randy Rainbowas Sebastian Sebastian, andLauren Worshamas Princess Maria.[3]
Call Me Madamhad its premiere regional theatrical engagement at theDallas State Fairin August 1952: withJoan Blondellheadlining and Russell Nype reprising his Broadway role, the cast also includedWilliam LeMassenaas Pemberton Maxwell,Michael Pollockas Sebastian Sebastian andGene Raymondas Cosmo Constantine. In 1959Constance Bennettwould headline a production ofCall Me Madam,featuringWilbur Evansas Cosmo Constantine, which played engagements at theCamden CountyMusic Fair and at theStorrowtownMusic Fair. Also in 1959Penny Singletonwould headline a 1959 production by theSt. Louis Municipal Opera Theatrein which both Russell Nype and Pat Harrington, Sr. reprised their Broadway roles. Wilbur Evans would reprise the role of Cosmo Constantine in a 1963 production headlined byMartha Rayewhich played engagements at theValley Forge Music Fairand at the Storrowtown Music Fair, with Kenneth Gibson being played byJames Kirkwood.Margaret Whiting,who headlined a 1961 production ofCall Me Madamwhich played engagements in Boston and New Jersey, would in 1966 headline the play's Melody Topsummer stockproduction inMilwaukeewhich featuredTommy Sandsas Kenneth Gibson.
Jo Anne Worley,who headlined the 1987Pasadena Convention Centerproduction ofCall Me Madam,would also headline a semi-staged concert version mounted in 2001 at theAuditorium Theatre(Chicago) withMalcolm Getsas Kenneth Gibson andFred Willard.Leslie Uggamswould headline a revival ofCall Me Madammounted at thePaper Mill Playhouse,Millburn, New Jersey,in April–May 1996: the additional cast includedJ. B. Adamsas Henry Gibson/ Grand Duke Otto,Mark Bakeras Pemberton Maxwell, andVanessa Dormanas Princess Maria.[4]In September 2000Call Me Madamwas mounted at theUCLA Freud PlayhousewithKaren Morrowheadlining a cast which includedRobert Mandanas Pemberton Maxwell,Michael Nourias Cosmo Constantine,Hugh Panaroas Kenneth Gibson, andMichael Tuccias Congressman Wilkins.
Other regional productions ofCall Me Madamhave been headlined byMaxene Andrews(Coachlight Dinner TheaterEast Windsor CT/ 1976),Klea Blackhurst(42nd Street MoonSan Francisco/ 2009),Kim CriswellwithCatherine Brunellas Princess Maria andDavid Hessas Cosmo Constantine (Goodspeed MusicalsMiddlesex County CT/ 2004),Ruta Lee(Casa MañanaFort Worth/ 1978), andHelen ReddywithMonte Markhamas Cosmo Constantine (Sacramento Civic Light Opera/ 1986).
Call Me Madamopened in theWest Endat theLondon Coliseumon March 15, 1952, for a run of 486 performances:Billie Worthheadlined a cast which includedAnton Walbrookas Cosmo Constantine andShani Wallis—in her first major stage role—as Princess Maria.[5]Noele Gordon—who hadunderstudiedWorth during the Coliseum run ofCall Me Madam—headlined the production's British touring edition in 1953. A78 rpmcast recording of this production was released, on theColumbia Recordslabel, (D.B. 3067), in 1952, with Billie Worth andArthur Lowe,called ' Vocal Gems from Call me Madam'.
In 1983 Gordon headlined a West End revival, whose cast also includedJeremy Hawkas Pemberton Maxwell andBasil Hoskinsas Cosmo Constantine: opening March 14, 1983, the production was afforded a seven-week run at theVictoria Palace.
Call Me Madamhas since had two evident Londonfringeproductions, the first atUpstairs at The Gatehousein the summer of 2009 withThom Southerlanddirecting a cast which included Beverley Klein as Sally Adams, Chris Love as Kenneth Gibson, Kate Nelson as Princess Maria, and Gido Schimanski as Cosmo Constantine. Subsequently, theUnion Theatre, Londonwould mountCall Me Madamin the fall of 2012: staged and directed by Michael Strassen, the production—headlined by Lucy Williamson leading as cast which included Gavin Kerr, Leo Miles and Natalie Lipin—received five nominations at the Off West End Awards and was named as one of the productions when the Union won Best Fringe at The Stage Awards in 2013 alongside The Globe (Best Theatre).
Call Me Madambegan its inaugural Australian engagement on September 5, 1953, atHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne:withEvie Hayesheadlining a cast which also includedDavid Cahillas Hugo Tantinnin andAlec Kellawayas Congressman Wilkins, the production would play subsequent engagement inBrisbaneandSydney.[6]Revived in 1985 at theCanberra TheatrewithJune Bronhillheadlining andDavid Bransonfeatured as Cosmo Constantine,Call Me Madamwould in 2000 be mounted at theArts Centre MelbournewithGeraldine Turnerheadlining a cast which includedRachael Beckas Princess Maria,Reg Gormanas Congressman Wilkins, andSpencer McLarenas Kenneth Gibson.
Film adaptation[edit]
A 195320th Century Foxfilm adaptation starsEthel Merman,George Sanders,Donald O'Connor,Billy DeWolfe,Charles Dingle,andVera-Ellen.
Casts[edit]
| Original Broadway (1950) | Original London (1952) | London Revival (1983) | Encores! Production (1995) | Encores! Production (2019) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally Adams | Ethel Merman | Billie Worth | Noelle Gordon | Tyne Daly | Carmen Cusack |
| Henry Gibson | William David | David Storm | Michael Harding | John Leslie Wolfe | Christopher Gurr |
| Congressman Wilkins | Pat Harrington, Sr. | Sidney Keith | Bernard Martin | Christopher Durang | Adam Heller |
| Kenneth Gibson | Russell Nype | Jeff Warren | William Relton | Lewis Cleale | Jason Gotay |
| Senator Gallagher | Ralph Chambers | Launce Maraschel | John Aron | Ken Page | Brad Oscar |
| Senator Brockbank | Jay Velie | Arthur Lowe | David Alder | MacIntyre Dixon | Stanley Wayne Mathis |
| Pemberton Maxwell | Alan Hewitt | Donald Burr | Jeremy Hawk | Peter Bartlett | Michael Benjamin Washington |
| Cosmo Constantine | Paul Lukas | Anton Walbrook | Basil Hoskins | Walter Charles | Ben Davis |
| Sebastian Sebastian | Henry Lascoe | Stanley Van Beers | Stefan Paul Sanchez | Simon Jones | Randy Rainbow |
| Princess Maria | Galina Talva | Shani Wallis | Veronica Page | Melissa Errico | Lauren Worsham |
| Grand Duke Otto | Owen Coll | Felix Kent | Michael Harding | Gordon Connell | Darrell Hammond |
| Grand Duchess Sophie | Lilia Skala | Marianne Deeming | Moyna Cope | Jane Connell | Carol Kane |
Musical numbers[edit]
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Recordings[edit]
In a highly unusual situation, twoLP albumsof the score were released. The recording rights had been granted toRCA Victor,which had invested in the show, but Merman was under contract toDecca Records,which refused to allow her to record theoriginal cast album.Decca issued a 10-inch LP featuring Merman singing some of her songs, accompanied by arranger-conductorGordon Jenkinsand His Orchestra and Chorus, with vocalizing byDick Haymes(who joined Merman in the show's biggest hit, "You're Just in Love",their single reachingBillboardmagazine's number 30 for a week) andEileen Wilson(who sang "It's a Lovely Day Today"with Haymes). RCA Victor went ahead with the original cast album, replacing Merman withDinah Shore.
Merman was called back into the Decca studios to record additional songs from the show, and the label quickly re-released the album as a 12-inch LP, under the titleEthel Merman: 12 Songs from Call Me Madam.The Victor album sold reasonably well, attaining the sixth spot on theBillboardpopular album charts, but the LP was out of print from 1956 until RCA Red Seal reissued it briefly in 1977. Peaking at number two onBillboard's popular album charts, Merman's Decca recording, which would appear onMCA Recordsbeginning in 1973, stayed steadily in print until the end of the LP era. Merman'sMadamalbum was most recently available on a Decca Broadway CD, which also features Merman singing fourCole Portertunes from the stage score ofPanama Hattie(1940).
A recording of the 1952 LondonWest Endproduction was released of 12 numbers from the show, asColumbia33SX 1002 ('Vocal Gems from Jack Hylton's production by artists of the original London presentation'), withBillie Worth,Anton Walbrook,Jeff Warren andShani Wallisin the principal roles, conducted byCyril Ornadel,and was later reissued on the Sepia label.
Merman also is heard on the film soundtrack album (with Donald O'Connor and George Sanders), issued in 1953 as a 10-inch album, also on the Decca label. Scoring fifth position onBillboard's popular albums charts when first released, the soundtrack, taken out of print in 1957, was reissued in 1981 by Stet Records on a 12-inch LP which also contained songs from the film scores ofGuys and Dolls(1955) andI'll Cry Tomorrow(1955). The Merman soundtrack has not been legally issued on CD.
A 1995 Broadway concert cast album, featuringTyne Daly,Lewis Cleale,Christopher Durang,Ken Page,andMelissa Errico,is available on theDRGlabel.
Promotional appearances[edit]
On the premiere episode of NBC Radio'sThe Big Showon November 5, 1950, original Broadway cast membersEthel Merman,Paul Lukas,andRussell Nypeappeared in the first half-hour (of the hour-and-a-half program) and performed songs from the score in order of their appearance in the production, while hostTallulah Bankheadfilled in story notes between songs (although accidentally missing one story cue). Merman sang "The Hostess With the Mostes' on the Ball," then Lukas sang "Lichtenburg," then Merman sang "Can You Use Any Money Today?" and "The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)".Finally, Merman sang"You're Just in Love"with Nype.[7]
In political culture[edit]
Known as "Madam Speaker", whenUnited Kingdom'sBetty Boothroydwas assigned the chair ofDeputy Speaker(1987–1992), backbencherPeter Pikeasked her: "What do we call you?" and drawing from her show business years, Boothroyd replied: "Call me Madam."[8][9][10]
Awards[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Tony Awards | Outstanding Musical Score | Irving Berlin | Won |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Ethel Merman | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Russell Nype | Won | ||
| Best Stage Technician | Peter Feller | Won | ||
| Theatre World Award | Russell Nype | Won | ||
References[edit]
- ^abcdefghijKellow, Brian,Ethel Merman: A Life.New York: Viking Press 2007.ISBN0-670-01829-5,pp. 121-142
- ^Encores 1995 listingbroadwayworld, accessed March 3, 2009
- ^"REVIEW: Encores!" Call Me Madam "with Carmen Cusack".February 7, 2019.
- ^Klein, Alvin."From Washington to Lichtenburg via Berlin",The New York Times,April 21, 1996.
- ^Call Me Madam listingbroadwayworld, accessed March 3, 2009.
- ^"Australian Dictionary of Biography, 1981-1990"books.google, accessed March 4, 2018
- ^The Big Show from November 5, 1950The Big Show—Single Episodes from the Old Time Radio Researchers Group at the Internet Archive, accessed November 6, 2010.
- ^"Betty Boothroyd: To Parliament and beyond".BBC.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
- ^"Betty Boothroyd Facts".biography.yourdictionary.RetrievedAugust 24,2016.
- ^Tuohy, William (June 1, 1993)."Profile: Madame Speaker: Britain's Betty Boothroyd gets high marks for efficiency, humor—and toughness. 'You're daft if you mix it with her,' says one legislator".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 30,2024.
- Dietz, Dan.The Complete Book of 1950s Broadway Musicals(2014), Bowman & Littlefield,ISBN978-1-4422-3504-5,p. 34