A Saint She Ain't
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- April 21, 1999 King's Head Theatre
- September 22, 1999- January 15, 2000 Apollo Theatre
| A Saint She Ain't | |
|---|---|
| Music | Denis King |
| Lyrics | Dick Vosburgh |
| Book | Dick Vosburgh |
| Productions |
|
A Saint She Ain't is a musical with lyrics written by Dick Vosburgh and music by Denis King. The piece is inspired by Le Cocu Imaginaire, by Molière, but the story has been updated to an American port in the 1940s. The characters are based on famous performers of the era, such as Jimmy Durante, Mae West, W.C. Fields, and Rita Hayworth. A Saint She Ain't depicts a young couple who, receiving bad information, each believe that the other is unfaithful. The musical deals with the repercussions of love, jealousy, impulsiveness, and deception.
The musical is based on Molière's Le Cocu Imaginaire. Set in the 1940s, the play parodies wartime musical movies of that era, with characters based on film stars of that era. Snaveley T. Bogle, based on W. C. Fields, is married to Faye (based on Mae West). Ray Bagalucci (based on Jimmy Durante) has a daughter Anna (based on Rita Hayworth). She is involved with Danny O'Reilly (based on Gene Kelly). The sailors Willoughby and Skip, reminiscent of Abbott and Costello, most notably perform a version of the famous "Who's on First?" routine.
Anna Bagalucci proclaims her intent to marry Danny O'Reilly, a sailor on leave. Anna's father Ray strongly opposes the marriage, as he has always wished that she will marry a rich man. The relationship between Anna and Danny becomes unstable when Anna suspects Danny of infidelity. While this is going on, the aged drunk Bogle sends Danny in a different direction when he suggests that the actual Mrs. Bogle is Anna, not Faye.
After Bogle's remarks, Danny begins to believe that Anna has secretly married. Similarly, Bogle believes that the sex-obsessed Faye has left him for Danny, though her attempts to seduce Danny fail. As the actions reach a climax, the malapropistic Ray attempts to prevent Danny and Anna's wedding, while Willoughby hooks up with Anna's best friend, the dancing Lovette George. In the end, the central conceit is revealed, after which Danny and Anna marry.
Production history
1999 London
A Saint She Ain't opened April 21, 1999, at King's Head Theatre in London,[1] in association with Patricia MacNaughton.[2] It was directed by Ned Sherrin, designed by Patrick Connellan, and choreographed by Lindsay Dolan; the musical directing was done by Chris Walker and Denis King.[2] The King's Head Theatre is a dinner theatre, with a small stage and smaller dressing rooms, which director Ned Sherrin cites as the primary reason for the show's transferral. A Saint She Ain't transferred to the West End after a successful six-week run.[3]
1999 West End
A Saint She Ain't opened at the Apollo Theatre on September 22, 1999.[1] It was performed by the same cast, except for the parts of Trudy McCloy and one of the Andrews Sisters, which were both performed by new addition Corinna Powelsland.[1] The first preview at the Apollo was September 16,[3] and the show closed January 15, 2000.[1] It was from this performance that the 1999 cast album was recorded.[2]
2002 Massachusetts
A Saint She Ain't made its American debut at the Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge, Massachusetts,[2] from July 30 to August 10, 2002.[4] It was directed by Eric Hill, choreographed by Gerry McIntyre and starred Kate Levering, P. J. Benjamin, Alyson Reed, Lovette George and Joel Blum.[5] After its 11-day run, the show transferred to Westport.[4]
2002 Connecticut
A Saint She Ain't opened at the Westport Country Playhouse, in Westport, Connecticut, on August 28, 2002.[6] At this point, it had shown some potential for being produced Off-Broadway, and was being watched closely by Vosburgh representatives during its Westport run.[7] The show ultimately did not move to Manhattan, and A Saint She Ain't ended its run on September 14, 2002.[6]
Cast
| 2002 Massachusetts actor | Character | Character description |
|---|---|---|
| P.J. Benjamin | Snaveley T. Bogle | Faye's husband |
| Alison Briner | Faye Bogle | Snaveley's wife |
| Joel Blum | Ray Bagalucci | Anna's father |
| Christina Marie Norrup | Anna Bagalucci | Ray's daughter |
| Roland Rusinek | Willoughby Dittenfeller | Sailor |
| Lovette George | Trudy McCloy | Anna's best friend |
| Jason Gillman | Danny O'Reilly | Songwriting sailor that Anna is in love with |
| Jay Russell | Skip Watson | Sailor |