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Music By Albert Hague
Lyrics By Dorothy Fields
Book/Libretto by: Herbert and Dorothy Fields, Sidney Sheldon and David Shaw
Produced by: Robert Fryer & Lawrence Carr
Choreography by: Bob Fosse
Directed by: Bob Fosse
Opened: February 5, 1959
Theatre: 46th Street Theatre (New York)
# of Performances: 452
Licensing Agent: Music Theatre International

Synopsis

ACT ONE
During the Prologue, we see the face of a beautiful girl seated before her dressing-table mirror applying makeup. It is obvious that she is in the theatrical profession. Silently, from the other side of the stage a man emerges in silhouette with a scarf that he proceeds to hook around the woman's neck and choke her to death as she screams. We can now see the face of the man whose bright red hair and beard make him easily identifiable.

A few weeks later in the summer, the scene shifts to the façade of the Simpson Sisters' Wax Works shortly after the turn of the century, England. The newest and largest sign there reads: "A New and Blood-Curdling Exhibit: The Strangler and the Dancing Girl." A newsboy is reporting: "Scotland Yard Baffled! Strangler at Large!" Howard Cavanaugh saunters in and introduces himself. He's the producer of the entertainments at the Odeon Theater -- one of London's better music halls. The murdered girl we saw in the prologue (Ruth La Rue) was to have been in his next production, so he has come to see the wax exhibit.

The proprietors of the museum, the Simpson Sisters (Maude and Sarah), bemoan the fact that the murderer didn't slit the throat of the girl, which would have made their display much more exciting. George Poppett, Howard's comedian, arrives and notices what a good a business the Simpson Sisters are doing. Who says crime doesn't pay? Inspector White from Scotland Yard has personally taken over the case and comes to look at the wax work. Forty years and he has never had an unsolved murder. He assembles his men to begin the investigation. From all the goings on, it really appears to be quite a day at the Simpson Sisters’ Wax Works. ("The Simpson Sisters’ Wax Works" "The Simpson Sisters' Door")

Inside the Wax Works, Maude and Sarah are preparing to unveil "The Strangler and the Dancing Girl” in exactly fifteen minutes. As they ready for this big event, they also comment on the fact that their niece, Essie, is once again late. No sooner have they made this observation than Essie comes running in with an explanation. Maude doesn't want to hear any of Essie's nonsense. She knows her niece was late because she was having a vision, again; she has clairvoyant visions from time to time. Essie admits that it is true. She indeed was seeing shooting stars and fireworks with the same special man standing before her ready to ask her to marry him. Maude and Sarah see this as ridiculous. Essie is twenty-nine years old, and from the way she is acting, it appears that she doesn't want to get married. For God's sake, she is chasing a dream man! Of course, Essie wants to get married. It's just that no one has asked her yet. ("The Right Finger of My Left Hand")

The unveiling of the new wax exhibit begins. The scene is the same as the Prologue; however, the face of the Strangler is a blank white expanse of wax. The spectators are horrified by the exhibit and some even have to be carried out. What concerns the spectators most of all is the fact that the Strangler doesn't have a face. Essie informs them that they couldn't put a face on someone they've never seen.

There is a commotion outside, and Inspector White orders his men to investigate. They go and find that it is Tom Baxter, an American Strong Man Act. It appears that the murdered Ruth LaRue was a member of his act. He is offended by the wax exhibit and proceeds to ask how much it would cost for him to buy it so he can have the pleasure of breaking it into little pieces. Essie is completely smitten with him and appears intent on marrying him from the start. When Maude tells him that the exhibit isn't for sale, he pulls the curtain closed in front of the exhibit. An angered Maude reopens the curtain to find that the purple scarf used in the display is gone. Panic breaks out as everyone deduces that the killer must be amongst them. In the course of the pandemonium, Tom cuts his hand with a sword Essie hands to him. The lights go out and everyone gets more out of control -- that is everyone except for Essie who stands alone dreamily thinking about Tom.

In Essie's workroom where the wax exhibits are created and prepared, Inspector White and his men find a door leading outside where they presume the Strangler has escaped. George watches as Essie tries to bandage Tom's hand. As she bandages him, Essie learns a lot about Tom's ultimate woman. Most of his "ultimate" qualities are things that Essie doesn't possess. Most importantly, Tom wants a redhead and she is not that. Tom readies to leave with George, and Essie bursts into a loud cry. She tells Tom and George her whole fictional life story: She was born in a trunk, her mother died young, and her father was a performer who died an alcoholic. From that point on, her two aunts raised her. She works for them in the wax museum, and they beat her. Tom hears this and tells Essie that she has to get out and find a man who can take her into his arms and hold her tight and protect her. Essie very "innocently" responds that she never thought of that as being one of her options. ("Just For Once") After whirling around with Tom, Essie is even more smitten with him than ever. He and George leave for the theater. Essie is in seventh heaven. ("Merely Marvelous")

It is obvious Essie is in love, and she tells her Aunt Sarah all about it. Unfortunately, Essie realizes that unless she thinks of something, she'll never see Tom again. The only thing on Tom's mind right now is finding that Strangler, so Essie decides to pretend that the Strangler tried to kill her and she asks her aunt for her help in faking this situation. At first Sarah objects, thinking that Maude would never let Essie consort with an actor. After a bit of coaxing from Essie, she finally gives in and the two stage a fake attempted murder. Essie and Sarah scream, and Maude rushes in. Maude buys the story and stops Essie from leaving until she is safely disguised as a man. Essie wants to go and tell Tom Baxter, but Maude intends to take her right to Scotland Yard.

Out on the street the women proceed on their way to Scotland Yard. In the course of their journey, they meet up with two street-walkers who attempt to pick up the "male" Essie. Essie and Sarah trick Maude into going to the Odeon Theater.

On the stage of the Odeon Theater, George is rehearsing a new number with the chorus, the kind of number you would find in America. ("Uncle Sam Rag") After this, Tom comes on to rehearse his Strong Man Act and in the midst of this, there is great commotion in the wings as Essie and company make their way into the theater. Essie reveals herself to Tom and tells him her fake strangler story. She also tells Tom that she saw the Strangler’s face and knows exactly what he looks like. In the course of all the confusion, Aunt Sarah says that Essie could make a wax head of the Strangler. Essie tries to protest, but it's too late; Essie's wax face could help solve the murder. Tom tries to send Essie back to the Wax Works but she protests, telling him she is a marked woman and needs protection. She needs a place to stay where no one would think of looking for her. What about right here in the theater? Everyone wonders just what she could do in the theater. Before anyone can stop her, Essie jumps into a song and dance her daddy made famous in all the music halls. ("'Erbie Fitch's Dilemma") As soon as she finishes this "audition," Tom finally suggests that maybe they can use her in the finale. Howard, the producer, isn’t quite sure, but George takes her off to transform her with some makeup into a regular showgirl. Tom is in now in full support of Essie. Before the aunts go to help in Essie's transformation, he scolds them, recalling the terrible "beatings" Essie told him about.

While Essie is off undergoing her transformation, Sir Charles Willingham (the murdered Ruth LaRue's fiancée) stops by the theater to pick up some of Ruth's things. He admits to having overheard the entire plan and would like to meet with Essie, if indeed she saw his fiancée’s murderer. Tom tells him that being put in the finale of the show and meeting the great Sir Charles might be just too much for Essie to handle in the same day. Charles agrees but asks Tom not to tell Essie of his desire to question her. He leaves.

Howard leaves in a snit wondering just what is happening to his show. George comes back, having been thrown out of the dressing room by the aunts the second Essie took off her shoes. George and Tom ponder the situation. Can anything be done with Essie? George is thunderstruck by a thought: Tom is sweet on Essie! Tom tries to hide his true feelings, but it is pretty obvious just how he feels about Essie. ("She's Not Enough Woman For Me")

A few hours later, outside the theater dressing room, Tom is pacing like an expectant father waiting to see the "transformed" Essie. She finally emerges and Tom is struck dumb with her beauty. He's in love with her and she's in love with him. Howard sees the new Essie and is impressed enough to put her in the show. Tom asks Essie to dinner and she accepts. Left alone with her aunts, Essie ponders her situation. The fact is she's never been with a man before, and she might spoil everything. Essie even admits to Maude that she made up the story about being beaten just to get his sympathy. Essie is in a panic knowing that Tom fancies her. Maude and Sarah offer her a bit of advice in her dealings with the opposite sex. ("Behave Yourself") Unfortunately, both Sarah and Maude contradict each other in their philosophies, one reserved and one forward, so Essie is even more confused than ever. While out on the date, Essie has a terrible time trying to figure out just what makes the most sense. She finally relaxes and becomes herself.

Late that night at Tom's apartment, Maude and Sarah are asleep on the sofa waiting for Essie's return. Tom is letting them stay there, and he's going to bunk in with Sir Charles. Essie and Tom talk; however, Essie feels very awkward not knowing what to say. He finally leaves and Essie heaves a terrible sigh of disappointment feeling solely responsible for the romantic failure. Before she knows it, Tom flings open the door, storms in and proclaims very loudly, "Essie, I love you!" Before she can resist and before her aunts can wake up, Tom kisses Essie passionately. Yes, it is the real thing. ("Look Who's In Love")

Essie wonders if there will ever be another day as lovely as this one. Tom reminds her that tomorrow will be even better because she will have the wax head of the Strangler finished. Tom leaves, and George comes in with all the wax paraphernalia they need to create the head. Sarah and Maude awake and are happy that their niece has been kissed. However, they’re concerned that Essie is terribly distraught. She admits to George and her aunts that she faked the whole strangling just so she could get close to Tom. She asks George if he thinks Tom would ever forgive her, and George says, “No." The only option Essie has is to never see Tom again. But she's too much in love for that. George tells Essie that it's too bad she's not clairvoyant, that way she could see the face of the Strangler and solve the murder. Essie excitedly responds that she is indeed clairvoyant, and her aunts tell her to have one of her visions. They leave her alone in the room and indeed she has a vision: Sir Charles, complete with red hair and beard. Immediately, she begins her work on the wax head. They all want to know what he looks like, but she asks to be left alone. The first one to see the wax head will be Tom.

On the façade of the Wax Museum, there are stiffly-posed portraits of Maude, Sarah and Essie. There is also a sign that says, "Temporarily Closed." It is afternoon, and there is lightning and thunder. A downpour begins. People rush about trying to keep themselves covered. Tom saunters in nonchalantly unmindful of the rain. He is a man in love. People watch as Tom skips about pointing to the picture of his girl, Essie, the beautiful Redhead. The people in the crowd are quite confused because in the picture Essie's hair is jet black. However, the transformed Essie is now a redhead. Standing in the rain, Tom thinks about his lovely girl. ("My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me")

On the stage of the Odeon Theater, Essie is getting ready to perform the finale for the first time. She stands petrified while the actors rush around wishing her well. Tom finally enters and tells her she looks like a star, but she thinks he must be crazy. She wouldn't even dream of being a star. However, she closes her eyes and has a vision where she imagines herself a star dancer of extraordinary ability. ("Essie's Vision") Tom snaps her back and eases her on stage for the finale. ("Two Faces In the Dark") In the course of the song, Essie becomes completely lost and fouls up the entire number. Worse than that, she looks up into one of the boxes and sees Sir Charles sitting there watching the show. She tries to rush off stage, but Tom pushes her back on. The finale is a total disaster, all because of Essie. Howard is furious. Essie rushes on carrying the box containing the head she made. She announces that they can catch the murderer for he was in the audience. She tells Tom it was Sir Charles, and he thinks it's ridiculous. His best friend was engaged to Ruth; he'd never murder her. In the course of talking with Tom, Essie admits that Sir Charles never did try to kill her in the Wax Works. She also admits to all the lies she told Tom about her upbringing, explaining it was all to make him fall for her. However, she tells him the vision of Sir Charles is the truth. She even has the wax head to prove it. Before Tom can hear anymore, he storms out. She opens the box and reveals the head of Sir Charles; unfortunately, everyone is gone. As a last resort, she telephones Inspector White who hangs up on her and her ridiculous visions. She is left alone. Suddenly Sir Charles appears and greets her. "Miss Whipple? I understand you know who murdered Ruth..."

ACT TWO
In Tom's apartment later that night, he is alone preparing for a girl to arrive. There is a table, a bottle of wine, and two glasses. There is a knock at the door. Tom is disappointed to find that it is only George, who reports that someone at the theater told him Essie left with a man who had red hair and red beard (Sir Charles). Though Tom refuses to believe that his friend could ever be a killer, George thinks it could be possible. He wants Tom to join him in rescuing Essie. Tom refuses. As far as he is concerned, there is no Essie. She was nothing but a liar who tricked him into falling in love with her. George goes off while Tom stays and ponders his situation. ("I'm Back In Circulation") The girl Tom has been waiting for finally arrives, but Tom can't seem to feel comfortable around her. Instead, he sends her on her way. The girl is terribly insulted. It is obvious that Tom is still smitten with Essie.

Out on the street, Sir Charles is leading Essie to his place where they can have a "little talk." Essie sees the two street-walkers that put the moves on her only the night before when she was dressed as a man. Out of desperation, she calls upon the ladies and tries to make them remember her. They are a bit freaked out seeing the face of the "man" on the body of a woman. Essie offers to buy them both drinks, telling Sir Charles that they can have their talk some other time. Oddly, he obliges her.

Inside a bar called The Green Dragon, Essie and the two street-walkers, May and Tillie, are talking at a table. Essie buys the girls drinks and thanks them for saving her life. May and Tillie guzzle their drinks, but Essie confesses that she has never had a drink before. Essie explains her situation while inadvertently taking sips of beer. Pretty soon she is rambling on about all that has happened to her while she gets completely drunk. The crowd is quite saddened by her story, but May and Tillie decide to cheer her and everyone else up with a little song and dance. ("We Loves Ya, Jimey") The song finishes, but Essie wants to go on. In vain, she tries to induce a few men to dance with her. She finally grabs a man who is partially hidden behind a post; it happens to be Sir Charles. She backs away and, in a state of panic, starts a fight and the police are called in. Essie admits to starting the fight in hopes that the police will take her to jail and protect her. However, Sir Charles bursts forward, flashes his calling card, and tells them Essie is with him. Out of deference to his lordship, the officer gives Essie over to Sir Charles, but she takes the officer's hand and bites it hard. The policeman pulls Essie back and takes her off to jail.

In the jail cell the following evening, Essie is trying very hard to be certain she can stay there protected from Sir Charles. Maude and Sarah visit their niece and tell her that they want to get her free. George comes by to offer his support. He tells her his attempts to convince Tom of Sir Charles' guilt were completely futile. Essie doesn't quite know what to do, since she is so much in love with Tom. George tells her the only way for her to get Tom back is to prove that Sir Charles is the murderer. She can do this by going back to the Wax Works and putting the sculpted head on the wax exhibit. Then she needs to telephone Sir Charles and tell him to meet her at midnight so she can show him the exhibit. When he sees his own face up there on the exhibit, he'll try to kill her, but George will get Tom to wait with him in the next room and rescue her. Then Tom will see how wrong he has been and forgive her completely. George goes off to talk with Tom and to ask Inspector White for some help. Essie gets the rest of the girls in the cell to assist her in "seducing" the guard and getting the cell keys so they can all get out and put her plan to work. ("The Pickpocket Tango") Essie's plan works and the guard is left alone dancing to the rhythmic dance Essie has set in place. All the women escape.

Tom and George are talking in the corridor outside the dressing room of the Odeon Theater, shortly before curtain time of the evening performance. Tom still refuses to help Essie even after he learns from Inspector White that she's escaped. Hearing this, Howard is more concerned that she not come back and destroy his show like she did last night. George wants to go off and help the escaped Essie, but Tom still resists. ("Look Who's In Love") He finally realizes that he does love her and rushes off with George to put his plan into action. George tells Tom to go and see Essie and make sure she has called Sir Charles and that he'll be at the Wax Works at midnight. Tom can also apologize to her at the same time. He should then return to the theater. In the meantime, George will go and see Inspector White. Tom goes off while George goes to his dressing room. Howard is once again upset that two of his headliners are not fulfilling their duties. He fires them both. Howard talks to Tom face to face; however, his discussion with George takes place while George is supposedly “locked” in his dressing room. After everyone is gone, George emerges from his dressing room disguised as Sir Charles.

In the Wax Works at night, Essie is putting the finishing touches on the exhibit. Tom enters and lovingly taps her on the shoulder and they make up. Tom tells her they better come up with a signal in case she needs him: he stamps his foot on the floor three times. He goes to leave, but she stamps her foot on the floor three times, and soon they are both gushing over with unbridled love and passion. ("I'll Try") They are completely in love. Tom goes on his way to get George at the theater to put the plan into action.

No sooner has he gone than Essie goes back to putting some finishing touches on the exhibit. She hears someone whistling in the distance; it is the same tune the girl in the Prologue was whistling just prior to her murder. She calls to ask who is there, and George responds that it is only he. He then walks into the light, and she sees that he has disguised himself as Sir Charles. George confesses that yes, he killed Ruth. He killed her because he loved her, and she loved him in secret until the great Sir Charles came along. What's a second-rate comedian compared to a knight? Tonight, he plans on finishing his mission by killing Sir Charles and Essie as well. This time there will be plenty of witnesses, and her waxwork replica will help matters even more.

George wraps a scarf around Essie's neck . She stamps her foot three times but no one is there. Fortunately, she hears Sir Charles' voice calling to her as he arrives early. This upsets George and, as he turns towards the voice, Essie ducks from his grasp and runs off. Sir Charles enters and sees his own face on the waxwork and then faces George who confronts him in his disguise. Sir Charles is terribly confused by all of this and goes off to chase George.

Tom enters and hears Essie stamping her foot. Inspector White and some of his men enter and proceed to pursue Essie whom they presume is causing all the trouble. Soon Maude and Sarah are involved in the chase trying to capture the "real" murderer. Essie screams out that they need to capture the "disguised" George. Howard runs on with a new contract as he tries to convince Tom and George to come back to the act. Eventually, George is captured, and Essie and Tom are reunited forever.

Howard addresses the audience and sums everything up. He took Tom back into the show. Of course with him came Essie, her aunts, and all her friends. Well that's what a producer has to do, isn't it?

Song List

• Overture
• The Simpson Sisters
• The Right Finger of My Left Hand
• Just For Once
• I Feel Merely Marvelous
• The Uncle Sam Rag
• Erbie Fitch's Twitch
• She's Not Enough Woman For Me
• Behave Yourself
• Look Who's In Love
• My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me
• Dream Dance
• Two Faces In The Dark
• I'm Back In Ciculation
• We Loves Ya Jimey
• Pick-Pocket Tango
• I'll Try
• Chase and Finale

Cast List

Pat Ferrier, William Le Massena, Cynthia Latham, Doris Rich, Leonard Stone, Ralph Sumpter, Gwen Verdon, Richard Kiley, Iva Withers, Lee Krieger, Michael McAloney, Bob Dixon, Bette Graham, Elizabeth Kerr and Buzz Miller

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Added: Mon Aug 17 2009

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