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Music By Harold Karr
Lyrics By Matt Dubey
Book/Libretto by: Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Produced by: Jo Mielziner
Choreography by: Alex Romero and Bob Herget
Directed by: Abe Burrows
Type of Musical: Broadway
Opened: December 6, 1956
Theatre: Majestic Theatre, (New York)
# of Performances: 412
Licensing Agent: Music Theatre International

Synopsis

ACT ONE

As the overture begins, the show curtain is revealed: the map of Europe mounted on a gauze drop. A large Prince Rainier–Grace Kelly postage stamp commemorating their Royal Wedding, indicates the Principality of Monaco. Cupids aim their darts at the tiny, romantic country.

The curtain rises to find us outside the royal palace in Monaco. Six schoolgirls enter and sing "Postage Stamp Principality," celebrating their Queen-to-be and their country which happens to be the size of Central Park. Tourists, reporters, and international types, including a King Farouk look-alike, join them in, "this itsy-bitsy, teensy-weensy, pint-sized, pin-point, pre-shrunk postage-stamp principality." A boat arrives carrying that grand dame of the Philadelphia Main Line, Mrs. Sanford Stewart Sr. She appears with her attractive young lawyer son Sandy. He’s headed to Monaco to look into the accounts of the Riviera Hotel on behalf of his law firm. Joseph, whom they can’t quite place, greets them. Sandy greets him grandly regardless. Mother reveals that he’s the headwaiter at the Philadelphia Club. "There are so many dubious Philadelphians here. I should never have come." Beth Livingstone, an attractive 20-year old girl, greets Sandy, who looks somewhat less certain as he sings "Don’t Tell Me" trying to remember her name.

Two reporters, Jack Adams and Harry Watson, approach Beth, hinting that she’s the daughter of the most fabulous woman in Philadelphia. "You’re Beth Livingstone!" The reporters are excited that Beth’s mother is coming for the wedding, since Liz always provides great copy: she’s been at war with Main Line society ever since she tried to corner the market in Pennsylvania Railroad stock in order to build a Main Line branch. The reporters spot a glamorous lady "Miss Kelly!!" whom they corner only to reveal Liz Livingstone (originally played by Ethel Merman). "All right! All right! So it ain’t Kelly . . . ," says she. Liz is mad because they won’t let her into the palace to visit the lovely princess-to-be Grace, also a Philadelphia Main Liner.

As Beth and Sandy go off together, Liz sings "Gee, But It’s Good to be Here" and poses for photos for the reporters. Maud—Liz’s oldest friend and definitely NOT from the Main Line—comes out of the palace to give Liz the bad news: They’re not on the wedding guest list. Reporters Jack and Harry ask Liz for a quote and she reprises "Gee, But it’s Good to be Here."

In Liz Livingstone’s lavish suite at the Hotel Riviera. Daughter Beth is on the phone with a friend asking to borrow clothes for her mother, since a burglar has stolen their luggage. Reporters appear hoping to get a story about stolen jewels, but Liz – far from hiding them – is wearing them. They drip from her pajamas: "if they were going to get my rocks, they’d have to take me, too. So far, nobody’s wanted this stuff at that price." She grandly explains to the reporters that without suitable wedding attire, there will be no wedding for her or for Beth. Secretly, we find that Liz has sworn to the memory of her husband that their baby would make the Main Line and here they are, snubbed by the Philadelphia Kelly’s. She confesses to Beth that she stole the clothes herself to save face. Beth doesn’t mind, really, and together they sing "Mutual Admiration Society."

The hotel manager appears with good news: the clothes have been found as revealed by a witness to the crime. A gentleman appears wearing car racing gear, helmet and goggles. A phone call for "his Majesty" reveals him to be the Duke of Grenada. Liz explains her scheme to avoid the embarrassment of not being invited to the Royal wedding. He’s impressed with her candor and delighted to meet her daughter. Liz makes a riding date tomorrow morning for Beth and the Duke. The hotel manager tells the Duke that the race cannot start without him. As he leaves, Liz reflects to Mr. Livingstone’s memory "We’re going to out Kelly the Kellyes." They sing a reprise of "Mutual Admiration Society."

On a sunny terrace outside the Hotel Riviera, beautiful girls singing "Love or Money" surround the pool. Arturo, the Duke’s assistant, enters with the hotel’s accounts book under his arm with Sandy close behind. Sandy wants to re-examine the books, which seem to indicate that the hotel’s shortfall is caused primarily by the Duke’s lavish spending and subsequent nonpayment of his noble tabs. Arturo agrees to arrange a meeting between Sandy and the Duke to discuss finances. Beth returns from horseback riding with the Duke. Sandy tells Beth about the Duke’s overdue bills but she dismisses him: "don’t be so stuffy . . . Remember I’m not a Main Liner." She tells Sandy of her mother Liz’ first formal hunt, for which she "arrived in Levi’s and set to rope her a fox." They make a date to go swimming as Sandy reminds her to wear a proper Philadelphian bathing suit " . . . in the name of William Penn!"

On the veranda of the Duke’s suite, Arturo is managing the help, directing the use of His Majesty’s gold service. When the Duke emerges, Arturo warns him that Sandy is coming to ask the Duke to pay his bill. Sandy arrives and dully asks the Duke to pay his bill. "The audience is over," declares the Duke.

As the Duke asks Arturo from whence the funds shall come, Liz appears. He asks her how one gets money and she replies "One works." The Duke looks at Arturo: "We’re in trouble." The duke relates his racing victory yesterday, explaining his love of danger in "It’s Like a Beautiful Woman." Liz offers to pay his bills and move him, Arturo and his horses to Philadelphia if he will marry her daughter Beth. He agrees.

We see a giant ocean liner loading with passengers. Sandy and his mother are waiting to board as the Duke and Arturo arrive. Arturo’s job is to negotiate the particulars regarding the Duke’s marriage to Beth. Liz, Beth and Maud enter surrounded by a rag-tag group of reporters who sing the "Wedding of the Year Blues."

With the cruise underway, Liz and Maud discuss the prospect of Beth as the Queen of Spain. Liz cannot wait to seal the deal and tell the Kellyes. Liz arranges to use Sandy Stewart to negotiate the nuptials with Arturo. The Duke arrives and Liz tells Maud to ‘scram.’ Liz tells the Duke about her father "If’n" Jones. Seems he couldn’t quite help but qualify every thing he ever said ‘We’ll get a bear tomorrow—if’n we can pick up some tracks.’ Sometimes If’n would work as a guide to fair weather hunters like Mr. Livingstone from the Main Line. Liz was sixteen at the time, Mr. Livingstone got snowed into their cabin and by the time If’n got back it seemed there was no choice but for the two to get married. She sings "Mr. Livingstone, I Presume."

Later on in the voyage, Sandy and Beth are strolling on the afterdeck amidst the shuffleboarders and college boys playing music. Sandy reveals that he’s working on the marriage negotiation with Arturo and the Duke. Sandy wants Beth to meet his mother but Beth can’t quite see the point, ‘if’n’ Sandy won’t come right out and say how he feels about her. He can’t—quite—but he can sing it, sort of, in "If’n."

In the ship’s bar Mrs. Stewart dismisses Liz’ friend Maud with a snooty, "I don’t believe I know you." Sandy introduces Beth to his mother, who is cold as ice. Maud tries dismissing Mrs. Stewart right back, but gets snubbed again. Mrs. Stewart leaves just as Liz arrives and chides Sandy for not getting down to business on the marriage negotiations. She instructs him to make the deal whatever the terms. He leaves. Maud tells Liz that even if the marriage happens the Duke won’t want somebody like Liz around.

In the moonlight on the afterdeck, Liz greets the Duke and offers to make herself scarce rather than offend his Royal friends. He assures her he likes and respects her. She sings "Just a Moment Ago." They decide to announce the engagement right then and there. The reporter appear and they all sing "Oh, this fairy-tale romance." End of Act I.

ACT II

Back home on the Main Line, Beth and Arturo are waiting for the Duke in a garden party at Liz Livingstone’s estate near Philadelphia. She teaches him to tango in "A New-Fangled Tango." Mrs. Stewart arrives accompanied by other guests. She plots with her friends to entertain the Duke without Mrs. Livingstone’s presence, at a fox hunt! Mrs. Stewart greets the Duke and mentions the possibility of a hunt, but Liz overhears and offers to host the hunt herself next week. The Duke dances with Beth, Sandy watches them and sings "She’s Just Another Girl."

In the Livingstone horse stables the Stewarts’ groom and the Livingstones’ groom confirm that scheduled for tomorrow morning is on. Liz enters and announces that she’ll need a ladder to mount, as it’s been 18 years since she’s ridden a horse. The thought of Liz riding makes the groom shudder. She asks him to have the Duke come to the stables. Liz breaks the news to her old horse Daisy herself. Daisy shudders in a divine bit of equine emoting. Liz confesses to her rather horsey friend that she’s fallen in love with the Duke, and sings "I’m Old Enough to Know Better and Young Enough Not to Care." The Duke enters and describes to her a Spanish tradition in which the new bridegroom kisses his mother-in-law. He kisses her and confesses that he just made it up. He exits. She reprises "Old Enough . . ."

In the garden of a summerhouse on the Livingstone estate, Sandy enters to find Beth dressed in a beautiful evening gown and pacing nervously. She asks him if there’s any way to break the marriage contract between her and the Duke, since she doesn’t love him. She loves Sandy. They embrace. The Duke enters and she confesses that she doesn’t love him. He doesn’t care as long as they can work together to make her mother happy. He exits, they embrace again just as Maud enters in an elegant dress, catching them unaware: "Uh – huh!"

Outside the hunt club, the hunting party is assembling with no sign of Liz. They sing "Happy Hunting." Liz enters carried by three grooms and accompanied by the Duke, who leads them out to the gate.

Later in the hunt, we hear a horse approaching, then we hear it stop suddenly and see Liz flung into the bushes. The Duke hurries to see if she is all right. Of course she’s fine and spunkier than ever. They sing "Tally Ho."

In Liz’ boudoir, now it’s Maud who is pacing nervously. A maid enters with a negligee. Liz enters bruised and blistered from head to foot. Maud hesitantly tells of finding Beth and Sandy in a passionate embrace. Beth comes in with news for Liz: it seems the Kelly’s didn’t know Liz was available, but loved her gift of a prefabricated palace and invite her family to come over for a visit. Revenge against the royals is no longer an issue, but Liz decides to marry the Duke herself, "For Beth’s sake." But how to allure him? Off with the boots, which of course are stuck; on with the negligee and plenty of powder. The Duke enters and Liz tries to comport herself like a lady. He asks her "What happened to the woman I love?" She sings "I’m a Funny Dame," and in response he sings of his love for her in "This Much I Know." Suddenly she realizes he loves her for her money. "I love both of you." It’s good enough for her, she sings a reprise of "Just Another Girl."

Reporters arrive outside the ballroom and ask a servant whose going to be there. They all sing "Everyone Who’s Who’s Who."

At the Hunt Ball, everyone is dressed in Goya Costumes. Arturo asks the reporters if they know of a place called Maryland, as he has received a cable from the Duke there. He needs to speak with Duke right away, as there have been developments in Spain. Coincidentally, Beth has broken her engagement earlier in the day and now she is in Maryland also. Now, why do people go to Maryland? To get married. Beth and Sandy appear in traveling clothes. We discover that Beth hasn’t eloped with the Duke; she has eloped with Sandy.

Liz enters looking for the Duke. He enters announcing that his supporters in Spain have told him that he must marry royal blood in order to become king. He decides he’d rather be married to Liz. They sing "Mutual Admiration Society."

Song List

Act 1

• Overture ...................
• Postage Stamp-Principality ................... Tourists and Monegasques
• Don't Tell Me ................... Sandy and Beth Livingstone
• It's Good to Be Here ................... Liz Livingstone and Reporters
• Mutual Admiration Society ................... Liz Livingstone and Beth Livingstone
• For Love or Money ................... The Girls
• Bikini Dance ................... Beth Livingstone
• It's Like a Beatiful Woman ................... Duke of Granada
• Wedding-of-the-Year Blues ................... Maud Foley, Harry Watson, Jack Adams, the reporters and photographers
• Mr. Livingstone ................... Liz Livingstone
• If'n ................... Beth Livingstone, Sandy and the passengers
• This Is What I Call Love ................... Liz Livingstone

Act 2

• Entr'acte ...................
• A New-Fangled Tango ................... Liz Livingstone, Beth Livingstone, Arturo and the Guests
• She's Just Another Girl ................... Sandy
• The Game of Love ................... Liz Livingstone and Liz Livingstone
• Happy Hunting ................... Liz Livingstone, Duke of Granada and members of the Hunt
• I'm a Funny Dame ................... Liz Livingstone
• This Much I know ................... Duke of Granada
• Just Another Guy ................... Liz Livingstone
• Everyone Who's "Who's Who" ................... Jack Adams, Harry Watson and the Footmen
• Mutual Admiration Society (Reprise) ................... Liz Livingstone and Duke of Granada

Cast List

Ethel Merman (Liz Livingstone); Fernando Lamas (Duke of Granada); Virgina Gibson (Beth Livingstone); Gordon Polk (Stanford Stewart, Jr.); Mary Finney (Maude Foley); Leon Belasco (Arturo); Olive Templeton (Mrs. Sanford Stewart, Sr.); Renato Cibelli (Count Carlos)

Awards & Nominations

• 1957 Tony Award® Best Actor in a Musical Fernando Lamas [nominee]
• 1957 Tony Award® Best Actress in a Musical Ethel Merman [nominee]
• 1957 Tony Award® Best Featured Actress in a Musical Virginia Gibson [nominee]
• 1957 Tony Award® Best Costume Design Costume Design by Irene Sharaff [nominee]

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