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Let'em Eat Cake

Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Opened October 21, 1933 at the Imperial Theatre, (New York) and ran for 89 performances.

Synopsis

Nearly four years have passed since John P. Wintergreen became President of the United States and his re-election campaign is in full swing. But this time he and Vice-President Throttlebottom face serious competition and the glib slogans fail to impress an electorate mired in the Depression. Tweedledee receives the greatest popular vote ever accorded a Presidential candidate. When the Supreme Court justices refuse to throw out the election, Wintergreen accepts defeat, he a nd his wife Mary arrange to move to New York.

The set up shop on Union Square, selling blue shirts that Mary makes. But business is slow, owing largely to the country's sagging economy. Outside a malcontent named Kruger warns of impending revolution, furnishing Wintergreen with an inspiration: Why not lead the revolution? Italy has it's black shirts Germany it's brown.

Song List

Overture

Act I

Tweedledee for President
Union Square
Shirts by the Millions
Comes the Revolution
Mine
Climb up the Social Ladder
The Union Leage
On and On and On
Finale Act I (Beginning)
Introduction
I've Brushed My Teeth
Finale Act I (Conclusion)
The General's Gone to a Party
Mothers of the Nation
Let'em Eat Cake

Act II

Blue Blue Blue
Who's the Greatest
The League of Nations
No Comprenez, No Capish, No Versteh!
When Nations Get Together
Why Speak of Money?
Who's The Greatest (reprise)
Up and At 'em
That's What He Did
I Know A Foul Ball
Throttle Throttlebottom
It Isn't What You Did
Mine (Reprise)
First Lady and First Gent
Hanging Throttlebottom in the Morning
Fashion Show
Final Ultimo
Of Thee I Sing (Reprise)

Info

Let' Em Eat Cake was the sequel to Of Thee I Sing and unlike Of Thee I sing which glorified the romantic notions of "Love is Sweeping the Country", Let' Em Eat Cake's tone was darker and the issues more complex and the message the show carried was not something that audiences wanted to hear. Overseas the first Batista revolution was underway in Cuba, accentuating the more disturbing aspects of the plot; at home the renewed national spirit created by the New Deal made the public less receptive to government satire.

Related

George Gershwin Sheet Music

Licensing Agent

Music Theatre International
421 W 54th St New York, NY 10019
212.541.4684
Fax 212.397.4684

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