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Romance Romance

Music by Keith Herrman
Lyrics and book by Barry Harman
Act one: The little comedy / based on the short story by Arthur Schnitzler
Act two: Summer share / based on Pain de menage by Jules Renard.
Opened April 20, 1988 at the Helen Hayes Theatre (New York) and ran for 297 performances.

Synopsis

The Little Comedy (Act 1):

In nineteenth century Vienna, Alfred von Wilmers and Josephine Benniger are discontent with their lives. He is a wealthy young man, tired of women only wanting him for his money, and she is a woman used to wanting men for their money. Confiding their woes to their respective best friends in letters, they both try various ways to sort out their problems. They each seperately decide to dress down and go walking in the park, hoping for something different. They of course meet each other. She pretends to be a poor girl working in a millinary shop, and he tells her he is a starving poet. They each fall madly in love with the others' assumed persona. Their romance is puntcuated by two ghostly lovers, Him and Her (who also portray other minor parts). Can love survive the revelation of the truth?

Summer Share (Act 2):

In the present, best friends Monica and Sam with their respective spouses Lenny and Barb have rented a summer share in the Hamptons for vacation. Lenny and Barb, exhausted from the day, go to bed, leaving the friends to talk. The conversation starts with the realization that they are proof platontic relationships between men and women are possible. But the unseen "ghosts" of their spouses aren't so sure. The talk soon turns to the idea of having affairs, though they both recognize that they love their
spouses very much. The air becomes uncomfortable as the two "platonic" friends realize that they are interested in more than just friendship. They actually leave to indulge their passion, but decide against it and return, much to the relieve of Barb and Lenny's dream figures. While Monica is scared it has destroyed their friendship, Sam asks her to "Leave me my romantic notions."

Song List

Act 1

The Little Comedy
Letters
Goodbye, Emil
It's Not Too Late
Great News
Oh, What a Performance
I'll Always Remember the Song
Happy, Happy, Happy
Women of Vienna
Yes, It's Love
A Rustic Country Inn
The Night It Had to End
The Little Comedy (Finale)

Act 2

Summer Share
Think of the Odds
It's Not Too Late (Reprise)
Plans A & B
Let's Not Talk About It
So Glad I Married Her
Small Craft Warnings
How did I end up here?
Words he doesn't say
My Love for You
Moonlight Passing through a Window
Now
Romantic notions
Romance! Romance!

Info

The "two new musicals" as the show was billed is performed entirely with four actors. Alfred in Act 1 becomes Sam in Act 2, Josephine becomes Monica, and Him and Her become Lenny and Barb. The original Broadway cast included Scott Bakula of Quantam Leap fame as Alfred and Sam. In Act 2, Lenny and Barb are only truly seen in the opening number. After that, the actors return in the same outfits, but bleached out, and are unacknowledged by their spouses. Commenting on the action and acting as consciences at times, they offer insights unable to be spoken by the leads.

Original Cast Included: Alison Fraser, Scott Bakula, Deborah Graham & Robert Hoshour.

Related

Romance Romance MIDI Files

Licensing Agent

Samuel French ,Inc.
45 W. Twenty-Fifth St. New York ,NY 10010
(212) 206-8990

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