LADY IN THE DARK (Inscribed by the play's star Gertrude Lawrence)

Descripción:

Hart, Moss (Book) Kurt Weill (Music) Ira Gershwin (Lyrics). LADY IN THE DARK. New York: Random House, 1941. First Printing (so stated). A Near Fine copy (spine slightly sunned) in a Near Fine, priced dust jacket. This copy is from the library of theater producer Hugh "Binkie" Beaumont (bookplate) and is inscribed by Gertrude Lawrence, the play's star: "To my own, beloved Maud. Read it and I swear you will have to come over and see it. Always my devotion, Gee. 1941." (Lawrence always signed her name as "Gee".) The recipient was a close friend Maud Gilroy, who ran the night club Crockfords, also a friend of Binkie Beaumont. Lady in the Dark was an innovative musical about psychoanalysis built around the character of its protagonist, Liza Elliott, an unhappy female editor of a fashion magazine. The musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in January 1941 and it closed in May 1942 after 467 performances. The original cast included Gertrude Lawrence, Danny Kaye, Bert Lytell, and Victor Mature. Its subject matter was said to be based on Moss Hart's own experiences with psychoanalyst Gregory Zilboorg. Except for the final song, all the music in the play was heard in three extended dream sequences: the Glamour Dream, the Wedding Dream, and the Circus Dream, which, to some extent, became three small operettas integrated into a straight play. The final song, "My Ship," functioned as a leitmotif for Liza's insecurity. As each dream commences, a snippet of the tune is heard, a haunting melody which Liza recognizes but cannot name, or sing with words, until her anxiety is resolved. Danny Kaye's performance as fashion photographer Russell Paxton, especially his consistently show-stopping patter song "Tchaikovsky (and Other Russians)" in which he dashed through the names of 50 Russian composers in 39 seconds, made him a star. The 1944 Technicolor film version starred Ginger Rogers in Gertrude Lawrence role, eliminated most of Weill's songs, and was not a success. An ideal association copy. [CH]. N° de ref. del artículo 003436

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Detalles bibliográficos

Título: LADY IN THE DARK (Inscribed by the play's ...
Editorial: Random House
Año de publicación: 1941
Encuadernación: Hardcover
Condición: Near Fine
Condición de la sobrecubierta: Near Fine
Ejemplar firmado: Signed by Author(s)
Edición: 1st Edition