Mame (Musical)

• Mame Dennis
• Vera Charles
• Agnes Gooch
• Patrick Dennis (10 years)
• Patrick Dennis ( 19 - 29 years)
• Dwight Babcock
• Beauregard Jackson Picket Burnside
• Gloria Upson of Mountebank
• Pegeen Ryan

& Ensemble

Mame is a musical that premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it was seen by more than 1,500 performances until 1970. In 1969 the premiere in London's West End and in 1970 the German premiere in Nuremberg. In 1983 there was a revival at Broadway.

It is based on the book " Auntie Mame " by Patrick Dennis and is considered a classic musical.

Action

Act I

The nanny Agnes Gooch is the ten -year-old orphan boy Patrick in search of his aunt, Mame Dennis, who leads an exciting, dazzling life in New York in the late 1920s. When they find them, they burst in the middle of a turbulent party of the wealthy, fun-loving woman, although a bit extravagant and flashy appears, however, has her heart in the right place and everything in terms of her life with passion and enthusiasm. She has earned enough money in show business and spending time with her many friends who are all equally unconventional free spirits and quirky bohemian like themselves. Mame Patrick closes immediately into her heart and also Patrick likes his aunt at once. So the party will promptly turned and celebrate all that Mame will take care from now on to Patrick.

But Mame has reckoned without Mr. Babcock, the boy's asset manager who wants to fulfill the last will of Patrick's father, brother Mames, and let his protégé are given a conservative upbringing. Since conservative people Mame are an abomination and it does not believe in conventional educational methods, she decides to give up the inheritance to allow Patrick a happy childhood with no rules and conventions. Instead, each day will be a new adventure - she visited with him art academies, goes with him to the theater and shows him the adventurous life she so enjoys himself. But she has Mr. Babcock underestimated, which finally reached that Patrick needs to boarding school.

The stock market crash of 1929 brings Mame to the brink of ruin, and they must return to show business again. With the help of her friend Vera Charles she obtained a small role as " Woman in the Moon " on Vera's side. During her appearance turns into a disaster, only Patrick, who has crept stealthily into the idea, thrilled by his aunt. But no matter what role she plays, she loses again immediately. When she no longer knows how to earn a living, she meets the rich farmer Beauregard Burnside, who wants to marry her on the spot. With her ​​charm and open way she wins his family for fast and so the two can get married eventually.

Second Act

Years pass and Patrick has become a young man. He has fallen in love with the rich Gloria Upson, whose conservative, arrogant family is full of prejudices. Suddenly Patrick learns that Mames man Beauregard died in an accident and Mame is now a widow. In Mames New York apartment their friends try to cheer her up. When Vera you propose to do something for Patricks former nanny Agnes, who has not yet learned the true life, Mame is immediately excited and willing to help. She finally has a job. As Agnes is pregnant, Mame wants to take care of her and her child.

Since Patrick's fiancee and her family, the pregnant, unmarried Agnes do not want to know, the engagement ceremony takes place at the Upsons. Mame is appalled by these narrow-minded, conceited people so that they unceremoniously plans to counter- party at their home. The interior designer Pegeen Ryan is to remodel their apartment. At the party Gloria and her narrow-minded parents of Mame and their conspicuous friends are shocked. When finally the pregnant Agnes shows up, explains Gloria Patrick that she could in no case marrying into such a family. Enraged, she and her parents left the party. But Patrick then acts redeemed and it quickly becomes clear that Gloria was not the right thing for him.

Again, it takes a few years. Patrick has married interior designer Pegeen and they have a son, Peter. Traveling with Peter as Mame wants to show him the world, Patrick and Pegeen are initially against it. But against the resolute Mame they have no chance and they realize that Mame little Peter just does well, as it has Patrick done well.

Music

Act I

• Overture (Open a New Window, If He Walked Into My Life, That's How Young I Feel, Mame )
• St. Bridget - Agnes & Patrick (10 years)
• It's Today - Mame & Ensemble
• Open a New Window - Mame & Ensemble
• The Man in the Moon - Vera & Ensemble
• My Best Girl - Patrick (10 years ) & Mame
• We Need a Little Christmas - Mame, Agnes, Patrick ( 10 years), Beauregard, Ito
• The Fox Hunt - Uncle Jeff, Cousin Fan, Mother Burnside, Patrick ( 10 years) and Cousins
• Mame - Beauregard & Ensemble

Second Act

• Mame (Reprise) / The Letter - Patrick (10 years ) & Patrick ( 19-29 years)
• My Best Girl ( Reprise) - Patrick ( 19-29 years)
• Bosom Buddies - Mame & Vera
• Gooch 's Song - Agnes
• That's How Young I Feel - Mame & Ensemble
• If He Walked Into My Life - Mame
• It 's Today (Reprise) - Mame & Ensemble
• My Best Girl ( Reprise) - Patrick ( 19-29 years)
• Open a New Window (Reprise) - Mame & Ensemble
• Finale - Mame & Ensemble

Original cast of the Broadway production

• Angela Lansbury ( Mame Dennis )
• Beatrice Arthur (Vera Charles)
• Jane Connell ( Agnes Gooch )
• Frankie Michaels ( Patrick Dennis, 10 years)
• Jerry Lanning (Patrick Dennis, 19-29 years)
• Willard Waterman ( Dwight Babcock )
• Charles Braswell ( Beauregard Jackson Picket Burnside )
• Diana Walker ( Gloria Upson )
• Diane Coupé ( Pegeen Ryan )

& Ensemble

Awards

At the Tony Awards in 1966, the musical Mame was nominated in eight categories, which were won three: Angela Lansbury as best actress, Beatrice Arthur as best supporting actress and Frankie Michaels as Best Supporting Actor. By then ten years Frankie Michaels is the youngest Tony Award - winner of all time.

In addition, Jerry Lanning in 1966 and Sheila Smith 1967 awards for their performances in Mame with the Theatre World Award.

Filming

Because of the success of the musical public and press, the musical was made ​​into a film in 1974 under the same title. To this end, however, the music was partly changed and as the lead actress was obliged Lucille Ball instead of Angela Lansbury. Only Beatrice Arthur and Jane Connell appeared in both the stage version as well as in the film.

Media

• Mame - 1966 Original Broadway Cast starring Angela Lansbury ( LP, audio cassette: 1966 )
• Mame - 1966 Original Broadway Cast starring Angela Lansbury (CD: 1999 Columbia Records)