A Connecticut Yankee Totally Explained

Everything about A Connecticut Yankee totally explained

A Connecticut Yankee is a musical based on the novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by American humorist Mark Twain. The music was written by Richard Rodgers, the lyrics by Lorenz Hart, and the book by Herbert Fields. It was produced by Lew Fields and Lyle D. Andrews. It enjoyed an original run on Broadway in 1927 of 421 performances and a number of revivals.
The 1931 film of the same name starring Will Rogers wasn't adapted from this musical.

Productions

A Connecticut Yankee opened on Broadway at the Vanderbilt Theatre (which was demolished in 1954) on November 3 1927 and closed on October 27 1928, running for 421 performances. Directed by Alexander Leftwich, with dances by Busby Berkeley, it starred William Gaxton (Martin/The Yankee), Constance Carpenter (Alice Carter/The Demoiselle Alisande la Carteloise), and June Cochrane (Mistress Evelyn Al Belle-Ans).
   A 1943 revival opened at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) on November 17 1943 and closed on March 11 1944, after 135 performances. Directed by John C. Wilson and choreographed by William Holbrook and Al White, Jr., it featured Vivienne Segal (Lt. Merrill/Queen Morgan Le Fay), Dick Foran (Lt. Martin Barrett), Vera-Ellen (Mistress Evelyn Al Belle-Ans), and Robert Chisholm (Admiral Arthur/King Arthur of Britain).
   A television adaptation was broadcast on NBC in December 1955, with Eddie Albert, Janet Blair, and Boris Karloff.
   In 2001 New York City Center Encores! presented a staged concert, with Christine Ebersole (Fay Morgan/Morgan Le Fay), Henry Gibson (Arthur Pendragos/King Arthur), Ron Leibman (Sir Launcelot) and Jessica Walter (Guinevere).

Plot

In Connecticut in the 1920's, Martin is about to be married to Fay. When an old flame, Alice, visits him, Fay knocks him out in a jealous fit. As Martin dreams, he's seemingly in the court of King Arthur in 528. He falls in love with "Demoiselle Alisande" ("Alice") but the king's evil sister, "Morgan Le Fay" ("Fay"), kidnaps her. As Martin rescues her, he wakes up and realizes that's was Alice that he loved all along.
The 1943 revival was revised by Rodgers and Hart. The setting was changed to a more topical war-time setting, and the show art showed a knight and his damsel in a jeep. "Morgan Le Fay" was turned into a "singing sorceress" anti-heroine, and the song "To Keep My Love Alive" was written especially for this revival, for Vivienne Segal to perform.

Songs

Among the best remembered songs are the up-tempo duet, "Thou Swell",(External Link) the ballad "My Heart Stood Still",(External Link) "On a Desert Island with Thee", and "I Feel at Home with You". For the 1943 revival, Rodgers and Hart added several additional songs, including "Can't You Do a Friend a Favor?",(External Link).

Act I

This Is My Night to Howl--Fay Morgan and Ensemble
My Heart Stood Still --Martin and Alice Carter
Thou Swell--Martin and Alice Carter
At the Round Table --The Company
On a Desert Island with Thee--Mistress Evelyn Al Belle-Ans, Sir Galahad, Sir Gawain and Ensemble
To Keep My Love Alive (1943 revival)-- Queen Morgan Le Fay
My Heart Stood Still (Reprise) -- Martin and The Demoiselle Alisande la Carteloise
Act II
Ye Lunchtime Follies --Sir Galahad and Ensemble
Can't You Do a Friend a Favor? (1943 revival)-- Queen Morgan Le Fay and Martin
Thou Swell (Reprise)--Martin and The Demoiselle Alisande la Carteloise
I Feel At Home With You --Sir Galahad, Mistress Evelyn Al Belle-Ans, Sir Gawain and Ensemble
You Always Love the Same Girl --Martin and King Arthur of Britain
The Camelot Samba --Sir Gawain and Ensemble

Recordings

A recording of the 1943 revival was released on June 29, 1944 by Decca.

Further Information

Get more info on 'A Connecticut Yankee'.

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