Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (musical)

This is about the stage musical. For the film, see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953 film).

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a stage musical based on the novel of the same name by Anita Loos.

Cast[]

Yvonne Adair - Dorothy Shaw
Carol Channing - Lorelei Lee
Jack McAuley - Gus Esmond
Rex Evans - Sir Francis Beekman
Alice Pearce - Ella Spofford
Eric Brotherson - Henry Spofford
George S. Irving - Josephus Gage
Anita Alvarez - Gloria Stark
Peter Birch - Bill
William Krach - The Tenor

Plot[]

In the 1920s, Lorelei Lee, a blonde from Little Rock, Arkansas, and her friend Dorothy Shaw board the ocean liner Ile de France, to embark for France. Lorelei and her boyfriend (who is her "sugar daddy"), Gus Esmond, are parting for a while; Gus is going to Little Rock, and Dorothy is Lorelei's chaperone. On the ship, Lorelei has many admirers, including the rich Philadelphian Henry Spofford III, and an Englishman, Sir Francis (Piggy) Beekman. Lorelei is worried that Gus will find out about an old secret of hers and break off their engagement, and she is afraid to open a wire that she receives from him. Meanwhile, Dorothy flirts with a group of olympic sportsmen. Lorelei disapproves of this as the olympians are poor; she is sure that Gus has broken up with her and tells Dorothy that they need to find some rich men. Lorelei chooses the zipper king, Josephus Gage. For Dorothy she chooses Henry Spofford. Lady Beekman is trying to sell her tiara to an American. Lorelei wishes to buy it, but does not have the money, so she decides to persuade Sir Francis to lend her the money.

On arrival in Paris, Dorothy and Henry are becoming attracted to each other. Two French detectives, Robert and Louie Lemanteur, are looking for Lorelei, trying to recover Lady Beekman’s tiara. They don't speak much English, but they fall for the charms of the girls and offer to take them out. Josephus Gage arrives with Lorelei, wearing the first French dress to use a zipper. It is suggested that everyone have cocktails, to Mrs Spofford’s delight, but Josephus does not drink, instead eating raw carrots. Henry, left alone with Dorothy, proposes marriage, but she says that she is not good enough for him.

Gus arrives suddenly and discovers that Lorelei is dating Josephus. His father has always disapproved of Lorelei. Gus retaliates by dating Gloria Stark, a dancer, promising to make her a star.

Everyone is at a Paris club. Lady Beekman and the two detectives are still trying to recover her tiara. Sir Francis is there with two ladies. Lorelei and Dorothy are there with Josephus and Henry. Gus arrives and nearly comes to blows with Josephus. The floor show includes performances by Gloria and Coquette. Lorelei sings too. Gus tells Lorelei that he loves her so much that he would leave his father's business for her sake. She admits that she shot a man in Little Rock, but it was in self-defense (the man was attempting to rape her), so she was acquitted; they make up.

The Americans miss the United States and go home. Lorelei delays marrying Gus until his father accepts her. Mrs. Spofford gives Dorothy some advice. Gus's father, Mr. Esmond, arrives and finds that Lorelei is wearing a dress covered in his buttons and that she knows everything about his business. He is impressed and approves of the marriage.

Musical numbers[]

Act I

"It's High Time" - Dorothy Shaw and Ensemble
"Bye, Bye Baby" - Gus Esmond and Lorelei Lee
"I'm Just A Little Girl From Little Rock" - Lorelei Lee
Encore: "I'm Just A Little Girl From Little Rock" - Lorelei Lee
"I Love What I'm Doing" - Dorothy Shaw
"Just a Kiss Apart" - Henry Spofford
"It's Delightful Down in Chile" - Sir Francis Beekman, Lorelei Lee, Show Girls and Male Ensemble
"Sunshine" - Henry Spofford and Dorothy Shaw
"Park Scene" - Chorus and Dancers
"Sunshine (Reprise)" - Ensemble
"I'm A'Tingle, I'm A'Glow" - Josephus Gage
"You Say You Care" - Dorothy Shaw and Henry Spofford
"Finale Act I" - Lorelei Lee and Ensemble

Act II

"Mamie is Mimi" - Gloria Stark, Coles and Atkins
"Coquette" - The Tenor and Show Girls
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Lorelei Lee
First Encore: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Lorelei Lee
Second Encore: "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Lorelei Lee
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - Lorelei Lee and Gus Esmond
"Homesick Blues" - Lorelei Lee, Dorothy Shaw, Gus Esmond, Henry Spofford, Mrs. Ella Spofford and Josephus Gage
"Keeping Cool with Coolidge" - Dorothy Shaw, Bill and Ensemble
"Button Up With Esmond" - Lorelei Lee, Show Girls and Ensemble
"Finale Act II" - Lorelei Lee, Gus Esmond and Ensemble