Chee-Chee (musical)

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Chee-Chee (musical)
Chee-Chee (1928), by Rodgers & Hart, original performance poster.jpg
Original theater poster of 1928
MusicRichard Rodgers
LyricsLorenz Hart
BookThe Son of the Grand Eunuch, by Charles Pettit
SettingChina
PremiereSeptember 25, 1928: Mansfield Theatre
Productions1928 Broadway
2003 14th Street Y, Manhattan[1]

Chee-Chee is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on the 1927 book, The Son of the Grand Eunuch, by Charles Pettit. Chee-Chee opened on Broadway September 25, 1928, and the show closed after 31 performances.[2][3]

In 1963 vocalist Betty Comden released an album that included some of the songs from the musical.[4][5]

Synopsis[]

In 1928 Herbert Fields wrote a libretto based on Pettit's book in which the son of the Grand Eunuch, Li-Pi, and his wife, Chee-Chee, are forced into exile when the Grand Eunuch announces his plan for Li-Pi to become a eunuch and take his father's place as the Grand Eunuch. Chee-Chee is captured and rescued, and Li-Pi is captured and rescued, and finally the musical ends happily.[6]

Musical Numbers[]

Two acts, seven scenes.[7]

Act I

  • We're Men of Brains
  • I Am a Prince
  • In a Great Big Way
  • The Most Majestic of Domestic Officials
  • Holy of Holies
  • Her Hair Is Black as Licorice
  • Dear, Oh Dear
  • Await Your Love
  • Joy Is Mine
  • I Wake at Morning
  • I Grovel to Earth
  • Just a Little Thing
  • You Are Both Agreed
  • Owl Song
  • I Must Love You
  • I Bow a Glad Good Day
  • Better Be Good to Me
  • The Tartar Song
  • Chee-Chee's Second Entrance
  • Finale (Act I)

Act II

  • Khonghouse Song
  • Sleep, Weary Head
  • Singing a Love Song
  • Monastery Opening
  • Chinese Dance
  • Living Buddha
  • Moon of My Delight

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Kenneth Jones (January 31, 2019). "Eunuchs, Concubines and Love Songs Revived in Rodgers & Hart's Chee-Chee, Nov. 12-24". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  2. ^ Mark Miller (November 18, 2002). "Chee-Chee". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "VIII. Chee-Chee (09/25/28 – 10/20/28)". THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  4. ^ "Chee-Chee". Library of Congress. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. ^ "Betty Comden – Songs From Treasure Girl & Chee Chee". Discogs. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ^ "Chee-Chee". StageAgent. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  7. ^ "Chee Chee". Guide to Musical Theatre. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

External links[]

Further reading[]

  • Geoffrey Block, The Richard Rodgers Reader (Oxford University Press, 2006), pp 45–47
  • Gerald Bordman, American Musical Theater: A Chronicle (Oxford University Press, 2001), pp 492–493
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