Cover to Cast RecordingBLOOMER GIRL

Book by Sig Herzig & Fred Saidy; Music by Harold Arlen; Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg

Shubert Theatre, Broadway - October 5, 1944 (657 perfs)

Story

The setting is the small southern town of Cicero Falls at the time of the American Civil War. Evelina is the only unmarried daughter of the principal manufacturer of hoop skirts for crinolines. Unfortunately she has fallen under the influence of her Aunt Dolly Bloomer, passionate suffragette and the originator of bloomers. Her father, Horatio Applegate has decided the best way to straighten out Evelina is to pick out a nice suitor from a good southern family, Jefferson Lightfoot Calhoun a member of the Kentucky sales team. Evelina is interested in Jeff but is suspicious of any hoop-skirt salesman. To test his resolve she gets him to free his personal slave, Pompey. Jeff agrees and helps Pompey to escape to freedom in the North through a secret underground railway.

This actually gets Jeff into trouble but the trouble is compounded when Evelina. modelling a new super skirt at a garden party organised by her father, lifts her skirt to show that she is clad in bloomers. This she does in support of her Aunt and her causes. Jeff's brother, a committed slave owner, causes trouble and Evelina, Dolly and the slaves are all thrown into jail.

On release the group organise a performance of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Whilst this is taking place news comes that there has been firing of rifles on Fort Sumpter. The American Civil War has begun! This puts on hold the romance between Jeff and Evelina. Jeff enlists in the Confederate Army. Meanwhile, Evelina's brothers-in-law have enlisted in the Zuoave regiment of the Union Army - the regiment that wears trousers that look like bloomers!

The Applegate factory, under the joint direction of Horace and Dolly is turned over to the manufacture of bloomers.

After Jeff hears Lincoln speak he changes allegiance. He returns to Evelina as the curtain falls.

Musical Numbers:

Civil War Ballet (inst)
The Eagle and Me
Evelina
Farmer's Daughter
I Got A Song
I Never Was Born
It was Good Enough For Grandma
Little Big Man
Liza Crossing the Ice
Lullaby (Satin Gown and Silver Shoe)
Man For Sale
Pretty As A Picture
Promise Me Not To Love Me
Rakish Young Man With the Whiskers
Right As Rain
Simon Legree
Style Show Ballet (inst)
Sunday In Cicero Falls
T'morra', T'morra'
Till We All Belong

When the Boys Come Home

Instrumentation:

Violin A,B,C,D, viola, 'cello, bass, flute I, II (pic), oboe, clar I-II, bassoon, trumpets I-II, trombone I, II, percussion, piano, piano/conductor

Period and Costumes: Spring of 1861

Hoop skirts, bloomer ensembles, male suits and casual wear of the time. Appropriate dress for the sheriff and three deputies, the governor and slave, Pompey.

Choreography:

Waltz, Civil War and Style Show Ballets, dance specialities, parades

Note: The show is historical in nature but is entirely fictional.

Bloomer Girl - Cast Recording