SUMMER SONG
A story of the New World
Book by Eric Maschwitz and
Hy Kraft. Lyrics by Eric Maschwitz
Music by Bernard Grun, from themes of Anton Dvorák
Produced at the Opera House, Manchester - 21 December, 1955
Produced at the Princes Theatre, London, 16 February, 1956
SYNOPSIS
A seemingly endless tour conducting in America's concert halls leaves Anton Dvorák desperately tired and drained of inspiration. Summer 1893 finds him unexpectedly in a remote Illinois lumber town populated largely by Bohemian immigrants - his native people - under the dominance of a hard-headed Irish woman known as Ma Flannagan.
She owns just about everything there, from the Blarney Stone Saloon, to the growing timber. Unrecognized for once, the famous composer gratefully takes a brief sabbatical, playing the piano in Flannagan's saloon. The township soon feels the benevolence of his kindly wisdom as he offers advice on the romance between Milli the barmaid and her once-a-year visiting salesman, Joe; saves Uncle Marek from being cheated out of his land; and smooths love's path for young Shaun-saving grace of the Flannagan family-and Marek's charming niece Karolka. Refreshed, his inspiration returns, and with it his most popular creation-the New World Symphony.
For the Chorus
Perhaps the busiest show ever produced. Faithful adaptations of Dvorák's best-loved melodies form a fine rich score, plenty of harmonized choral work and satisfying theatrical effects. It is important that the male chorus is equally as strong as the female. Many lively episodes are provided for dancers. General company appear as lumbermen and their girls, saloon customers, hostesses and staff, wedding guests and bridesmaids, concert-hall staff and concert-goers, and in a considerable number of small roles.
Musical Numbers
Prelude
- Chorus- Flannagan's Trees - Abe, Chorus
- Once A Year Is Not Enough - Milli & Men
- Just Around the Corner - Korolka and chorus
- Be She Dark, Be She Fair - Shaun and Girls
- Cotton Tail - Abe
- No One Told Me - Shaun
- Sing Me A Song - Male Chorus
- Murphy's Pig - Milli & chorus
- Saturday Girl - Shaun and Karolka
- One Boy Sends You A Rose - Karolka and Milli
- Deep Blue Ev'nin' - Abe and chorus
- I'm Not So Certain - Joe and Milli
- Centreville Song - Chorus
- The Day You Hit the High Road - Abe and Chorus
- Weddin' Gown - Joe, Mili and chorus
- Summer Song - Karolka and chorus
- Small Town Sweetheart - Shaun
- New York 'Ninety Three - Chorus
- I'll Be Rememb'ring - Karolka
Singing Principals
Karolka Novak - a young Czech immigrant
Milli. - Marek's daughter
Shaun - Son of Ma Flannagan - an engineer.
Joe Gianello - a travelling salesman
Abe, a Negro man-of-all-work.
Straight Roles
"Ma" Flannagan - Boss of Valley Falls
Dr. Anton Dvorák - the famous composer
Uncle Marek - Karolka's Uncle
Smaller Roles
Feeney, a saloon keeper
Tomashek, a musician.
Blodek, a lumberman.
Gilmore, a railroad magnate.
The Scenes
Act I
- Town Square, Willow Falls.
- Outside "The Blarney Stone"
- Inside the Blarney Stone Saloon.
- The Town Square
- Outside the Saloon
- Milli's bedroom (inset).
- The Town Square
- Uncle Marek's Yard
Act II
- A Street in Centerville
- "The Silver Dollar" Casino, Centerville (inset).
- The Town Square.
- Interior of the Saloon
- Little Old New York
- On Board a Ship
- The Conductor's Room
A useful simplification guide is included in the script
Orchestration
Ist and 2nd Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, 2 Clarinets, Bassoon, Horn, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Drums, Harp