Kern–Oh, Boy The Bachelor Youtube

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In A Walkthrough Shows, Songs and More
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We have a couple of tidbits to relay to you about Oh, Boy! before we move on to the next show, Leave It to Jane. First, some notes about the cast in New York. Marion Davies (yes, THE Marion Davies) had a small part in the show. More importantly, Edna May Oliver played the role of Aunt Penelope. You may remember her from the 1940 movie version of Pride and Prejudice; she played Lady Catherine and held her own in the scenes with Lawrence Olivier.

Beatrice Lillie played Jackie in the London production of Oh, Joy. She became one of the great comedienne’s of stage and screen, and you may remember her in the movie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, as the evil Mrs. Meers.

Gerald Bordman has managed to quote some lines from the Wodehouse libretto, and I think it will give you some insight into the nature of Wodehouse’s writing for the stage.

This scene takes place in Act Two, while Jackie is still posing as Aunt Penelope (a Pennsylvania Quaker who might use thee, thou and thy). Here is dialogue between Lou Ellen, George, Jackie and the policeman:

Jackie: Hast thou been enjoying thyself?
Lou Ellen: Not a bit. Mother won’t let me speak to George.
Jackie: What have they got against the gink?
Lou Ellen: Gink?
Jackie: (George pokes Jackie) A Quaker word… poor lad I should say.
Policeman: How about the pajama pattern? [for his wife] Lou Ellen: Pajama pattern?
Jackie: Thee shall have it, good man, I promise thee.
Policeman: How’s that?
Jackie: I will even give thy good wife mine if thee will only beat it.

Finally, we have a song for George that was cut from the show, called “The Bachelor.” It is also known as “That’s the Kind of Man I’d Like to Be.” The song was meant to differentiate George, as a shy bachelor, from Jim, a playboy bachelor. I am speculating, but I think once Wodehouse decided to start the show with George and Lou Ellen already married, this song no longer made sense.

This version of the song is from a 2014 concert style presentation of Oh, Boy! at Trinity Wall Street (lunchtime concerts in the landmark Trinity Church). Rob Berman was the music director and played the piano for the concert. Again, while I can find the concert on the Trinity website, only jacksonupperco.com could find a youtube clip. We extend our gratitude for their work.