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Blandings - the logo of www.blandings.org.uk, the Companion to the works of P G Wodehouse

Have a Heart

A musical

Book:Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse
Lyrics:P. G. Wodehouse *
Music:Jerome Kern *

* The Internet Broadway Database lists Schulyer Greene, James Kendis, Charles Bayha and Jerome Kern as additional lyricists with Kendis and Bayha providing additional music.

First produced 11 January, 1917, New York at the Liberty Theatre. This was the first of the Bolton, Wodehouse & Kern musicals that moved the musical theatre away from revue style (US) and operetta (UK) to the form that's more familiar today with song and dance as an integral part of the story. Although it had a relatively short Broadway run (76-78 performances) it did much better on the road.

Revived May 2004 by Musicals Tonight! a not-for-profit theatre company in New York.

Synopsis

Set at Blueport, Rhode Island, the plot concerns four couples: Ruddy and Peggy who divorced after a misunderstanding but are still in love and elope for a second honeymoon; Peggy's aunt, who helped the divorce along, and her husband; Ruddy's ex-girlfriend, in love with his best friend; and two ex-crooks, one employed by Ruddy, the other seeing easy money from the situation. (From reviews.)

PG describes it as a divorce story in which a honeymooning couple are being pursued by a lawyer bearing the tidings that their marriage is not legal. (Bring on the Girls)

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Recordings

Music from the New York Stage, Volume 3: 1913-17 - a triple CD on Pearl, catalogue number GEMMCD90565, with one song Napoleon by the original Broadway cast.

Fascinating Night - Rediscovered Gems from The Early Days of Musical Theatre: Volume I - CD with the song Peter Pan. (Plus The First Rose of Summer from Cabaret Girl and May Moon from The Nightingale.)

Broadway Through the Gramophone (1844-1930), Vol 3: 1914-1920 - a double CD on Pearl GMS 0084, with five songs I'm So Busy, And I'm All Alone, The Road That Lies Before, Honeymoon Inn and You Said Something from early 78s. (Plus songs from Oh, Boy!, Leave it to Jane and Oh, Lady! Lady!.)

Please note I have not heard any of these recordings so cannot comment further.

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Ruddy and Peggy's surname is Schoonmaker, a name which PG uses again in the Blandings saga.