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Oh, Kay!

A musical

Book:Guy Bolton & P. G. Wodehouse
Lyrics:Ira Gershwin and Howard Dietz
Music:George Gershwin

First produced at the Imperial Theatre in New York on 8 November 1926. A version Anglicized by PG was produced in London the following year, opening on 21 September 1927 at Her Majesty's Theatre. The show was revived off Broadway in 1960 and included extra songs with lyrics by Wodehouse.

Synopsis

During Prohibition three bootleggers, Shorty McGee, Larry Potter and The Duke, arrange to use an empty beach house to store an incoming shipment of booze. Unfortunately for them, the house is being used for a party by its owner, Jimmy Potter, and is full of local girls. Jimmy arrives with Constance, his bride to be, and the news that his first wife has failed to sign divorce papers. Shorty pretends to be the butler

The Duke's sister, Kay, comes ashore from his yacht in search of a man she met there the previous summer. Having no passport she flees from the Revenue Man, Jansen, into the house and the arms of Jimmy who turns out to be the man she was looking for. Jimmy tells Jansen that Kay is his wife. When Constance returns, Kay pretends to be the maid. Jimmy's divorce comes through and he has to tell Kay he is engaged to Constance.

The Duke goes in search of his sister while Jimmy realises he is in love with Kay and tells her. But what of Constance? Kay arranges for Shorty to play a Revenue Officer, arrest Jimmy and appoint Potter as agent to confiscate the booze from the house. It works.

Constance dumps Jimmy, the bootleggers keep their liquor and Kay gets her man.

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Dramatis personae

Shorty McGeea bootlegger
Larry Potteranother bootlegger
The Duke *an aristocratic bootlegger
Lady Kayhis sister
Jimmy Wintera house owner
Constance Appletonhis fiancée
Phil and Dolly Ruxtontwin sisters
Jansena Revenue Officer
Molly Morse, Peggy, Mae, Daisy
Judge Appleton

* In the first London version, The Duke became the Duke of Datchet. By 1960, he had become the Earl of Blandings.

Recordings

Leave it to Jane / Oh, Kay! - on a STET double CD, catalogue number 15017 recorded 1960 by the 'original' cast of the off-Broadway revival. This compilation produced in 1988 (DRG records). According to the sleeve notes, this recording has five songs with Wodehouse's lyrics: Home (previously Don't Ask) and You'll Still Be There (previously Dear Little Girl) with lyrics changed with Ira Gershwin's permission; The Pophams and The Twenties are Here to Stay using melodies from another musical; and Stiff Upper Lip from the film Damsel in Distress. Little Jazz Bird from the Gershwin's Lady Be Good has also been added.

Oh, Kay! - on Nonesuch Records, catalogue number 7559-79361-2, recorded 1995. Boxed with a booklet of lyrics and other information, this is based on the original U.S. version.

Oh, Kay! - on Sony in 1998, by a 1955 studio cast.

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The Nonesuch recording is good stuff but there is nothing of Wodehouse recognizable in it. At full price this studio recording is still good value with a superb booklet packed full of interesting stuff. The STET version is more theatrical, right down to the squeaky voiced chorus girls, but some of the added songs just don't fit. I've not heard the Sony recording.

Even at the full price of two CDs (with Jane) purists will probably want the STET recording but, for simple listening pleasure, I prefer the Nonesuch recording.