Home Theatre About this page

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

Sitting Pretty

A musical

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

First produced 8 April 1924 at the Fulton Theatre, New York.
Revived by the 42nd Street Moon theatre company of San Francisco in August 1999.

Synopsis

Bill Pennington holds a picnic at his Uncle's house. He encounters Dixie and May, twin sisters from the orphanage next door who have sneaked in to pick flowers. Mr Pennington (the uncle) summons his relatives and tells them they are disinherited, he is going to adopt a boy and girl and introduces Horace as his new son. Horace's Uncle Jo turns up; he is a jewel thief and Horace his accomplice.

Dixie and Horace meet. Horace tells her Mr Pennington will adopt one of the orphanage girls and he hopes it will be her. But Dixie accidentally insults Mr Pennington and loses her chance. May and Bill meet, Bill realises she is the girl for him and decides to seek his fortune and return to her. With Uncle Jo installed as Horace's tutor, Mr Pennington chooses May to adopt and she is separated from her sister.

Six months later and a ball is held for May. Bill re-appears; he is now a successful private detective. Horace and Uncle Jo plot their theft but Horace has second thoughts. Dixie arrives - she now works for a famous dressmaker. Horace sees Dixie and declares his love for her. Bill proposes to May.

Uncle Jo is foiled in his theft by Horace who gives the credit to Dixie, putting her right in Mr Pennington's eyes. He now gives his blessing to their marriage and to that of Bill and May.

Horizontal blue bar

Dramatis personae

Mr William Penningtona wealthy man
Bill Penningtonhis nephew
Judson WatersBill's friend
May Tolliveran orphan
Dixie Tolliverher twin sister
Babe LaMarra chorus girl
Horace Peabody
Uncle Jo
Mrs Wagstaff
Professor Applebya friend of Mr Pennington

Recordings

Sitting Pretty - a double CD on New World Records, catalogue number 80387-2. Produced in 1990, with 20 tracks from the show plus the original opening for Act One and three pieces dropped from the show. Includes a booklet with the lyrics, background information and synopsis.

Horizontal blue bar

The New World recording is first class. If you like songs with melodies and lyrics that mean something, try this one.

Wodehouse adapted the book for his novel Bill the Conqueror.