Funny Face (musical)

Funny Face
Music	George Gershwin
Lyrics	Ira Gershwin
Book	Paul Gerard Smith Fred Thompson
Productions	1927 Broadway 1957 Film

Funny Face is a 1927 musical composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Fred Thompson and Paul Gerard Smith.

Originally called Smarty, it starred Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire. It opened in Philadelphia to poor reviews, and amidst major re-writes, critic-humorist Robert Benchley, who had contributed to the script, walked out. Re-named Funny Face, it opened in New York, where it was a major hit. Then it transferred to London.

A new version of the show opened played Broadway's St. James Theatre in 1983 as My One and Only, and ran for a profitable 767 performances. A British film adaptation was made in 1936, called She Knew What She Wanted. A 1957 Hollywood film of the same name stars Fred Astaire and uses four of the songs, but the plot is completely different.

Original Broadway production

The show opened at the Alvin Theatre on November 22, 1927, and ran for 244 performances. It was directed by Edgar MacGregor, with choreography by Bobby Connolly.

Cast

• Fred Astaire as Jimmy Reeve
• Adele Astaire as Frankie Wynn
• William Kent as Dugsie Gibbs
• Victor Moore as Herbert
• Allen Kearns as Peter Thurston
• Gertrude McDonald as June
• Betty Compton as Dora
• Earl Hampton as Chester

1957 film

Starring Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn, the movie "Funny Face" featured just four songs from the stage production, and the plot was radically different.

Songs

Act 1

• Birthday Party - Dora, June and Guests
• Once - Dugsie Gibbs, Dora and Ensemble
• Funny Face - Frankie and Jimmy Reeve
• High Hat - Jimmy Reeve and Boys
• 'S Wonderful - Frankie and Peter Thurston
• Let's Kiss and Make Up - Frankie, Jimmy Reeve and Ensemble
• Come Along, Let's Gamble - Entire Company

Act 2

• In the Swim - Girls
• He Loves and She Loves - Frankie and Peter Thurston
• Tell the Doc - Dugsie Gibbs and Girls
• My One and Only (What I Am Gonna Do?) - Jimmy Reeve, June, Dora and Girls
• Sing a Little Song - Pianists, Ritz Quartette, and Boys
• My One and Only (What Am I Going to Do?) (Reprise) - Dora, June and Chorus
• The Babbitt and the Bromide - Frankie and Jimmy Reeve

References

• Extensive description of the show reprinted from The Oxford Companion to American Theatre

External links

• Funny Face at the Internet Broadway Database
• Review of a 2000 revival
• Poster for the show with the original title, Smarty
• Poster for the show with the new title, Funny Face