By the Beautiful Sea
Encyclopedia
By the Beautiful Sea is a musical
with a book by Herbert Fields
and Dorothy Fields
, lyrics by Dorothy Fields
, and music by Arthur Schwartz
. Like Schwartz’ previous musical, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
, also starring Shirley Booth, the musical is set in Brooklyn
just after the turn of the century (1907). By the Beautiful Sea played on Broadway
in 1954.
The musical opened on Broadway
at the Majestic Theatre on April 8, 1954, transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 2, 1954 and closed on November 27, 1954 after 270 performances. It was produced by Robert Fryer and Lawrence Carr, staged by Marshall Jamison and choreographed by Helen Tamiris
. The cast featured Shirley Booth
as Lottie Gibson, Wilbur Evans
as Dennis Emery, Anne Francine
as Flora Busch, Richard France as Mickey Powers, Carol Leigh as Baby Betsy Busch, Mae Barnes as Ruby Monk, and Cameron Prud'Homme as Carl Gibson. The orchestrations were by Robert Russell Bennett
, sets and lighting by Jo Mielziner
, and costumes by Irene Sharaff
.
A staged concert was presented by "Musicals Tonight" in New York City in June-July 1999.
performer, who also owns a theatrical boarding house in Coney Island
; that is, "by the sea". Her clientele are show people. On one of her vaudeville tours she falls in love with a Shakespearean actor, Dennis Emery. When he is to appear in Brighton, Lottie gets him to stay at her boarding house, where his divorced wife—and stage mother—Flora Busch and daughter "Baby Betsy" (although Baby is 17) are also residents. Baby Betsy is infatuated with Mickey Powers, a singing waiter. Mickey thinks that Baby is really as young as her mother forces her to dress, and so, although he has feelings for her, thinks that she is too young.
To add to her troubles, Lottie discovers that her father, Carl Gibson, has taken her money to invest in a Midway
attraction. Since she wants to lend the money to Dennis, Lottie decides to try to win the prize for making a parachute jump. Although she wins the prize, the money is not enough. But happily, another prize has been awarded to a man who had been shot out of a cannon, who is revealed as her father, and Lottie has all the money for Dennis. Lottie performs her specialty act, "Lottie Gibson Specialty" as an obnoxious child who refuses to share her parents with a baby brother. She ruefully complains about the awful assortment of men who had been in her life ("I’d Rather Wake Up by Myself").
Jealous Baby Betsy tries to break up the romance between her father and Lottie. Lottie declares that she will give up Dennis, not wanting to come between father and daughter. But, she gives Baby Betsy one of her dresses, and Baby turns into a more appropriate teen-ager. Lottie succeeds in winning over the affections of the young lady, and they go off to the midway where they find Mickey and Dennis, with a happy romantic ending.
Act II
in the New York Times. Walter Kerr
praised her "ease and self-assurance". "She is so radiantly confident that the marquee outside glows brighter for having her in the neighborhood."
In reviewing the 1999 concert, Martin Denton (NYTheatre.com) commented: "...although it finds none of its illustrious authors at his or her best, it is nevertheless a sturdy and pleasant entertainment."
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Herbert Fields
Herbert Fields
Herbert Fields was an American librettist and screenwriter.Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1925 until his death, he contributed to the libretti of many Broadway musicals...
and Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
, lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields
Dorothy Fields was an American librettist and lyricist.She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and films...
, and music by Arthur Schwartz
Arthur Schwartz
Arthur Schwartz was an American composer and film producer.Schwartz supported his legal studies at New York University and postgraduate studies at Columbia University by playing piano before concentrating his talents on vaudeville, Broadway theatre and Hollywood.Among his Broadway musicals are The...
. Like Schwartz’ previous musical, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn may refer to:*A Tree Grows in Brooklyn , a novel by Betty Smith*A Tree Grows in Brooklyn , the cinema adaptation of the novel*A Tree Grows in Brooklyn , the stage adaptation of the novel...
, also starring Shirley Booth, the musical is set in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
just after the turn of the century (1907). By the Beautiful Sea played on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1954.
Productions
By the Beautiful Sea played in pre-Broadway tryouts in New Haven at the Shubert Theatre starting February 15, 1954; in Boston starting February 23; and Philadelphia starting March 16.The musical opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Majestic Theatre on April 8, 1954, transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 2, 1954 and closed on November 27, 1954 after 270 performances. It was produced by Robert Fryer and Lawrence Carr, staged by Marshall Jamison and choreographed by Helen Tamiris
Helen Tamiris
Helen Tamiris was an American choreographer, modern dancer, and teacher.-Biography:A founder of American Modern Dance, Tamiris originally trained in free movement at the Henry Street Settlement. She danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and the Bracale Opera Company before studying briefly...
. The cast featured Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth was an American actress.Primarily a theatre actress, Booth's Broadway career began in 1925. Her most significant success was as Lola Delaney, in the drama Come Back, Little Sheba, for which she received a Tony Award in 1950...
as Lottie Gibson, Wilbur Evans
Wilbur Evans
Wilbur "Wib" Evans was an American actor and singer who performed on the radio, in opera, on Broadway, in films, and in early live television.-Biography:...
as Dennis Emery, Anne Francine
Anne Francine
Anne Francine was an American actress and cabaret singer. She is well-known for her role as villain Flora Simpson Reilly in the American television series Harper Valley PTA.-Biography:...
as Flora Busch, Richard France as Mickey Powers, Carol Leigh as Baby Betsy Busch, Mae Barnes as Ruby Monk, and Cameron Prud'Homme as Carl Gibson. The orchestrations were by Robert Russell Bennett
Robert Russell Bennett
Robert Russell Bennett was an American composer and arranger, best known for his orchestration of many well-known Broadway and Hollywood musicals by other composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers. In 1957 and 2008, Bennett received Tony Awards...
, sets and lighting by Jo Mielziner
Jo Mielziner
Joseph "Jo" Mielziner was an American theatrical scenic, and lighting designer born in Paris, France. He is "the most successful set designer of the Golden era of Broadway", and worked on both stage plays and musicals.-Career:He was the son of artist Leo Mielziner, Sr...
, and costumes by Irene Sharaff
Irene Sharaff
Irene Sharaff was an American costume designer for stage and screen. Her work earned her five Academy Awards and a Tony Award.- Background :...
.
A staged concert was presented by "Musicals Tonight" in New York City in June-July 1999.
Synopsis
In 1907, Lottie Gibson is a vaudevilleVaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
performer, who also owns a theatrical boarding house in Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
; that is, "by the sea". Her clientele are show people. On one of her vaudeville tours she falls in love with a Shakespearean actor, Dennis Emery. When he is to appear in Brighton, Lottie gets him to stay at her boarding house, where his divorced wife—and stage mother—Flora Busch and daughter "Baby Betsy" (although Baby is 17) are also residents. Baby Betsy is infatuated with Mickey Powers, a singing waiter. Mickey thinks that Baby is really as young as her mother forces her to dress, and so, although he has feelings for her, thinks that she is too young.
To add to her troubles, Lottie discovers that her father, Carl Gibson, has taken her money to invest in a Midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
attraction. Since she wants to lend the money to Dennis, Lottie decides to try to win the prize for making a parachute jump. Although she wins the prize, the money is not enough. But happily, another prize has been awarded to a man who had been shot out of a cannon, who is revealed as her father, and Lottie has all the money for Dennis. Lottie performs her specialty act, "Lottie Gibson Specialty" as an obnoxious child who refuses to share her parents with a baby brother. She ruefully complains about the awful assortment of men who had been in her life ("I’d Rather Wake Up by Myself").
Jealous Baby Betsy tries to break up the romance between her father and Lottie. Lottie declares that she will give up Dennis, not wanting to come between father and daughter. But, she gives Baby Betsy one of her dresses, and Baby turns into a more appropriate teen-ager. Lottie succeeds in winning over the affections of the young lady, and they go off to the midway where they find Mickey and Dennis, with a happy romantic ending.
Songs
Act I- Mona from Arizona - Quartet
- The Sea Song - Lottie, Boarders, Neighbors
- Old Enough to Love - Mickey Powers
- Coney Island Boat - Lottie, Half-Note, Visitors
- Alone Too Long - Dennis Emery
- Happy Habit - Ruby Monk
- Good Time Charlie - Mickey Powers, Lenny, Sidney, Cora Belmont, Molly Belmont and Lillian Belmont
- I’d Rather Wake Up by Myself - Lottie
- Hooray for George the Third - Diabolo, Visitors
Act II
- Hang Up - Ruby, Boarders, Neighbors
- More Love Than Your Love - Dennis Emery
- Lottie Gibson Specialty - Lottie
- Throw the Anchor Away - Burt Mayer, Dancer and Cora Belmont
- Finale - Company
Critical response
The critics praised Booth's performance. "Everyone has long since lost his heart to Miss Booth," wrote Brooks AtkinsonBrooks Atkinson
Justin Brooks Atkinson was an American theatre critic. He worked for The New York Times from 1925 to 1960...
in the New York Times. Walter Kerr
Walter Kerr
For the RN admiral see Lord Walter KerrWalter Francis Kerr was an American writer and Broadway theater critic. He also was the writer, lyricist, and/or director of several Broadway plays and musicals.-Biography:...
praised her "ease and self-assurance". "She is so radiantly confident that the marquee outside glows brighter for having her in the neighborhood."
In reviewing the 1999 concert, Martin Denton (NYTheatre.com) commented: "...although it finds none of its illustrious authors at his or her best, it is nevertheless a sturdy and pleasant entertainment."