Chee-Chee (musical)
Original theater poster of 1928
MusicRichard Rodgers
LyricsLorenz Hart
BookThe Son of the Grand Eunuch, by Charles Pettit
SettingChina
PremiereSeptember 25, 1928: Mansfield Theatre
Productions1928 Broadway
2003 14th Street Y, Manhattan[1]

Chee-Chee is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on the 1927 book, The Son of the Grand Eunuch, by Charles Pettit. Chee-Chee opened on Broadway September 25, 1928, and the show closed after 31 performances.[2][3]

In 1963 vocalist Betty Comden released an album that included some of the songs from the musical.[4][5]

Synopsis

In 1928 Herbert Fields wrote a libretto based on Pettit's book in which the son of the Grand Eunuch, Li-Pi, and his wife, Chee-Chee, are forced into exile when the Grand Eunuch announces his plan for Li-Pi to become a eunuch and take his father's place as the Grand Eunuch. Chee-Chee is captured and rescued, and Li-Pi is captured and rescued, and finally the musical ends happily.[6]

Musical Numbers

Two acts, seven scenes.[7]

Act I

Scene I: A Corridor in the Palace of the Holy Emperor, Son of Heaven, in the Violet Town of Peking

  • We're Men of Brains - Eunuchs
  • I Am a Prince - Prince Tao-Tee
  • In a Great Big Way - Li-Li-Wee
  • The Most Majestic of Domestic Officials (Entrance of the Grand Eunuch) - Ensemble
  • Holy of Holies - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Li-Wee
  • Her Hair Is Black as Licorice (Food Solo) - Li-Pi-Siao
  • Dear, Oh Dear - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou
  • Await Your Love (Concubines' Song) - Li-Pi-Siao, Miss Smile of a Rose, Ensemble
  • Joy Is Mine - Li-Pi-Tchou
  • I Wake at Morning - Li-Pi-Tchou
  • Grovel to Earth (Chee-Chee's First Entrance) - Chee-Chee
  • Just a Little Thing - Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee
  • You Are Both Agreed (Finaletto Scene 1) - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee

Scene II: The Road to the Future

  • I Must Love You - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou
  • Owl Song - A Very Narrow Minded Owl

Scene III: A Wayside Tavern

  • I Bow a Glad Good Day (Tavern Opening) - Innkeeper, Li-Pi-Siao, Ensemble
  • Better Be Good to Me - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee
  • The Tartar Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble
  • Chee-Chee's Second Entrance - Chee-Chee
  • Finale (Act I)
Act II

Scene I: A Forest

  • Khonghouse Song - Li-Pi-Tchou, Ensemble
  • Sleep, Weary Head - Chee-Chee
  • Singing a Love Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble

Scene II: Visiting Day at the Monastery of Celestial Clouds

  • Monastery Opening
  • Chinese Dance
  • Living Buddha (Impassive Buddha) - The Grand Prior
  • Moon of My Delight - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee

Scene III: The Gallery of Torments

Scene IV: The Palace

  • Finale Ultimo

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kenneth Jones (January 31, 2019). "Eunuchs, Concubines and Love Songs Revived in Rodgers & Hart's Chee-Chee, Nov. 12-24". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  2. ↑ Mark Miller (November 18, 2002). "Chee-Chee". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  3. ↑ "VIII. Chee-Chee (09/25/28 – 10/20/28)". THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Chee-Chee". Library of Congress. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Betty Comden – Songs From Treasure Girl & Chee Chee". Discogs. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Chee-Chee". StageAgent. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Chee Chee". Guide to Musical Theatre. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

Further reading

  • Geoffrey Block, The Richard Rodgers Reader (Oxford University Press, 2006), pp 45–47
  • Gerald Bordman, American Musical Theater: A Chronicle (Oxford University Press, 2001), pp 492–493
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