More Than You Deserve
Encyclopedia
More Than You Deserve is a musical written by Jim Steinman
and Michael Weller
, produced by Joseph Papp
and directed by Kim Friedman
. It opened at The Public Theater on November 21, 1973, ran for 63 performances and closed on January 13, 1974. Weller's original title for the play was Souvenirs, which referred to the severed ears of killed Viet Cong which the soldiers collected and wore as keepsakes on strings around their necks. He was irate when the title was changed to More Than You Deserve.
during the war
. Major Michael Dillon (Gwynne), who is impotent
, falls in love with a reporter sent to cover the camp, who turns out to be a nymphomaniac
when she is gang-raped by the other soldiers in the camp. However, she realizes at the end that she will be even happier giving up her new-found lust for sex to settle down with the impotent commander.
. The title track from the show was recorded by Meat Loaf for the Dead Ringer
album. He also performed the song on his VH1 Storytellers
show.
Paul Shaffer
served as musical director for the show.
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
and Michael Weller
Michael Weller
Michael Weller is a Brooklyn-based playwright who is best known for his plays Moonchildren and Loose Ends. Weller is one of the founders of the Cherry Lane Theatre's acclaimed Mentor Project, which pairs pre-eminent playwrights with emerging playwrights for a season-long mentorship...
, produced by Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp
Joseph Papp was an American theatrical producer and director. Papp established The Public Theater in what had been the Astor Library Building in downtown New York . "The Public," as it is known, has many small theatres within it...
and directed by Kim Friedman
Kim Friedman
Kim Friedman is American television director and producer.Friedman's career began in 1977, directing episodes of the sitcom, Alice she then moved on to directing episodes of Family, Knots Landing, Square Pegs, The Love Boat, Dynasty, A Different World, Head of the Class, Beverly Hills, 90210,...
. It opened at The Public Theater on November 21, 1973, ran for 63 performances and closed on January 13, 1974. Weller's original title for the play was Souvenirs, which referred to the severed ears of killed Viet Cong which the soldiers collected and wore as keepsakes on strings around their necks. He was irate when the title was changed to More Than You Deserve.
Original cast
- Major Michael Dillon - Fred GwynneFred GwynneFrederick Hubbard "Fred" Gwynne was an American actor. Gwynne was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, as well as his later roles: Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny...
- Fiona Markham - Kimberly Farr
- Nurse/Nin Hua - Leata Galloway
- Nurse/Uncle Remus - Mary Beth HurtMary Beth HurtMary Beth Hurt is an American actress of stage and screen.-Personal life:Hurt was born Mary Supinger in 1946 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Delores Lenore and Forrest Clayton Supinger. Her childhood babysitter was actress Jean Seberg, also a Marshalltown native...
- Nathan/Herbie/Pilot - Stephen CollinsStephen CollinsStephen Weaver Collins is an American actor, writer, and singer. He is perhaps best known for playing the role of Eric Camden on the long running television series 7th Heaven and more recently as Dr. Dayton King on the ABC TV series No Ordinary Family.-Early life:Collins was born in Des Moines,...
- Dr. Smith/Sgt. Price - Graham JarvisGraham JarvisGraham Jarvis was a Canadian character actor in US films and TV from the 1960s.Born in Toronto, Jarvis attended Williams College before moving to New York to pursue a career in theater...
- Luke/Lance Moriarty - Seth Allen
- Mike / Brown / Gerald Moore - Larry Marshall
- Perrine / Rabbit - Meat LoafMeat LoafMichael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
- Wiley / Trout - Kim Milford
- Owlsy / Joe - Tom Leo
- Costucci / Lt. Maddox - Edward Zang
- Spooky 1 / Vietnamese - Justin Ross
- Spooky 2 / Vietnamese / Radio man - Eivie McGehee
- Melvin - Terry KiserTerry KiserTerry Kiser is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the dead title-character in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's, and its sequel, Weekend at Bernie's II....
- General Chet Eastacre - Ronald (Ron) SilverRon SilverRonald Arthur "Ron" Silver was an American actor, director, producer, radio host and political activist.-Early life:...
Plot synopsis
The story is set in a U.S. army base in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
during the war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Major Michael Dillon (Gwynne), who is impotent
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
, falls in love with a reporter sent to cover the camp, who turns out to be a nymphomaniac
Hypersexuality
Hypersexuality is extremely frequent or suddenly increased sexual urges or sexual activity. Hypersexuality is typically associated with lowered sexual inhibitions. Although hypersexuality can be caused by some medical conditions or medications, in most cases the cause is unknown...
when she is gang-raped by the other soldiers in the camp. However, she realizes at the end that she will be even happier giving up her new-found lust for sex to settle down with the impotent commander.
Songs
- Overture
- Give Me The Simple Life
- Could She Be The One
- Where Did It Go?
- Come With Me (We Know Love)
- Mama, You'd Better Watch Out For Your Daughters
- More Than You Deserve
- O, What A War
- Song Of The City Of Hope
- To Feel So Needed
- Mama, You'd Better Watch Out For Your Daughters (reprise)
- Go, Go, Go, Guerrillas
- What Became Of The People We Were
- If Only
- Midnight Lullabye
- Song Of The Golden Egg
- What Became Of The People We Were (reprise)
Legacy
Steinman and Meat Loaf first met during the production and would go on to make the multi-platinum album, Bat out of HellBat out of Hell
Bat Out of Hell is the second album by American rock musician Meat Loaf, and his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman, released in October 1977 on Cleveland International/Epic Records #PE-34974. Selling approximately 200,000 copies per year as of 2010, it is the fifth best-selling album...
. The title track from the show was recorded by Meat Loaf for the Dead Ringer
Dead Ringer (album)
Dead Ringer is a 1981 album by Meat Loaf and is the second of three Meat Loaf albums written entirely by Jim Steinman. The album cover features an illustration by comic book artist and horror illustrator Bernie Wrightson....
album. He also performed the song on his VH1 Storytellers
VH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
show.
Paul Shaffer
Paul Shaffer
Paul Allen Wood Shaffer, CM is a Canadian musician, actor, voice actor, author, comedian, and composer who has been David Letterman's sidekick since 1982.-Early years:...
served as musical director for the show.