The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd
Encyclopedia
The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd is a musical
with a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
and Anthony Newley
. The musical is best known for producing the standards "Who Can I Turn To?
" and "Feeling Good
." The show title is a transposition of the phrase "the smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd", referring to the experience of theatre performers.
production more than a book musical, the allegorical
plot examines the maintenance of the status quo
between the upper and lower classes of British
society in the 1960s. The two main characters are Sir and Cocky. Since Sir forever is changing the rules of the game of life, downtrodden young Cocky always gets the short end of the stick. Assisting Sir is his eager disciple Kid, anxious to pick up bits of wisdom while helping keep Cocky in his place.
. The show toured the UK
in anticipation of a London
opening, but audience interest was minimal, and it never reached the West End
. American
theatre producer David Merrick
saw it in Liverpool
and, aware production costs could be kept low, decided to bring it to the States, starting with a lengthy national tour. An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor long before the show reached New York City
, and Tony Bennett
's version of "Who Can I Turn To?
" proved to be a hit that kept the show in the public's awareness. The tour was so successful that most of Merrick's investment was paid back while the show was on the road. It was the 1964 UK production of the musical in which Elaine Paige
made her first professional appearance on stage.
After seven previews, the Broadway
production, directed by Newley and choreographed by Gillian Lynne
, opened on May 16 at the Shubert Theatre
, where it ran for 231 performances. The cast included Newley as Cocky, Cyril Ritchard
as Sir, and newcomer Sally Smith as Kid, with Joyce Jillson
in a supporting role. Conductor Herbert Grossman
served as Music Director.
Act II
had hit recordings of "Who Can I Turn To?"
"Feeling Good
" has been covered by a number of artists, including Sammy Davis, Jr.
, Nina Simone
, Traffic
, Yard Dogs Road Show
, Muse
, John Barrowman
, Michael Bublé
, Adam Lambert
, The Pussycat Dolls, and Joe Bonamassa
.
"Look at That Face" was recorded by Carmen McRae
, Mel Tormé
and Barbra Streisand
and was once sung by Jane Norman
on her children's TV show Pixanne
.
"The Joker
" was covered by Shirley Bassey
, and was recorded by Gina Riley
for use as the opening theme song for the Australian sitcom Kath & Kim
.
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, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
and Anthony Newley
Anthony Newley
Anthony George Newley was an English actor, singer and songwriter. He enjoyed success as a performer in such diverse fields as rock and roll and stage and screen acting.-Early life:...
. The musical is best known for producing the standards "Who Can I Turn To?
Who Can I Turn To?
"Who Can I Turn To?" is a popular song. It may be titled "Who Can I Turn To ".It was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1964. The song was introduced in the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, which struggled in the United Kingdom in 1964 and...
" and "Feeling Good
Feeling Good
"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
." The show title is a transposition of the phrase "the smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd", referring to the experience of theatre performers.
Synopsis
Resembling a music hallMusic hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
production more than a book musical, the allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
plot examines the maintenance of the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
between the upper and lower classes of British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
society in the 1960s. The two main characters are Sir and Cocky. Since Sir forever is changing the rules of the game of life, downtrodden young Cocky always gets the short end of the stick. Assisting Sir is his eager disciple Kid, anxious to pick up bits of wisdom while helping keep Cocky in his place.
History
With this project, Bricusse and Newley had hoped to match the success of their 1962 hit Stop the World - I Want to Get OffStop the World - I Want to Get Off
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.Set against the backdrop of a circus, it focuses on Littlechap, whose first major step towards improving his lot is to marry Evie, his boss's daughter...
. The show toured the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in anticipation of a London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
opening, but audience interest was minimal, and it never reached the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
. American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
theatre producer David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
saw it in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and, aware production costs could be kept low, decided to bring it to the States, starting with a lengthy national tour. An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor long before the show reached New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
's version of "Who Can I Turn To?
Who Can I Turn To?
"Who Can I Turn To?" is a popular song. It may be titled "Who Can I Turn To ".It was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1964. The song was introduced in the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, which struggled in the United Kingdom in 1964 and...
" proved to be a hit that kept the show in the public's awareness. The tour was so successful that most of Merrick's investment was paid back while the show was on the road. It was the 1964 UK production of the musical in which Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige
Elaine Paige OBE is an English singer and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Raised in Barnet, North London, Paige attended the Aida Foster stage school, making her first professional appearance on stage in 1964, at the age of 16...
made her first professional appearance on stage.
After seven previews, the 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...
production, directed by Newley and choreographed by Gillian Lynne
Gillian Lynne
Gillian Barbara Lynne , CBE, born , is a British ballerina, dancer, actor, theatre director, television director and choreographer noted for her popular theatre choreography associated with the iconic musicals Cats and the current longest running show in Broadway history, The Phantom of the Opera.-...
, opened on May 16 at the Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre or Shubert Theater may refer to:Theatres*Shubert Theatre , New York City, built in 1913.*Shubert Theatre , Connecticut, built in 1914.*Shubert Theatre , California, demolished in 2002....
, where it ran for 231 performances. The cast included Newley as Cocky, Cyril Ritchard
Cyril Ritchard
Cyril Ritchard was an Australian stage, screen and television actor, and director. He is probably best remembered today for his performance as Captain Hook in the Mary Martin musical production of Peter Pan....
as Sir, and newcomer Sally Smith as Kid, with Joyce Jillson
Joyce Jillson
Joyce Jillson was a syndicated newspaper columnist, best-selling author, actress, and astrologer. Her column was syndicated worldwide in over 200 papers and magazines....
in a supporting role. Conductor Herbert Grossman
Herbert Grossman
Herbert Grossman was an American conductor who was chiefly known for his work within opera and musical theatre.-Early life and education:...
served as Music Director.
Song list
Act I- The Beautiful Land
- A Wonderful Day Like Today
- It Isn't Enough
- Things to Remember
- Put It in the Book
- With All Due Respect
- This Dream
- Where Would You Be Without Me?
- Look at That Face
- My First Love Song
- The JokerThe Joker (musical song)The Joker is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.-Recordings:* Anthony Newley performed the song on the original cast recording....
- Who Can I Turn To?Who Can I Turn To?"Who Can I Turn To?" is a popular song. It may be titled "Who Can I Turn To ".It was written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley and published in 1964. The song was introduced in the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, which struggled in the United Kingdom in 1964 and...
Act II
- A Funny Funeral
- That's What It Is To Be Young
- What a Man!
- Feeling GoodFeeling Good"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
- Nothing Can Stop Me Now!
- Things to Remember (Reprise)
- My Way
- Who Can I Turn To? (Reprise)
- The Beautiful Land (Reprise)
- Sweet Beginning
Song recordings
In addition to Bennett, Newley and Dusty SpringfieldDusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
had hit recordings of "Who Can I Turn To?"
"Feeling Good
Feeling Good
"Feeling Good" is a song written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd starring Cy Grant, who sang the original version of the song...
" has been covered by a number of artists, including Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
, Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
, Traffic
Traffic (band)
Traffic were an English rock band whose members came from the West Midlands. The group formed in April 1967 by Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason...
, Yard Dogs Road Show
Yard Dogs Road Show
Yard Dogs Road Show is a thirteen-member traveling cabaret that features a unique blend of performances, including vaudeville, burlesque, stage magic, sideshow oddities, and beatnik "hobo poetry." Performances include musical interludes, song and dance numbers, and background music from the Yard...
, Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, John Barrowman
John Barrowman
John Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
, Michael Bublé
Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé is a Canadian singer. He has won several awards, including three Grammy Awards and multiple Juno Awards. His first album reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. He found worldwide commercial success with his 2005 album It's Time, and his 2007 album Call Me Irresponsible was...
, Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert
Adam Mitchel Lambert is an American singer, songwriter, and actor from San Diego, California. In May 2009, he finished as the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol...
, The Pussycat Dolls, and Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa
Joe Bonamassa is an American blues rock guitarist and singer.-Early life:Bonamassa was born and raised in New Hartford, United States. His parents owned and ran a guitar shop. He is a fourth-generation musician...
.
"Look at That Face" was recorded by Carmen McRae
Carmen McRae
Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer, composer, pianist, and actress. Considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century, it was her behind-the-beat phrasing and her ironic interpretations of song lyrics that made her memorable...
, Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
and Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
and was once sung by Jane Norman
Jane Norman
Jane Norman is an English clothing company, selling clothing aimed at women. In early 2007, Jane Norman reported a 45% rise in profits over 2006, and released plans to open 100 more stores around the country, having already almost doubled their number from the year before, to 116.The company was...
on her children's TV show Pixanne
Pixanne
Pixanne was a popular children's television program, created and hosted by singer-actress Jane Norman, that ran from 1960 to 1969 on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
.
"The Joker
The Joker (musical song)
The Joker is a song by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, from the 1964 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd.-Recordings:* Anthony Newley performed the song on the original cast recording....
" was covered by Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
, and was recorded by Gina Riley
Gina Riley
Gina Riley is an Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian.Riley became a popular television performer in the sketch shows Fast Forward, its successor Full Frontal, Big Girl's Blouse and Something Stupid. In the latter she was also a producer and writer...
for use as the opening theme song for the Australian sitcom Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim
Kath & Kim is a Logie Award-winning character-driven Australian television situation comedy series. The series was created by, and is written by Jane Turner and Gina Riley who play the title characters: a suburban mother and daughter with a dysfunctional relationship...
.
Awards and nominations
- Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Composer and Lyricist (nominee) - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Ritchard, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Producer of a Musical (nominee)
- Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
(Jillson, winner)