(Brother-and-sister Fred and Adele Astaire (shown above) originated the roles of Dick and Susie Trevor in Lady, Be Good! in 1924. The Shedd’s production stars Trevor Eichhorn and Claire Keppel in the roles.)
By Randi Bjornstad
It’s hard to grasp now, but one of the greatest classic musical comedies, Lady, Be Good!, is 98 years old this year, and it hasn’t lost its luster.
The play made history in several ways: It was the production that turned Fred Astaire and his sister, Adele Astaire, into stars; it was the show that put brothers Ira and George Gershwin on the Broadway map; and it showcased the virtuosity of Cliff “Ukelele Ike” Edwards, who went on to perform many other musical gems, including Singin’ in the Rain.
The plot of Lady, Be Good! (the exclamation point apparently is optional) revolves appropriately around a brother and sister, Dick and Susie Trevor, played of course by the Astaire siblings.
Dick and Susie Trevor, a sibling dance duo, have fallen on hard times for some unknown reason and, presumably orphans, have been evicted from their childhood home. But they have hearts of gold, and each is determined to sacrifice their own happiness in order to help the other, which of course ends up creating a mess of everything — proposing to the wrong girl, falling in love with the wrong guy, pretending to be someone you’re not — until the plot twists all unravel and retie themselves in a bow around a happy ending.
Lady, Be Good, along with Fascinating Rhythm, probably are the most famous songs in the show. But here’s the whole rundown:
Act I
- Hang On To Me
- A Wonderful Party
- The End Of A String
- We’re Here Because
- Fascinating Rhythm
- So Am I
- Oh, Lady, Be Good!
Act II
- Linger In The Lobby
- The Half Of It, Dearie, Blues
- I’d Rather Charleston
- So Am I
- Oh, Lady, Be Good! (reprise)
- Little Jazz Bird
- Carnival Time
- Swiss Miss
In The Shedd’s version of Lady, Be Good!, Trevor Eichhorn and Claire Keppel take the parts of Dick and Susie Trevor, along fellow cast members Brandon B. Weaver, Tate Foshay, Jim Peerenboom, Lucy Geller, Kara Churchill, Riley Given, Hannah Rudkin, Kelsey Stewart, and Heidi Turnquist.
Turnquist also directs, with Robert Ashens as music director and conductor. Laura Sue Hiszczynskyj and Richard H. Jessup are the choreographers, with Anna Björnsdotter as costumer.
Ensemble singers include Sophie Alexander, Brenna Scott, Kelsey Stewart, Heidi Turnquist, Broder Foshay, Riley Given, and Grigorii Malakhov.
The production crew consists of Riley Allen (stage manager and lighting design), Kierstin Kimbell (props mistress and lighting tech), Jim Ralph (set design), Connie Huston (scene painter), Sofie Sivula (scene painter’s assistant), Emily Kidder (rehearsal accompanist), Lyn Burg (costume assistant), Heather St. Louis (wardrobe mistress), Alex Lopez (production manager), and Jan Easton (house manager and carpenter).
Lady, Be Good!
When: 7:30 p.m. on July 8, 9, 15, and 16; and 3 p.m. July 10 and 17
Where: Jaqua Concert Hall, The Shedd Institute, 868 High St., Eugene
Tickets: $29, $33, $37, $39 (individual package, group, youth and college discounts available), at the ticket office, by telephone at 541-434-7000, or online at theshedd.org
Pre- or post-show meal: 6 p.m., available by reservation at least one day before performance, through ticket office or online; $25.75 for adults, $19.75 for children 9 years and younger. Includes entree, salad, side dish, rolls, dessert, coffee and tea; other beverages (wine, beer, soft drinks, juices) available for purchase.
