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Lyrics by
Lee Adams; Music by Charles Strouse; Book by Michael
Stewart
BYE BYE
BIRDIE is one of the most captivating musical shows of our time. It
tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be
inducted into the army. The singer, Conrad Birdie, an Elvis Presley
type, has a pompadour and thick sideburns; he wears gaudy gold
costumes and speaks in a rugged voice. Albert Peterson, his agent,
is a very pleasant mild mannered young man. Albert's faithful
secretary Rose Alvarez keeps him and Birdie moving forward in the
world. Rosie concocts one final national publicity plan before
Conrad's induction.
Conrad will bid a typical American teen-age girl goodbye with
an all-American kiss. Kim MacAfee in Sweet Apple, Ohio wins the
honor. All of the phones in her town are already busy during The
Telephone Hour as Kim has just been pinned to Hugo, a local boy. She
is a pretty girl of fifteen and sings with spring like ardor How
Lovely to Be a Woman, as she pulls on the plaid woolen socks and the
baggy mustard colored sweater considered stylish and popular among
young ladies.
The arrival of Birdie in Sweet Apple causes people of all ages
to swoon. Birdie says that his success is due to the fact that he
is Honestly Sincere when he sings, and the quiet little town goes
into a spin. The MacAfee household is completely upset by the
visiting celebrity. It is decided that Birdie will give his One Last
Kiss on the Ed Sullivan show. Kim's father who laments the whole
uproar, tries to break into the act and behaves like a ham on the TV
show. Hymn for a Sunday Evening is a salute to the greater glory of
Ed Sullivan.
Birdie becomes disgusted with his life and goes out on the town
with the teenagers. He feels tense with Albert and is tired of being
supervised. The parents of Sweet Apple cannot understand the new
generation and express this in Kids. Rosie, still waiting for that
band of gold from Albert after eight years, invades a Shriners'
meeting. An extremely hilarious ballet ensues. She then decides to
become the Latin American spitfire that she is painted as, by
Albert's lead-footed catastrophe-ridden mother. She is determined to
become Spanish Rose. Kim is reunited with Hugo, and Rose with Albert
in the lovely number Rosie. Other hit numbers include A Lot of Livin'
to Do and Put on a Happy Face.
BYE BYE BIRDIE is a satire done with the fondest affection. It
gives an insight into the everyday life that is very much part of us
all. It is the tops in imagination and frivolity; a show that will
be enjoyed by the cast as much as the audience. |
Bye Bye Birdie
