Sitting Pretty, Jerome Kern and P.G. Wodehouse's 1924 musical comedy about orphan twins and their romantic aspirations, is revived in concert by 42nd Street Moon beginning Aug. 4 in San Francisco. The musical had a two-disc recording conducted by John McGlinn several years ago on the New World label. Now, West Coast audiences will hear live such "lost" songs as "A Year From Today," "All You Need is a Girl," "On a Desert Island With You," "Tulip Time in Sing Sing" and the title tune.
42nd Street Moon founder Greg MacKellan directs, Brandon Adams musical directs. Previews are Aug. 4-5, opening night is Aug. 6. Shows continue to Aug. 22 at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave. (at Market).
Sitting Pretty was originally a vehicle for the Duncan sisters (who dropped out) and featured a book by Guy Bolton. It was the last a several intimate musicals written by the trio of writers who penned charming, delicate shows for New York's Princess Theatre: Very Good Eddie, Oh Lady! Lady!!, Have a Heart, Oh, Boy! and Leave it to Jane.
Kern's use of sophisticated musical ideas and themes in Sitting Pretty was repeated in his triumph, Show Boat (1927).
The concert revival cast includes Caroline Altman and Dyan McBride as the Tolliver twins, Martin Lewis (of San Francisco's The Phantom of the Opera) as Bill Pennington, Don Cima as William Pennington, Steven Rhyne as Horace, Stephen Pawley as Uncle Jo, plus Anandah Carter, Susan Powers, Greg Grabow, Catherine Sheldon, John-Elliott Kirk, Sara Clark, Karen Walsh and Ed Simonick.
Tickets are $12-$22. Call (415) 861-8972 for information.
-- By Kenneth Jones
