Very Good Eddie is a musical with a book by Guy Bolton and Philip Bartholomae, music by Jerome Kern, and lyrics by Schuyler Green and Herbert Reynolds, with additional lyrics by Elsie Janis, Harry B. Smith and John E. Hazzard and additional music by Henry Kailimai.

The original Broadway production opened on December 23, 1915 at the Princess Theatre.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

• Overture

ACT I   -   Deck of the Hudson River boat, "The Catskill".

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus, with Solo - Victoria Lake - "The simple life for us - we've come aboard this bus - to swap a pitiful City full of fashion and fuss..."
• No. 2 - Song - Dick Rivers and Girls - "Summer's evening cool and shady where the poppies grow, look at the love-birds there nestling ev'rywhere..."
• No. 3 - Duet - Elsie and Dick - "Have you ever really tried to concentrate? ... I don't know the meaning of the word; ... Then when you think you love a girl..."
• No. 4 - Quartette - Elsie, Georgina, Percy, and Eddie - "This world's all right when someone loves you ... 'Tis our delight to do as doves do ..."
• No. 5 - Dance Trio
• No. 6 - Duet - Eddie and Elsie - "Ev'ry man must marry and the music he must face ... One must do and dare it, has to grin and bear it ..."

ACT II  -  Scene 1   -   The Rip Van Winkle Inn  -  that evening.

• No. 7 - Opening Number - "On the shore at Le Lei Wi, to the music of the sea, sang a man whose heart beat fast, a love like mine will last..."
• No. 8 - Song - Dick and Chorus - "Some boys have plenty of spare time on hand;  some boys have places to go.  Some boys have plenty of girlies to land..."
• No. 9 - Scene - Madame Matroppo and Hotel Clerk - "To make a modern problem play, three characters you take; the business man, neglected wife, ..."
• No. 10 - Song - Eddie Kettle - "I'm a peaceful little person, but peace is sometimes worse'n all the wars combined that histories recall. ..."
• No. 11 - Duet - Elsie and Dick - "Choosing girlies is somewhat amusing, somewhat confusing - some choose light ones and think they're the right ones..."
• No. 12 - Buffo Dance No. 13 - Duet - Eddie and Elsie - "Little Lady, don't be depressed and blue, after all we're both in the same canoe.  Have no fear; can't you see I'm here? ..."
• No. 14 - Intermezzo

ACT II  -  Scene 2   -   The Rip Van Winkle Inn  -  the next morning.

• No. 15 - Song - Victoria Lake and Girls - "We have read, we have read, when the slaves were freed back in eighteen sixty three, Lincoln said..."
• No. 16 - Song - Hotel Clerk and Girls - "There are some folks who find their happiness in little things in life;  some few remain contented to the end..."
• No. 17 - Duet - Elsie and Dick - "Though my answer you entreat, my lips seem helpless to repeat the words my heart would say..."
• No. 18 - Song - Finale - "Moonlight is bright;  we'll say goodnight - hope you enjoyed our play.  With song and jest we've done our best..."

Addendum.

• No. 19 - Song - Percy and Elsie - "And now at last we're all alone ... Oh, do be careful, dear ... But are you not my ownest own? ... Still, someone may be near..."

No. 2 was composed by Mellor, Gifford and Godfrey.
No. 7 was composed by Henry Kailimai and Jerome Kern.

External Link

Very Good Eddie at Wikipedia

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 8 December 2016