Chee-Chee (musical) explained
Chee-Chee is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on the 1927 book, The Son of the Grand Eunuch, by Charles Pettit. Chee-Chee opened on Broadway September 25, 1928, and the show closed after 31 performances.[2] [3]
In 1963 vocalist Betty Comden released an album that included some of the songs from the musical.[4] [5]
Synopsis
In 1928 Herbert Fields wrote a libretto based on Pettit's book in which the son of the Grand Eunuch, Li-Pi, and his wife, Chee-Chee, are forced into exile when the Grand Eunuch announces his plan for Li-Pi to become a eunuch and take his father's place as the Grand Eunuch. Chee-Chee is captured and rescued, and Li-Pi is captured and rescued, and finally the musical ends happily.[6]
Musical Numbers
Two acts, seven scenes.[7]
- Act I
Scene I: A Corridor in the Palace of the Holy Emperor, Son of Heaven, in the Violet Town of Peking
- We're Men of Brains - Eunuchs
- I Am a Prince - Prince Tao-Tee
- In a Great Big Way - Li-Li-Wee
- The Most Majestic of Domestic Officials (Entrance of the Grand Eunuch) - Ensemble
- Holy of Holies - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Li-Wee
- Her Hair Is Black as Licorice (Food Solo) - Li-Pi-Siao
- Dear, Oh Dear - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou
- Await Your Love (Concubines' Song) - Li-Pi-Siao, Miss Smile of a Rose, Ensemble
- Joy Is Mine - Li-Pi-Tchou
- I Wake at Morning - Li-Pi-Tchou
- Grovel to Earth (Chee-Chee's First Entrance) - Chee-Chee
- Just a Little Thing - Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee
- You Are Both Agreed (Finaletto Scene 1) - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee
Scene II: The Road to the Future
- I Must Love You - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou
- Owl Song - A Very Narrow Minded Owl
Scene III: A Wayside Tavern
- I Bow a Glad Good Day (Tavern Opening) - Innkeeper, Li-Pi-Siao, Ensemble
- Better Be Good to Me - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee
- The Tartar Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble
- Chee-Chee's Second Entrance - Chee-Chee
- Finale (Act I)
- Act II
Scene I: A Forest
- Khonghouse Song - Li-Pi-Tchou, Ensemble
- Sleep, Weary Head - Chee-Chee
- Singing a Love Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble
Scene II: Visiting Day at the Monastery of Celestial Clouds
- Monastery Opening
- Chinese Dance
- Living Buddha (Impassive Buddha) - The Grand Prior
- Moon of My Delight - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee
Scene III: The Gallery of Torments
Scene IV: The Palace
See also
External links
Further reading
- Geoffrey Block, The Richard Rodgers Reader (Oxford University Press, 2006), pp 45–47
- Gerald Bordman, American Musical Theater: A Chronicle (Oxford University Press, 2001), pp 492–493
Notes and References
- Web site: Eunuchs, Concubines and Love Songs Revived in Rodgers & Hart's Chee-Chee, Nov. 12-24 . Kenneth Jones . Playbill . January 31, 2019 . January 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190201062031/http://www.playbill.com/article/eunuchs-concubines-and-love-songs-revived-in-rodgers-harts-chee-chee-nov-12-24-com-109520 . February 1, 2019.
- Web site: Chee-Chee . Mark Miller . TheaterMania . November 18, 2002 . January 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190201051038/https://www.theatermania.com/new-york/reviews/cheechee_2798.html . February 1, 2019.
- Web site: VIII. Chee-Chee (09/25/28 – 10/20/28) . THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT! . January 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816062634/https://jacksonupperco.com/tag/chee-chee/ . August 16, 2016.
- Web site: Chee-Chee . Library of Congress . January 31, 2019.
- Web site: Betty Comden – Songs From Treasure Girl & Chee Chee . Discogs . January 31, 2019.
- Web site: Chee-Chee . StageAgent . January 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150907060109/https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/2151/chee-chee . September 7, 2015.
- Web site: Chee Chee . Guide to Musical Theatre . January 31, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170725155743/http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_c/cheechee.html . July 25, 2017.
