Welcome to a new Musical Theatre Monday! This week, I’m celebrating P.G. Wodehouse, a key architect of the famed Princess Theatre Shows who was born 145 years ago this month. I am proud to honor him again by spotlighting one of his best works. It’s Oh, Boy! (1917), which boasts a score by Jerome Kern with book and lyrics by Wodehouse and Guy Bolton.
Now, having already featured this show here many years ago, I won’t bore you with a lengthy recap. It’s just the quintessential, and most successful, example in this special category of more intimate, character-forward musicals from the late 1910s — with a story about a guy who elopes with his lady love and then hopes to make a good impression on her conservative family, no thanks to his rowdy friends. The best known song is “Till The Clouds Roll By.”
The recording above comes from a 1985 Carnegie Hall concert conducted by John McGlinn. I’ve shared that here before, along with an audio from a 2014 concert at Trinity Church. I’m offering those again to subscribers who comment below to alert me of their private, educational, non-commercial interest. This time, I’ve also got two more audios — of the 1983 Goodspeed production and 2003’s Musicals in Mufti mounting. From the latter, here’s one of my favorites — “Rolled Into One.” Enjoy — and happy birthday-anniversary, Mr. Wodehouse!
Come back next week for another musical treat! And stay tuned tomorrow for more sitcom fun!
Hi, I would love the Goodspeed and Mufti Oh, Boys. thanks so much
Hi, Stephen! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
I am interested in preserving the music from the pre-1943 period. I have heard the 1985 McGlinn concert but have not heard the Goodspeed or Mufti renditions. I would like to listen to them to hear the quality. BTW, Roll Into One came up as an error.
Hi, John! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have successfully accessed the “Rolled into One” video on several devices and browsers, and from several accounts. The error must be on your end.
Also, I have emailed you at your preserveoldbroadway address.
Wow! 4! Private, educational, non-commercial, and extremely interested. And grateful.
Hi, Evan! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Hi Jackson
Would love to have access to “O Boy.
Hi, Donna! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your CS address.
It is wonderful that you are offering Oh Boy again. I lost several of your files when my computer went kaput. I hope you have reason in the future to offer some more past treasures like Stop Look Listen, Have a Heart, Red Hot and Blue, Very Warm For May and La Revue des Ambassadeurs.
Hi, Craig! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have not publicly offered audios before from all of those listed shows, but I just emailed you at your gmail address regarding the ones I have, including OH, BOY!