I have been fortunate over the years to have several of my titles recognized with awards. With each announcement, I mentioned my “Happy Dance.” To understand my “Happy Dance,” one must have a knowledge of Zero Mostel’s performance as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof ~ specifically, Mostel’s freestyle dance about the stage when he sang, “If I Were a Rich Man.”
You can view for yourself what I mean by Mostel’s dance HERE.
Of course, such “freedom” sets my brain to thinking, which is not always a good thing. Yet, one must understand theatre was one of my undergraduate minors. I have directed and performed in numerous plays over the years, both amateur and professional productions. So naturally, or perhaps, unnaturally, I wonder what songs would the characters in Pride and Prejudice break into if we were doing P&P as a Broadway musical? Do not throw your hands up in despair! Hear me out on this.
First, know that I am aware Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs brought to the stage, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, A Musical. In this production, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy’s romance comes to life with fresh eyes as Jane Austen revisits her unpublished manuscript, First Impressions. As Austen transforms their story into what will ultimately become her masterpiece, Pride and Prejudice, both the author and her characters struggle to learn the joy of second chances.
I am also aware that First Impressions: A Pride and Prejudice Broadway Musical was one of the failures of the 1958-59 Broadway season, despite having Polly Bergen, Hermoine Gingold, and Farley Granger as its stars. Actually, Bergen had replaced Gisele MacKenzie at the last minute. In the role of Elizabeth Bennet, Bergen had but three weeks to learn the score.
In reality, my idea for this musical would be a mish-mash of my favorite Broadway tunes added to a dramatic format. Let me explain what I had in mind. Let us return to “If I Were a Rich Man.” Could you not envision the character of George Wickham breaking into song and belting out the following words:
“Dear God, you made many, many poor people. / I realize, of course, that it’s no shame to be poor./ But it’s no great honor either! /So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?”
If I were a rich man, /Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum. /All day long I’d biddy biddy bum. /If I were a wealthy man.
I wouldn’t have to work hard. /Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum./ If I were a biddy biddy rich, /Idle-diddle-daidle-daidle man.
I’d build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen, /Right in the middle of the town./ A fine tin roof with real wooden floors below. /There would be one long staircase just going up, /And one even longer coming down, /And one more leading nowhere, just for show.
(or)
How about Charlotte Lucas and Jane Bennet joining together on “People” from Funny Girl?
From Charlotte Collins: People–people who need people/ Are the luckiest people in the world,
We’re children, needing other children/ And yet letting our grown-up pride/ Hide all the need inside, /Acting more like children ~ Than children.
From Jane Bennet: Lovers are very special people,/ They’re the luckiest people in the world.
With one person, one very special person/ A feeling deep in your soul/ Says you were half; now you’re whole./ No more hunger and thirst / But first be a person who needs people.
Could you not imagine a segue from Lambton to Pemberley with Elizabeth Bennet sharing her fears of meeting Mr. Darcy with “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady?”
I have often walked down this street before; /But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before./All at once am I, Several stories high. /Knowing I’m on the street where you live.
Are there lilac trees in the heart of town?/ Can you hear a lark in any other part of town?/ Does enchantment pour Out of ev’ry door?/ No, it’s just on the street where you live!
And oh! The towering feeling/ Just to know somehow you are near./ The overpowering feeling/ That any second you may suddenly appear!
People stop and stare. They don’t bother me./ For there’s nowhere else on earth that I would rather be./ Let the time go by, I won’t care if I/ Can be here on the street where you live.
I would not mind seeing Lydia Bennet rocking out to “Ease On Down the Road” from The Wiz.
‘Cause there maybe times / When you think you lost your mind/ And the steps you’re takin’/ Leave you three, four steps behind
But the road you’re walking/ Might be long sometimes/ You just keep on steppin’/ And you’ll just be fine, yeah
Ease on down, ease on down the road/ Come on, ease on down/ Ease on down the road
Don’t you carry nothing/ That might be a load/ Come on, ease on down/ Ease on down the road
I can also imagine Darcy singing “One” from A Chorus Line when he discovers that he is heels-over-head in love with Elizabeth Bennet.
One singular sensation, every little step she takes/ One thrilling combination, every move that she makes
One smile and suddenly nobody else will do/ You know you’ll never be lonely with you-know-who
One moment in her presence and you can forget the rest/ For the girl is second best to none, son
Oooh! Sigh! Give her your attention / Do I really have to mention, she’s the one.
How about Elizabeth giving her sister Jane a lesson in hope after Mr. Bingley leaves Netherfield by sharing the most famous pageant song ever written, “Tomorrow” from Annie?
The sun’ll come out Tomorrow/ Bet your bottom dollar/ That tomorrow, There’ll be sun!
Just thinkin’ about Tomorrow/ Clears away the cobwebs,/ And the sorrow, ‘Til there’s none!
When I’m stuck a day/ That’s gray, And lonely,/ I just stick out my chin/ And Grin,/ And Say, Oh!
The sun’ll come out Tomorrow/ So ya gotta hang on ‘Til tomorrow/ Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow!/ I love ya, Tomorrow!/ You’re always a day away!
I could also easily see the residents of Meryton, especially the unmarried females, breaking out into “Big Spender” from Sweet Charity when Darcy and Bingley make their entrance.
The minute you walked in the joint,/ I could see you were a man of distinction,/ A real big spender,
Good looking, so refined./ Say, wouldn’t you like to know/ What’s going on in my mind?
So, let me get right to the point,/ I don’t pop my cork for ev’ry guy I see.
Hey, big spender, spend…/ A little time with me!
Could you also see Darcy looking at Georgiana and wondering when she had grown into a woman? I’m returning to Fiddler on the Roof and the haunting melody of “Sunrise, Sunset.” (I have taken the liberty to change the wording a bit to be only about a young girl.)
Is this the little girl I carried?/ Is this the little child at play?
I don’t remember growing older/ When did she?
When did she get to be a beauty?/ When did she grow to be so tall?
Wasn’t it yesterday when she was small?
Sunrise, sunset/ Sunrise, sunset/ Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers/ Blossoming even as we gaze
Sunrise, sunset/ Sunrise, sunset/ Swiftly fly the years
One season following another/ Laden with happiness and tears
Finally, I would offer up “For Good” from Wicked as part of Darcy’s second proposal.
I’ve heard it said/ That people come into our lives for a reason/ Bringing something we must learn
And we are led/ To those who help us most to grow
If we let them/ And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true/ But I know I’m who I am today/ Because I knew you
Like a comet pulled from orbit/ As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder/ Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you/ I have been changed for good
If you have not seen this version, I would tell you I liked it, though I know some did not. I found it funny and entertaining, but, then again, I am a theatre geek. Some found the actress playing Jane Bennet jarring, for she was pregnant in real life. That being said, perhaps, you may want to check it out. You may rent it on Amazon Prime.
So, tell me what you think? Could my version of P&P, the Musical make it? What other songs might we add? Is there a future for other Austen productions?
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I currently have two books up for awards, but I do not want to jinx my chances, so I shall remain quiet for the time being, but these are some of ones I have garnered in the past:
~ Awards ~
The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery – 2016 Finalist for the Frank Yerby Award for Fiction; 2016 Finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense; 2016 Finalist Chanticleer International Book Awards in Mystery and Mayhem
The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery – 2013 SOLA’s Eighth Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, Honorable Mention, Romantic Suspense; Finalist 2014 Frank Yerby Award for Fiction; Winter Rose Awards 2014, 2nd Place, Romantic Suspense
Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy– 2013 Eighth Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, 3rd Place, Historical Romance; 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense; 2017 finalist Derby Award for Fiction
A Touch of Grace: Book 4 of the Realm Series – 2012 Seventh Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, 3rd Place, Historical Romance; 2017 Winner of The TOBY Award
The First Wives’ Club – 2012 Seventh Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, Honorable Mention, Historical Romance
The Scandal of Lady Eleanor (aka A Touch of Scandal): Book 1 of the Realm Series – 2011 Write Touch Readers’ Award, 2nd Place, Historical Romance
Christmas at Pemberley: A Holiday Sequel to Pride and Prejudice – 2011 Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist, Inspirational Romance; 2012 New England Book Festival, 2nd Place, General Fiction
The Phantom of Pemberley: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery – 2010 Fifth Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, 3rd Place, Romantic Suspense; Winning Finalist in the Mystery/Suspense category of the 2020 International Book Awards
Darcy’s Temptation: A Sequel to Pride and Prejudice – 2009 Booksellers’ Best Award Finalist, Long Historical
The Earl Claims His Comfort, Book 2 of the Twins’ Trilogy – 2016 Hot Prospects Award Finalist, Romantic Suspense
Lady Joy and the Earl – Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction: Novella category of the 2019 International Book Awards
Lady Chandler’s Sister: Book 3 of the Twins’ Trilogy – Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction/Romance category of the 2019 International Book Awards
Letters from Home – 2019 International Digital Awards, 2nd Place in Short Historical Category
The Heartless Earl – 2020 Write Touch Readers’ Awards – 2nd Place, Romantic Suspense
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