BLUES IN THE NIGHT
A musical revue in 2 acts. Conceived and originally directed by Sheldon Epps
Rialto Theatre, Broadway 2 June, 1982 (53 perfs)
Donmar Warehouse, London 12 June, 1987
A tremendous West End success, this dynamic compilation of 26 hot and torchy blues frames and comments on three women's relationships with one snake of a guy. With no spoken text, the interweaving stories are defined through music alone - and what music! Ranging from Bessie Smith through Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen, Alberta Hunter, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more, the evening's music is raunchily forthright, infectiously good-humoured and always classically blues. Songs include "When A Woman Loves A Man", "Wasted Life Blues" and the title song.
Instrumentation:
tenor sax, trumpet, percussion, piano, double bass
Musical Numbers
Am I Blue?
Blues Blues
Blues In the Night
Copenhagen
Dirty No-Gooder Blues
Four Walls (and One Dirty Window) Blues
I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues
It Makes My Love Come Down
I've Got A Date With A Dream
Kitchen Man
Lover Man
New Orleans Hop-Scop Blues
Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out
Reckless Blues
Rough and Ready Man
Take It Right Back
Take Me For a Buggy Ride
These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
Wasted Life Blues
When a Woman Loves a Man
Wild Women Don't Have The Blues
Willow Weep For Me
Cast: 1 man, 3 women
Discography:
Original London Cast Recording - First Night SCENE CD9