BUGSY MALONE Words and Music by Paul Williams : Libretto by Alan Parker; Based on the film of the same name. Her Majesty's Theatre - 26 May, 1983 (300 perfs) SYNOPSIS (1929, Gangster warfare in New York) Dandy Dan's hoodlums terrorise the district, exterminating undesirables with their new weapon splurge guns. His rival is Fat Sam Stacetto, who runs the Grand Slam Speakeasy, but Fat Sam's gang still use old fashioned pies. Fat Sam engages the help of Bugsy Malone, a smooth city slicker who hitherto has been more occupied in sweet talking Blousey Brown, a would be girl singer. With Bugsy's help, Fat Sam escapes from a frame up but he learns later that Dandy Dan's mob have splurged nearly all his gang. They've also destroyed his sarsparilla and grocery rackets the whole empire's gone! There's only one hope left. Fat Sam pays Bugsy 400 dollars in exchange for more help. Bugsy, who has promised to take Blousey to Hollywood, has to break his date with her. Is she mad! Meanwhile Bugsy and Leroy Smith, a guy with an awesome punch, witness a secret delivery of splurge guns at Dock 17. With a bunch of down and outs, they help themselves from the crates. Then the police arrive, led by Captain Smolsky and Lieutenant O'Dreary. Bugsy and the gang escape through a trapdoor. Finally Dandy Dan prepares for a showdown at Fat Sam's speakeasy. When his mob burst in, Bugsy and the guys let 'em have it the works. Splurge, custard pies, flour bombs... Out of the gooey pandemonium it emerges that Bugsy and Blousey have made it up. Peace has broken out at last. STORY A slapstick musical comedy, Bugsy Malone follows the rivalry between two half-witted street gangs and the washed up, well-intentioned, one-time boxer who steps in to take control of Fat Sam's gang and give Dandy Dan and his boys what they've got coming. In this film noir spoof, the message is one of good, clean fun; the characters are wonderful cartoon cutouts; and the weapons of choice are "splurge" whip cream guns, flour bombs, and custard pies. As the musical opens, Bugsy Malone, a one-time boxer who's neither completely honest nor crooked, ushers us through his neighborhood where three murders have just occurred ("Bugsy Malone"). Bugsy winds up at the local speakeasy, owned by gangster boss Fat Sam ("Fat Sam's Grand Slam"). Turns out, one of those murders was that of Roxy "the Weasel" Robinson – one of Fat Sam's best men. Enraged, Fat Sam, vows revenge on Dandy Dan whose henchman carried out the hit. Meanwhile, Bugsy's been chatting up Blousy Brown, the new girl in town who's come to audition for Fat Sam's club; but Fat Sam's given her the brush off (as he does to everyone) and tells her to come back tomorrow. Bugsy takes Blousey for dinner and she tells him she's going to audition for the Lena Marelli show as well. Just as the mood turns romantic, however, Dandy Dan's men raid the club. Dan's determined to become the fashionable kingpin of the neighborhood, bringing all the other gangs under his control ("That's Why The Call Him Dandy") using his newly fashioned weapon of choice – the splurge "mark two" gun. Meanwhile, back at the Fat Sam's speakeasy they're closing up shop. Fat Sam and his girl, Tallulah (who's also the entertainment at his club), are preparing to go out on the town. Fizzy, the janitor, sings about his everelusive chance to audition for Fat Sam ("Tomorrow"). In the next scene we're at the auditions for the Lena Marelli show. Lena (as she does every week) has quit, and Oscar de Velt is casting a replacement. Just as Blousey takes the stage to sing, however, Lena returns (as she does every week) and takes the stage ("Show Business"). Bugsy tries to cheer a dejected Blousey up and promises to talk to Fat Sam about an audition.
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