Shows B

BEAUTIFUL AND DAMNED Original concept by Roger Cook & Les Reed. Music and Lyrics by Les Reed and Roger Cook Book by Kit Hesketh-Harvey Additional Material by Laurence Myers Lyric Theatre, London - 10 May - 14 August, 2004 Bio-musical based on the life of F. Scott-Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. The story is told in flashback starting in 1938 with an institutionalised Zelda, afflicted by delusions. She is persuaded by a doctor to unlock the memories that are disturbing her. SYNOPSIS The Paris night-clubbers sum up 24 year old Zelda and 28 year old Scott. 24 Year old Zelda’s paintings are being exhibited at the Columbe d’Or Hotel in St. Paul de Vence on the French Riviera. Zelda decides to also “exhibit” her dancing capabilities to the guests. It’s a hot summer Saturday night dance in Montgomery, Alabama. The local hicks and Yankee soldiers all want to dance with 18 year old Montgomery Belle, Zelda Sayre. Moreover, they all want to take her home into the bargain. Who will strike lucky? 21 year old Lieutenant F. Scott Fitzgerald meets 18 year old Zelda Sayre. Scott steps outside the dance hall to take a breath of fresh air. A magnolia tree is in full blossom. He plucks a blossom from the tree. On the front porch of their home in Sayre St. Montgomery, Alabama, 18 year old Zelda Sayre is being berated by her mother and sister Rosalind for her ‘wayward’ attitude. Zelda sings:-Cos I simply refuse to be a girl. It’s 1918 in Deep South, Alabama. Judge Sayre of Montgomery realises he is about to lose his 18 year old daughter Zelda to 21 year old ‘Yankee’ northerner, Lieutenant F. Scott Fitzgerald. In ‘Buddy’s Bar’ New York in 1921, 22 year old F. Scott Fitzgerald and his contemporaries don’t give a damn about tomorrow, all that matters is what happens today. They sing:- Tomorrow won’t happen till tomorrow It’s 1921 in New York. 25 year old author-to-be F. Scott Fitzgerald is struggling to earn a crust writing jingles for an ad agency. The problem is his tunes are always the same. It’s only the words that are different. 22 year old Scott is in New York. 19 year old Zelda is in Montgomery, Alabama. They keep in touch by writing constant streams of letters to one another. It’s the wedding night of Zelda (20) and Scott (24) at The Biltmore Hotel, New York on Saturday April 3 1920. The party is slowing down. Zelda decides to liven things up. She goes downstairs to the kitchen in search of the latest cocktail, a ‘Pink Lady.’ Zelda is in the asylum suffering from a breakdown and sings. “On my own again,” Lois is engulfed in Hollywood glory. But it is gaudy, tawdry and mocking, both of Scott’s endeavours as a writer, and Zelda’s as a ballerina. It’s 1924. All is going well in 28 year old Scott’s life. He is contemplating the title of a new novel based on his and Zelda’s life. Tender Is The Night will take him 6 years to complete. 24 year old Zelda, 28 year old Scott and 3 year old daughter Scottie are leaving New York for France. The Colombe d’Or restaurant, Saint Paul de Vence, has been hung with an exhibition of Zelda’s pictures. A party is being given for a private viewing. The Paris café crowd is there in abundance - Pablo Picasso, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway to name just a few. Zelda and Scott sing:- “There isn’t anybody here [that] Hasn’t got a reputation. It’s 1924. 24 year old Zelda, 28 year old Scott and their contemporaries are enjoying themselves on the French Rivera. It is New Year’s Eve, 1930. In Europe, the Ex-Pats party on Le Cabuchon, a night-club in the Seizieme, trying

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