BRIGADOON
A musical play in 2 acts, a prologue and 11 scenes: Music by Frederick Loewe; Libretto and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Ziegfeld Theatre, New York - March 13, 1947 (581 perfs)
Her Majesty's Theatre, London - April 14, 1949 (685 perfs)
The Story
(The Scottish Highlands, 200 years ago)
Two Americans, Tommy Albright and his pal Jeff Douglas, chance upon a small Scottish village in a Highland mist. They discover, mainly from the village schoolmaster Mr Murdoch, that Brigadoon is an enchanted place that only comes to life for one day every hundred years.
Tommy and Jeff meet Fiona MacKeith and Meg Brockie, and Tommy and Fiona soon find in each other a deep understanding. We follow the villagers through a day that includes a wedding and learn that if one of the inhabitants should leave Brigadoon the spell will be broken for ever. There is near disaster when a young embittered Scot tries to take his revenge. He dashes towards the forest but is killed making his escape.
Happiness is changed to mourning. Tommy has by now fallen deeply in love witb Fiona but he is told he cannot stay. He goes back with Jeff to New York and quarrels with his fiancee. Suddenly in a New York bar he sees a vision of Fiona and comes to a decision. He knows he must return to Scotland. There by the power of love he reawakens the slumbering Brigadoon just long enough for him to be reunited with Fiona.
Cast of Characters
with original London Cast:
TOMMY ALBRIGHT - Philip Hanna
JEFF DOUGLAS - Hiram Sherman
DONALD RITCHIE - John Rea
HARRY RITCHIE - James Jamieson
FISHMONGER - Daphne Starling
ANGUS MacMONIES - Peter Dyneley
SANDY - Wilfred Johns
ANDREW MacKEITH - Roy Russell
FIONA MacKEITH - Patricia Hughes
JEAN MacKEITH - Bunty Kelley
MEG BROCKIE - Noele Gordon
CHARLIE CAMERON - Bill O'Connor
MAGGIE ABERNETHY - Noelle de Mosa
MR. MURDOCH - Ivor Barnard
SWORD DANCERS - Anthony Burke; John Gregory; James White; Robert Harrold
STUART CAMERON - Roy Roser
MacGREGOR - Edward Hyde
BAGPIPERS - David Ross; Robert Hill
FRANK - Freddie Costello
JANE ASHTON - Janet MacFarlane
TOWNSFOLK OF BRIGADOON
Musical Numbers
ACT I
- Introduction - Orchestra
- Prologue - Chorus
- Brigadoon - Chorus
- Vendors' Calls - Townsfolk
- Down In MacConnachy Square -Townsfolk, Sandy, MacGregor, Stuart Cameron, Meg
- Waitin' For My Dearie - Finoa, Girls
- I'll Go Home With
Bonnie Jean. - Charlie, Chorus
7a. - Dance - The Heather On the Hill - Tommy, Fiona,
8a. - Rain Scene - Chorus
8b. - Change of Scene - The Love Of My Life - Meg
9a. - Change of Scene - Jeannie's Packin' Up - Girls
- Come To Me, Bend To Me - Charlie
11a. - Dance - Almost Like Being In Love - Tommy, Fiona
- Bible Scene
- Change of Scene
- End of Murdoch Scene
- Entrance of the Clans
- Wedding Ceremony - Company
- Wedding Dance
- Sword Dance and Reel
- End of Act I - Ensemble
ACT II
- Entr'acte
- The Chase - Chorus and Townsfolk
22a. - Change of Scene - There But For You Go I - Tommy
- Glen Scene Opening
24a. - My Mother's Weddin' Day - Meg, Chorus
24b. - Dance - The Funeral - Maggie dances the Piobrochead
- From This
Day On - Fiona, Tommy
26a. - Farewell Music - Chorus - Change of Scene
- Reprises - Fiona, Chorus, Charlie, Tommy
- Change of Scene
- Finale - Company
Synopsis of Scenes
ACT I
SCENE 1. A forest in the Scottish Highlands, about five on a May morning.
SCENE 2. A road in Brigadoon, then the village square—MacConnachy Square—later the same morning.
SCENE 3. The Brockie open shed, about noon.
SCENE 4. The MacKeith House, mid-afternoon.
SCENE 5. Outside the house of Mr. Murdoch—immediately following.
SCENE 6. Outside the Kirk of Brigadoon, at dusk.
ACT II
SCENE 1. A forest inside Brigadoon, later that night.
SCENE 2. A road in Brigadoon, later.
SCENE 3. The glen, soon after.
SCENE 4. A bar in New York City, four months later.
SCENE 5. The forest, (same as Act 1, Scene 1) — Some days later.
The time of " Brigadoon " is May 1935.
Instrumentation
(Total number of books = 16)
2 Violins I
1 Violin II
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Double Bass
1 Flute/Picc