''Sweet and Low'' is a musical

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own dur ...

produced by Billy Rose and starring James Barton, Fanny Brice, George Jessel, and

Arthur Treacher Arthur Veary Treacher (, 23 July 1894 – 14 December 1975) was an English film and stage actor active from the 1920s to the 1960s, and known for playing English types, especially butler and manservant roles, such as the P.G. Wodehouse valet c ...

. It features sketches by David Freedman and songs by various composers and lyricists. The 1930

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production was directed by Alexander Leftwich and choreographed by

Danny Dare Danny Dare (March 20, 1905, New York City – November 20, 1996, Tarzana, Los Angeles, California) was an American choreographer, actor, director, writer, and producer of the stage, screen, and film.Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1996: Film, ...

, with additional dances staged by

Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berke ...

. Scenic design was by Jo Mielziner. It ran for a week at the Majestic Theatre in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

before opening on November 17, 1930, at Chanin's 46th Street Theatre, where it ran for 184 performances. Although it rarely sold out, Rose transferred it to the

44th Street Theatre The 44th Street Theatre was a Broadway theatre located at 216 West 44th Street in New York City from 1912 to 1945. It opened and operated for three years as the Weber and Fields' Music Hall. Its rooftop theatre, the Nora Bayes Theatre, present ...

, where it was more successful at the box office.Garner, Paul and Mrotek Kissane, Sharon F., ''Mousie Garner: Autobiography of a Vaudeville Stooge''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company 1999. , p. 34

Song list

;Act 1 *Overture (Music by Harry Archer and

Oscar Levant Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor, author, radio game show panelist, television talk show host, comedian and actor. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for rec ...

; Lyrics by Edward Eliscu) *''Mr. Jessel'' (Music and lyrics by Charlotte Kent) *''

Cheerful Little Earful "Cheerful Little Earful" is a 1930 song composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Billy Rose. It was written for the musical '' Sweet and Low'' (1930). Actress and singer Fanny Brice, who was married to Billy Rose at the time, starr ...

'' (Music by Harry Warren; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Billy Rose) sung by Hannah Williams. *''In a Venetian Box'' (Music by

Vivian Ellis Vivian John Herman Ellis, CBE (29 October 1903 – 19 June 1996) was an English musical comedy composer best known for the song "Spread a Little Happiness" and the theme " Coronation Scot". Life and work Ellis was born in Hampstead, London in ...

) *''When a Pansy Was a Flower'' (Music by William C. K. Irwin; Lyrics by Billy Rose and Malcolm McComb) *''Revival Days'' (Music by William C. K. Irwin; Lyrics by Malcolm McComb) *''Overnight'' (Music by

Louis Alter Louis Alter (June 18, 1902 – November 5, 1980) was an American pianist, songwriter and composer. At 13, he began playing piano in theaters showing silent films. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Stuar ...

; Lyrics by Billy Rose and Charlotte Kent) *''Gimme Me Watch and Chain'' (Music and lyrics by

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

) ;Act 2 *''I Knew Him Before He Was Spanish'' (Music by

Dana Suesse Nadine Dana Suesse (; December 3, 1911 – October 16, 1987) was an American musician, composer and lyricist. Biography Dana Suesse was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1909. When she grew too tall for ballet, she began piano lessons with Gertru ...

; Lyrics by Billy Rose and

Ballard MacDonald Ballard MacDonald (October 15, 1882 – November 17, 1935) was an American lyricist, who was one of the writers of Tin Pan Alley. Born in Portland, Oregon, he was a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers ...

) *''You Sweet So and So'' (Music by Phil Charig and Joseph Meyer; Lyrics by Ira Gershwin)

References

External links

* 1930 musicals Broadway musicals Revues {{musical-theat-stub