''Tomfoolery'' (or ''Tom Foolery'') 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 ...

based on the songs of American satirist

Tom Lehrer Thomas Andrew Lehrer (; born April 9, 1928) is an American former musician, singer-songwriter, satirist, and mathematician, having lectured on mathematics and musical theater. He is best known for the pithy and humorous songs that he recorded in ...

. Devised and produced by

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

, it premiered in London at the

Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began developmen ...

, directed by

Gillian Lynne Dame Gillian Barbara Lynne (née Pyrke; 20 February 1926 – 1 July 2018) was an English ballerina, dancer, choreographer, actress, and theatre-television director, noted for her theatre choreography associated with two of the longest-runnin ...

, on 5 June 1980, where it had a successful run. It subsequently opened on December 14, 1981 Off-Broadway at the Top of the Gate in

Greenwich Village Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...

, New York, where it ran for 120 performances.''Tomfoolery'' production and show information
mtishows.com, accessed December 7, 2008 The cast included

Jonathan Hadary Jonathan Hadary (born October 11, 1948) is an American actor. Early life and education Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Bethesda, Maryland, Hadary arrived at Tufts University already an accomplished actor. He was cast in many shows at ...

.Rich, Fran
"''Tomfoolery'', A Revue of Lehrer Lyrics"
''The New York Times'', December 15, 1981 Lehrer himself was brought in as a consultant. The revue features 28 of Lehrer's satirical songs that were written in the 1950s and 1960s, known for their "witty naughtiness". Stage directions suggest each actor use their own name and wait onstage in a bar area while the others perform. Two cast recordings have been released, one by the original London cast (

Robin Ray Robin Ray (17 September 1934 – 29 November 1998Roger T. Stearn, "Ray, Robin (1 ...

, Jonathan Adams,

Martin Connor Martin Edward Connor (born March 3, 1945) is a former member of the New York State Senate from Brooklyn, New York. He was first elected to the State Senate in a special election in 1978. He is a Democrat. The 25th Senate District that he repr ...

and Tricia George), the other much rarer one by the Canadian cast.

Song list

;Act 1 *Be Prepared *

Poisoning Pigeons In The Park ''An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer'' is an album recorded by Tom Lehrer, the well-known satirist and Harvard lecturer. The recording was made on March 20–21, 1959 in Sanders Theater at Harvard. In 2020, Lehrer donated all of his lyrics and mu ...

*I Wanna Go Back To Dixie *My Home Town *Pollution *Bright College Days *

Fight Fiercely, Harvard "Fight Fiercely, Harvard" is a satirical college fight song written and originally performed by Tom Lehrer and dedicated to his alma mater, Harvard University.

* The Elements *The Folk Song Army *In Old Mexico *She's My Girl *When You Are Old And Gray *Wernher Von Braun *Who's Next? *I Got It From Agnes *National Brotherhood Week ;Act 2 *So Long, Mom (A Song For World War III) *The Hunting Song *The Irish Ballad *Smut *New Math *Silent E *George Murphy *Oedipus Rex *I Hold Your Hand In Mine * The Masochism Tango *The Old Dope Peddler *The Vatican Rag *We Will All Go Together When We Go The following two songs are optional: *Send The Marines *The Wiener Schnitzel Waltz Piano Conductor Score, Act 1 and Act 2, Tomfoolery (as published by Music Theatre International

References

External links

*
"TOMFOOLERY" recording
{{Tom Lehrer 1980 musicals West End musicals Revues