History
The West End production opened on September 22, 1964 at London's Adelphi Theatre, where it ran for 501 performances. The cast included Rachel Roberts,Synopsis
Act I
Patrick Casey is a young sailor from a Catholic Liverpool-Irish family. His father was a famous trades union leader, who was killed during a strike. Patrick rejects his father's advice in order to live a life of exploration and adventure as an ocean going seaman. Back in Liverpool, his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Duffy, has become a popular dockland prostitute known as Maggie May. All the sailors are devoted to her because of her generous nature; however she is still in love with Patrick, and calls all her clients "Casey". Patrick returns to Liverpool to work on the docks, and is greeted by the other dock workers. He tells a tale about his visit to an African country, where he was expected to participate in a militia to put down demonstrations by exploited African workers, but refused. The other dockers see him as a potential leader in their struggles, but he refuses to become involved and attempts to revive his relationship with Maggie.Act II
As Maggie starts to hope for a new life with Patrick, she discovers he has been drawn into plans for a dock strike, leading to an argument between them. To get back at Patrick, Maggie becomes involved with Willie Morgan, a corrupt local deal-maker. Patrick discovers that a shipment at the docks comprises weapons for police in apartheid South Africa. He and other workers decide to sabotage the weapons. Maggie breaks with Willie, and she and Patrick commit to each other. The sabotage plan is betrayed and Patrick is killed in a fight over the weapons. Maggie is left devastated and with no option but to continue working as a prostitute.Song list
*Overture/The Ballad Of The "Liver" Bird *Lullaby/I Love A Man *Casey *Shine You Swine *Day Don't Do Dat T’Day *I Told You So *Right Of Way *Stroll On *Away from Home *Maggie, Maggie May *D'Land of Promises *Carrying On *Union Cha-Cha *It's Yourself *The World's a Lovely Place *I'm Me *(We Don't All Wear) D’Same Size Boots *It's Yourself (Reprise) *Finale/The Ballad of the 'Liver' Bird (Reprise)Judy Garland EP
"Maggie, Maggie May", "The Land of Promises", "It's Yourself" and "There's Only One Union" were later recorded by American singer, Judy Garland. Garland was friends with Lionel Bart, who was also rumored to be Judy's manager at the time. The songs were recorded in London by George Martin and released on the Capitol Records Label in September 1964 as an EP. Garland subsequently recorded several of the songs again while performing with her daughter, Liza Minnelli at the London Palladium in November, 1964.References
External links
* {{Lionel Bart 1964 musicals British musicals Ivor Novello Award winners West End musicals Plays set in Liverpool