You Barry Was a Lady

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Du Barry Was a Lady is a musical comedy with the music and lyrics by Cole Porter . The book is by Herbert Fields and BG DeSylva , who also produced the show. It premiered on December 6, 1939 at the 46th Street Theater in New York . It was one of five Broadway musicals ( Anything Goes , Red, Hot and Blue , Panama Hattie , Something for the Boys ) composed for Cole Porter and in which Ethel Merman played the lead role. Betty Grable and Bert Lahr could be seen in other roles .
It premiered in London's West End on October 22, 1942 at Her Majesty's Theater .

action

Louis Blore, toilet attendant at Club Petite in New York, wins $ 75,000 in a lottery and then quits his job. He's had his eye on nightclub singer May Daly for a long time, but she's in love with a certain Alex Barton. Alex is the brother of May's friend Alice and is unhappily married.

When trying to get the rival out of the way with knockout drops , Louis confuses the glasses and takes the drink himself. While unconscious, Louis dreams that he is King Louis XV. and May Daly his mistress who is Countess du Barry . He followed May through the gardens and boudoirs of Versailles in the 18th century, but was unsuccessful in his advertising. He wakes up and realizes that Alex is the right man for May. With the rest of his lottery winnings, he pays for Alex Barton's divorce and returns to his old job at Club Petite.

Well-known music numbers

  • Do I love you
  • Well, Did You Evah?
  • Friendship

filming

The film adaptation from 1943 under the title Du Barry Was a Lady by Roy Del Ruth and others with Gene Kelly is based on the musical.

Web links