Fifty Million Frenchmen (1929)

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Herbert Fields

New Conservatory Theatre Center

Play Bill Notes

This popular twenties saying about romance provided Cole Porter and Herbert Fields with the title they were seeking for their new musical comedy inspired by Porter's work for the famous revues at the Cafe Des Ambassadeurs in Paris. Although he had supplied a handful of songs for the musical play Paris the previous year, the 1929 hit Fifty Million Frenchmen was Porter's first full-scale book musical, as well as his first genuine Broadway smash. Even the stock market crash (which occured the month before "Frenchmen" opened) and the onset of the Depression couldn't stop theatre-goers from rushing to this frothy song-and-dance farce.

Most of the arrangements and many of the songs for this show were thought to be long-lost when they were accidentaly discovered in the Tams-Whitmark warehouse in 1987. A full-scale restoration attempt began, and the show was presented in concert in 1991 in New York for the celebration of Porter's 100th birthday. This version, starring Howard McGillin, Kim Criswell, Kay McClelland, Peggy Cass, Karen Ziemba, and Jason Graae, was subsequently recorded on New World Records. Archivist Tommy Krasker and conductor Evans Haile spearheaded the effort and pared down the original book (with 75 speaking parts) to concentrate on Porter's score.

For the 42nd Street Moon production, two additional songs have been restored to the score: "Watching the World Go By" which was dropped during the Boston try-out, and "My Yankee Wench" which was presented with a re-written lyric on Broadway but dropped from the 1991 concert. This is the first time in more than 60 years that these songs have been heard: this is also the most musically complete version of Fifty Million Frenchmen to yet be performed. We hope you enjoy it.

Plot Summary

Peter Forbes, a young American millionaire, journeys to Paris and bets his friends Billy Baxter and Michael Cummins that he can live without his money for a month and, while doing so, get engaged to Looloo Caroll, a young woman he adores. She is in Paris with her parents and her best friend Joyce. The catch is that Peter has one month, until July 4, to throw their engagement party at the Chateau Madrid. Trying to woo Looloo while penniless, he endures humiliation. His first job is as a tour guide, but much to his dismay, he has caught the eye of Violet Hildegarde, a fur-buyer who sends risqué French postcards to her children ("Where Would You Get Your Coat?"). An aspiring singer, May DeVere, also becomes interested in Peter. Since Peter has no time, Looloo and Billy have begun flirting.

Everyone goes to the racetrack, where Louis Pernasse tells Peter that the race is fixed and Toujours Moi will win, and he takes Peter's and May's money to place a bet. It appears that the horse has lost and Peter tears up his ticket, but the winner is disqualified and he has won. However, Looloo thinks he is being selfish in not sharing his winnings (since she had lent him some money) and leaves him ("You Don't Know Paree").

In another week, Pernasse is preparing a party for Looloo's mother, who plans to match her with a poor but titled Grand Duke ("The Queen of Terre Haute"). Mr. Carroll, distressed at the cost, gets drunk, and Looloo does not attend, as she has no desire to marry the Grand Duke.

On July 4, Peter is a dance-host at the Chateau Madrid. As all arrive, Billy and Michael are still chasing Violet and Joyce. Peter, with the pressure of the time-limit bet, proposes. Just then Pernasse tells him to dance with a customer and Looloo starts to leave, confused and embarrassed. Peter and Pernasse have words about the torn-up ticket and Looloo realizes that he was telling the truth. She trusts him and they become engaged as midnight arrives.