Oh, What a Lovely War!
Encyclopedia
Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic
musical
originated by Charles Chilton
as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood
and her Theatre Workshop
in 1963
. It is based on The Donkeys by military historian (and future Conservative politician) Alan Clark
, with some scenes adapted from The Good Soldier Švejk
by Czech humorist Jaroslav Hašek
; It is a satire
on World War I
(and by extension against war in general). The title is derived from the music hall
song "Oh! It's a Lovely War," which is one of the major numbers in the production.
The musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East
on 19 March 1963; according to Charles Chilton, Joan Littlewood was unconvinced until the show actually opened. The official censor did not grant permission for performance in the West End until Princess Margaret attended a performance and commented to the Lord Chamberlain
, Lord Cobbold
, that "What you've said here tonight should have been said long ago, don't you agree, Lord Cobbold?"; at this point the transfer was more or less assured despite the objections of the family of Field Marshal Haig
. It was an ensemble production featuring members of the theatre's regular company, which included Brian Murphy
, Victor Spinetti
and Glynn Edwards
, all of whom played multiple roles. The sets were designed by John Bury
. The production subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre
in June of the same year. The production was a surprise hit, and the musical was adapted by the BBC
for radio several times.
The musical premiered in the United States on Broadway
at the Broadhurst Theatre
on 30 September 1964 and closed on 16 January 1965 after 125 performances; it was seen here by former subaltern Basil Rathbone
, who wrote to Charles Chilton that "we were duped, it was a disgusting war". Directed by Littlewood, the cast featured Spinetti and Murphy, plus Barbara Windsor
. It received four Tony Award
nominations, including Best Musical
, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (for Windsor). Spinetti won the Theatre World Award
.
costumes and features such World War I-era songs as "It's a Long Way to Tipperary
," "Pack up Your Troubles
" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning
." Harsh images of war and shocking statistics are projected onto the backdrop, providing a contrast with the comedy of the action taking place before it.
The song "Oh! It's a Lovely War" was written by J. P. Long and Maurice Scott in 1917 and was part of the repertoire of music hall
star and male impersonator
Ella Shields
. The lyrics of first verse and the chorus are as follows:
Two renditions of the song, one from 1918, can be heard at firstworldwar.com.
Act 1
Act 2
Epic theatre
Epic theatre was a theatrical movement arising in the early to mid-20th century from the theories and practice of a number of theatre practitioners, including Erwin Piscator, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Vsevolod Meyerhold and, most famously, Bertolt Brecht...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
originated by Charles Chilton
Charles Chilton
Charles Chilton MBE is a BBC radio presenter, a writer and a producer. Born in Bloomsbury in London, England, he never knew his father - who was killed during World War I - and when he was six his mother died as a result of having a botched abortion, so he was raised by his grandmother. He was...
as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961, and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
and her Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop
Theatre Workshop is a theatre group noted for their director, Joan Littlewood. Many actors of the 1950s and 1960s received their training and first exposure with the company...
in 1963
1963 in literature
The year 1963 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First United States printing of John Cleland's 1749 novel, Fanny Hill . The book is banned for obscenity, triggering a court case by its publisher.*Leslie Charteris publishes his final collection of stories...
. It is based on The Donkeys by military historian (and future Conservative politician) Alan Clark
Alan Clark
Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark was a British Conservative MP and diarist. He served as a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher's governments at the Departments of Employment, Trade, and Defence, and became a privy counsellor in 1991...
, with some scenes adapted from The Good Soldier Švejk
The Good Soldier Švejk
The Good Soldier Švejk , also spelled Schweik or Schwejk, is the abbreviated title of a unfinished satirical/dark comedy novel by Jaroslav Hašek. It was illustrated by Josef Lada and George Grosz after Hašek's death...
by Czech humorist Jaroslav Hašek
Jaroslav Hašek
Jaroslav Hašek was a Czech humorist, satirist, writer and socialist anarchist best known for his novel The Good Soldier Švejk, an unfinished collection of farcical incidents about a soldier in World War I and a satire on the ineptitude of authority figures, which has been translated into sixty...
; It is a satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
on World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
(and by extension against war in general). The title is derived from the music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
song "Oh! It's a Lovely War," which is one of the major numbers in the production.
The musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East
Theatre Royal Stratford East
The Theatre Royal Stratford East is a theatre in Stratford in the London Borough of Newham. Since 1953, it has been the home of the Theatre Workshop company.-History:...
on 19 March 1963; according to Charles Chilton, Joan Littlewood was unconvinced until the show actually opened. The official censor did not grant permission for performance in the West End until Princess Margaret attended a performance and commented to the Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
, Lord Cobbold
Cameron Cobbold, 1st Baron Cobbold
Cameron Fromanteel Cobbold, 1st Baron Cobbold KG, GCVO, PC, DL was a British banker. He served as Governor of the Bank of England from 1949 to 1961 and as Lord Chamberlain from 1963 to 1971.-Early life and career:...
, that "What you've said here tonight should have been said long ago, don't you agree, Lord Cobbold?"; at this point the transfer was more or less assured despite the objections of the family of Field Marshal Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
. It was an ensemble production featuring members of the theatre's regular company, which included Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy (actor)
Brian Murphy is a British actor.Murphy was born in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Although a prolific actor in many films and theatre productions for almost half a century, Murphy's most famous role was as the henpecked husband George Roper in the sitcom Man About the House and spin-off George and...
, Victor Spinetti
Victor Spinetti
Victor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner...
and Glynn Edwards
Glynn Edwards
Glynn Edwards is a British actor.Edwards was born in Malaya and trained as an actor at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He is probably best known for his role as Dave 'the barman' Harris, owner of the Winchester Club in the TV show Minder...
, all of whom played multiple roles. The sets were designed by John Bury
John Bury (theatre designer)
John Bury was a British set designer, costume designer and lighting designer who designed in theatre in the UK, West End and Broadway and international opera. He had a long creative relationship with director Peter Hall...
. The production subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre
Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by the actor/manager Charles Wyndham . Located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster, it was designed by W.G.R. Sprague about 1898, the architect of six other London theatres between then and 1916...
in June of the same year. The production was a surprise hit, and the musical was adapted by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
for radio several times.
The musical premiered in the United States on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Broadhurst Theatre
Broadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, a well-known theatre designer who had been working directly with the Shubert brothers; the Broadhurst opened 27 September 1917...
on 30 September 1964 and closed on 16 January 1965 after 125 performances; it was seen here by former subaltern Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
, who wrote to Charles Chilton that "we were duped, it was a disgusting war". Directed by Littlewood, the cast featured Spinetti and Murphy, plus Barbara Windsor
Barbara Windsor
Barbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
. It received four Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nominations, including Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Musical
This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical, first awarded in 1949. This award is presented to the producers of the musical.-1940s:* 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Samuel and Bella Spewack...
, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (for Windsor). Spinetti won the Theatre World Award
Theatre World Award
The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
.
Description
The show is usually performed in pierrotPierrot
Pierrot is a stock character of pantomime and Commedia dell'Arte whose origins are in the late 17th-century Italian troupe of players performing in Paris and known as the Comédie-Italienne; the name is a hypocorism of Pierre , via the suffix -ot. His character in postmodern popular culture—in...
costumes and features such World War I-era songs as "It's a Long Way to Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary
It's a Long Way to Tipperary is a British music hall and marching song written by Jack Judge and co-credited to, but not co-written by, Henry James "Harry" Williams. It was allegedly written for a 5 shilling bet in Stalybridge on 30 January 1912 and performed the next night at the local music hall...
," "Pack up Your Troubles
Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag
"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile" is the full name of a World War I marching song, published in 1915 in London. It was written by George Henry Powell under the pseudonym of "George Asaf", and set to music by his brother Felix Powell...
" and "Keep the Home Fires Burning
Keep the Home Fires Burning (1915 song)
Keep the Home-Fires Burning is a British patriotic First World War song composed in 1914 by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Gilbert Ford ....
." Harsh images of war and shocking statistics are projected onto the backdrop, providing a contrast with the comedy of the action taking place before it.
The song "Oh! It's a Lovely War" was written by J. P. Long and Maurice Scott in 1917 and was part of the repertoire of music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
star and male impersonator
Drag king
Drag kings are mostly female performance artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes as part of their performance. A typical drag king routine may incorporate dancing and singing, live as in the Momma's Boyz of San Francisco's performances or lip-synching...
Ella Shields
Ella Shields
Ella Shields was a music hall singer and male-impersonator. Her famous signature song, "Burlington Bertie from Bow", written by her manager and first husband, William Hargreaves, was an immediate hit. Though American-born, Ella achieved her greatest success in England.-Biography:Ella Shields was...
. The lyrics of first verse and the chorus are as follows:
- Up to your waist in water,
- Up to your eyes in slush -
- Using the kind of language,
- That makes the sergeant blush;
- Who wouldn't join the army?
- That's what we all inquire,
- Don't we pity the poor civilians sitting beside the fire.
- Chorus
- Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
- Who wouldn't be a soldier eh?
- Oh! It's a shame to take the pay.
- As soon as reveille is gone
- We feel just as heavy as lead,
- But we never get up till the sergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
brings - Our breakfast up to bed
- Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war,
- What do we want with eggs and ham
- When we've got plum and apple jam?
- Form fours! Right turn!
- How shall we spend the money we earn?
- Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war.
Two renditions of the song, one from 1918, can be heard at firstworldwar.com.
Musical numbers
- Based on the 1964 Broadway production
Act 1
- Row, Row, Row (lyrics by William Jerome, music by James Monaco) – The Ensemble
- We Don't Want to Lose You (Your King and Country Want You) (music and lyrics by Paul Rubens) – The Ladies
- Belgium Put the Kibosh on the KaiserBelgium Put the Kibosh on the KaiserBelgium Put the Kibosh on the Kaiser was a popular British patriotic song of the First World War. It was released on October 6, 1914 by Mark Sheridan and references the 1914 campaign in Belgium when the small British Expeditionary Force managed to delay the much larger German army, slowing them...
(music and lyrics by Paddy Ellerton) – Valerie Walsh - Are We Downhearted – The Men
- It's a Long Way to TipperaryIt's a Long Way to TipperaryIt's a Long Way to Tipperary is a British music hall and marching song written by Jack Judge and co-credited to, but not co-written by, Henry James "Harry" Williams. It was allegedly written for a 5 shilling bet in Stalybridge on 30 January 1912 and performed the next night at the local music hall...
(music and lyrics by Jack Judge and Harry Williams) – The Men - Hold Your Hand Out Naughty Boy (music and lyrics by Murphy and David) – The Men
- I'll Make a Man of You (music and lyrics by Arthur WimperisArthur WimperisArthur Harold Wimperis was an English illustrator, playwright, lyricist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter....
and Herman FinckHerman FinckHerman Finck was a British composer of Dutch extraction.Born Hermann Van Der Vinck in London, he began his studies training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and established a career as the musical director at the Palace Theatre in London , with whose orchestra he made many virtuoso...
) – Barbara WindsorBarbara WindsorBarbara Ann Windsor, MBE , better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, is an English actress. Her best known roles are in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.... - Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-BagPack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag"Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile" is the full name of a World War I marching song, published in 1915 in London. It was written by George Henry Powell under the pseudonym of "George Asaf", and set to music by his brother Felix Powell...
(lyrics by George Asaf) – The Men - Hitchykoo (lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert, music by Lewis F. MuirLewis F. MuirLewis F. Muir, born Louis Meuer was an American composer and ragtime pianist.Muir started as a pianist in St. Louis and played in the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. He moved to New York in 1910. His first published composition was "Play That Barber-Shop Chord" from 1910. Vaudeville entertainer...
and Maurice Abrahams) – Fanny Carby - Heilige Nacht – Colin Kemball
- Goodbye...ee (lyrics by R. P. Weston, music by Bert Lee) – Victor Spinetti
Act 2
- Oh What a Lovely War – The Ensemble
- Gassed Last Night – The Men
- Roses of Picardy (music by Haydn Wood) – Linda Loftus and Ian Paterson
- Hush Here Comes a Whizzbang – The Men
- There's a Long Long Trail (lyrics by Stoddard King) – Ian Paterson
- I Don't Want to Be a Soldier – The Men
- Kaiser Bill – The Men
- They Were Only Playing Leapfrog – The Men
- Old Soldiers Never Die – Murray Melvin
- Far Far from Wipers (music and lyrics by Bingham and Greene) – Colin Kemball
- If the Sergeant Steals Your Rum – The Men
- I Wore a Tunic (When You Wore a Tulip) – Ian Paterson
- Forward Joe Soap's Army – The Men
- Fred Karno's Army – The Men
- When This Lousy War Is Over – Colin Kembal
- Wash Me in the Water – The Men
- I Want To Go Home – The Men
- The Bells Of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-lingThe Bells Of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-lingThe Bells Of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-ling was a British airmen's song from World War I. It is apparently a parody of another popular song of the time entitled "She Only Answered 'Ting-a-ling-a-ling'". It is featured in the musical film Oh! What a Lovely War...
– The Men - Keep the Home Fires BurningKeep the Home Fires Burning (1915 song)Keep the Home-Fires Burning is a British patriotic First World War song composed in 1914 by Ivor Novello with words by Lena Gilbert Ford ....
(lyrics by Lena Gulibert Ford, music by Ivor Novello) –Myvanwy Jenn - Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts (lyrics by R. P. Weston, music by Herman DarewskiHerman DarewskiHerman Darewski was a British composer and conductor of light music. His most successful work was perhaps The Better 'Ole, which ran for over 800 performances in its original London production in 1917...
) – Barbara Windsor - La Chanson de CraonneLa Chanson de CraonneLa Chanson de Craonne is an anti-military song of World War I written in 1917. The song was written to the tune of Bonsoir M'Amour , sung by Emma Liebel...
(music and lyrics by Valliant and Couturier) – The Ensemble - Don't Want to be A Soldier – The Ensemble
- And When They Asked Us (music and lyrics by Jerome Kern) – The Ensemble
Impact
The musical was taken by a later generation of conservative historians, such as Gary Sheffield, as a key example of what they regarded as a false view of the war, unfair on generals and on the British Empire.Sources
- Arthur, Max. 2001. When This Bloody War Is Over: Soldiers' Songs from the First World War. London: Piatkus. ISBN 0749922524.
- Banham, Martin, ed. 1998. The Cambridge Guide to Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University PressCambridge University PressCambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
. ISBN 0521434378. - Brockett, Oscar G. and Franklin J. Hildy. 2003. History of the Theatre. Ninth edition, International edition. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. ISBN 0205410502.
- Eyre, RichardRichard EyreSir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre CBE is an English director of film, theatre, television, and opera.-Biography:Eyre was educated at Sherborne School, an independent school for boys in the market town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset in south-west England, followed by Peterhouse at the University...
and Nicholas Wright. 2000. Changing Stages: A View of British Theatre in the Twentieth Century. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 0747547890. - Milling, Jane and Peter Thomson, eds. 2004. The Cambridge History of British Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 397-401. ISBN 0521827906.