You Never Know

A Musical Comedy in Two Acts
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Additional songs by Robert Katscher and Rowland Leigh, Alex Fogarty and Edwin Gilbert, and Dana Suesse [only Porter's songs are listed]
Book adapted by Rowland Leigh from Siegfried Geiger's play By Candlelight

Tryouts began March 3, 1938 at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven
March 7, 1938 at the Shubert Theatre, Boston
March 21, 1938 at the National Theatre, Washington, D.C.
March 28, 1938 at the Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia
April 18, 1938 at the Nixon Theatre, Pittsburgh
April 24, 1938 at the Cass Theatre, Detroit
May 1, 1938 at the Grand Opera House, Chicago
May 22, 1938 at the Shrine Auditorium, Des Moines
May 23, 1938 at English's Theatre, Indianapolis
May 27, 1938 at the Hartman Theatre, Columbus
May 29, 1938 at the Erlanger Theatre, Buffalo
September 16, 1938 at the Bushnell Theatre, Hartford

 

Opened September 21, 1938 at the Winter Garden Theatre, NYC
Ran for 78 performances
Produced by Lee and J. J. Shubert
in association with John Shubert
Staged by Rowland Leigh
Dances by Robert Alton
Settings by Albert John and Watson Barratt
Orchestrations by Hans Spialek
Musical Direction by John McManus

 

Synopsis

Maria, maid to Mme. Baltin, impersonates her mistress while carrying out an assignation with the Baron de Romer's valet Gaston, whom she believes to be the Baron himself.  The Baron discovers the pair, but, being a good sport, he assumes the role of his servant in order to assist Gaston in him romantic pursuit.  When Mme. Baltin discovers her maid's deceit, she is less of a good sport and exposes the masquerade.  All ends happily, though, as he foursome sup by candlelight.  Other characters include teh Baron's gregarious friend Ida Courtney and Mme. Baltin's cheating husband, Henri, the dry goods king of France.

Cast

Clifton Webb (Gaston)
Lupe Velez (Maria)
Libby Holman (Mme. Baltin [Jeanne Montaigne])
Toby Wing (Ida Courtney)
Rex O'Malley (Baron Ferdinand de Romer)
Charles Kemper (Henri Baltin)

Truman Gaige (General Carruthers), Dan Harden (Geoffrey), Eddie Gale (Chauffeur), Wesley Bender (Louis), Ray Dennis (Comptroleur), and Roger Stearns (Headwaiter) with June Preisser, The Debonairs, Paul and Grace Hartman, and Jean Morehead

Musical Numbers

Act One

• Overture - Orchestra
• "I Am Gaston" - Gaston
• "Au Revoir, Cher Baron" - Ensemble
• "Maria" - Gaston, Ensemble
• "You Never Know" - Mme. Baltin
• "What is That Tune?" - Mme. Baltin, Gaston
• "For No Rhyme or Reason" - Ida, Henri, the Debonairs, Ensemble
• "From Alpha to Omega" - Gaston, Maria
• "Don't Let It Get You Down" - (June Preisser), Dan, the Debonairs, Ensemble [originally written for, but not used in, Rene Clair's film Break the News, 1938]
• "What Shall I Do?" - Maria

Act Two

• Entr'acte - Orchestra
• "At Long Last Love" - Gaston
• "Yes, Yes, Yes" - Ida, Ensemble
• "Good Evening, Princesse" - Gaston, Maria

Cut Songs

• "I'll Black His Eyes" [dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; sung by Henri]
• "I'm Yours" [dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; sung by Mme. Baltin; new lyrics for "Mysteriously" from Star Dust (unproduced)]
• "What a Priceless Pleasure" [dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; sung by the Ensemble]
• "Just One Step Ahead of Love" [dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; sung by Mme. Baltin]
• "Ha, Ha, Ha" [dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; sung by Henri, Gaston, and Maria; originally the Act 1 Finale]
• "By Candlelight" [unused; a song of the same title written by Leigh and Katscher was used in the production]
• "I'm Back in Circulation" [unused, may have been dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; intended for Ida and Ensemble]
• "I'm Going in for Love" [unused, may have been dropped during the pre-Broadway tour; intended for Mme. Baltin]
• "It's No Laughing Matter" [unused]

Contemporaneous Recordings

"At Long Last Love" - Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra [vocal: Ozzie Nelson]

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Bluebird 7825] Charted on September 17, 1938; peaked at #3

"At Long Last Love" - Frances Langford

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Decca 2197]

"At Long Last Love" / "You Never Know" - Larry Clinton and His Orchestra [A-side vocal: Bea Wain]

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Victor 26014] A-side charted on October 8, 1938; peaked at #11

"At Long Last Love" / "You Never Know" - Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra [vocals: Kenny Sargent]

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Decca 2010]

"At Long Last Love " / "For No Rhyme or Reason" - Al Donahue and His Orchestra

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Vocalion 4349]

"At Long Last Love" / "For No Rhyme or Reason" - Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Brunswick 8209]

"From Alpha to Omega" / "For No Rhyme or Reason" - Joseph Rines and His Hotel St. Regis Orchestra

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Victor 26022]

"From Alpha to Omega" / "You Never Know" - Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

• 78 RPM, 1938 [Brunswick 8210]

Go to the 1973 Off-Broadway Revival of You Never Know

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