Flying High

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre | 2004 | 700+ words | Copyright

Flying High (1930), a musical comedy by John McGowan (book), B. G. De Sylva, Lew Brown (book, lyrics), Ray Henderson (music). [Apollo Theatre, 347 perf.] While the flashy aviator Tod Addison ( Oscar Shaw) pursues a courtship of Eileen Cassidy ( Grace Brinkley) that began when he parachuted onto her apartment balcony, his dithering mechanic “Rusty” Krause ( Bert Lahr) attempts to escape the advances of hefty, lovelorn Pansy Sparks ( Kate Smith). Her dogged pursuit prompts “Rusty” to steal Tod's plane. Only when he is airborne does he remember that he has no idea of how to land the plane. Without meaning to, he breaks records for sustained flight. Notable songs: Red Hot Chicago; Thank Your Father; I'll Know Him. This final De Sylva, Brown, and Henderson musical, produced and directed by George White, was a success largely because of Lahr's comic antics.

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Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Flying High." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Flying High." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-FlyingHigh.html

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Flying High." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-FlyingHigh.html

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