Redhead
The Oxford Companion to American Theatre
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2004
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© The Oxford Companion to American Theatre 2004, originally published by Oxford University Press 2004. (Hide copyright information)
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Redhead (1959), a musical thriller by Herbert
Fields, Sidney Sheldon, David Shaw (book), Dorothy
Fields (book, lyrics), Albert Hague (music). [46th Street Theatre, 452 perf.; Tony Award.] In Victorian London, Essie Whimple ( Gwen
Verdon) fashions figures at the Simpson Sisters' Waxworks but soon finds herself in the middle of a Jack the Ripper‐like murder spree. With the help of the music hall strongman Tom Baxter ( Richard
Kiley), Essie uncovers the identity of the redheaded culprit and wins Tom's love along the way.
Notable songs: Merely Marvelous; Look Who's in Love; Erbie Fitch's Twitch. A curiosity of a musical presented by Robert
Fryer and Lawrence Carr,
Redhead tried to combine music‐hall entertainment with a whodunit but ended up being another tailor‐made vehicle for Verdon, directed and choreographed by Bob
Fosse.
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