Girardot

Girardot , city (1993 pop. 81,380), central Colombia, on the Bogotá and Magdalena rivers. Girardot is a commercial center and a transportation hub; it has an airport. Coffee and leather goods are the principal products. Founded in 1853, Girardot is noted for its vast number of acacia trees.

Girardot, Colombia Pastor Montero Named after Atanasio Girardot (1791–1813), a hero of the Battle of Bárbula in 1813 during which he was killed.

Charley's Aunt (1893). Brandon Thomas's 1892 London hit was offered with great success a year later to Americans. It told how a student, Lord Fancourt Babberley, disguises himself as the aunt of his college roommate Charley in order to fill the need for a chaperone. The real aunt lives in Brazil, “where the nuts come from,” and her unwonted appearance naturally leads to complications. Etienne Girardot created the role of Babberley in America and was identified with it for decades afterward. He also played it in a major 1906 revival. José Ferrer led a popular 1940 revival. The farce was later turned into the musical WHERE'S CHARLEY? (1948) with a libretto by George Abbott that simplified the plot somewhat by eliminating the character of Babberley and letting Charley ( Ray Bolger) dress up like his own aunt even while he tries to woo the pretty Amy Spettigue ( Allyn McLerie). Frank Loesser wrote the score and Cy Feuer and Ernest H. Martin produced the musical, the first Broadway venture for all three men. It ran at the St. James Theatre for 792 performances. Notable songs: Once in Love with Amy; My Darling, My Darling; Make a Miracle; At the Red Rose Cotillion. The musical was Bolger's biggest Broadway hit, highlighted by his showstopping rendition of “Once in Love with Amy,” which he regularly persuaded his audience to sing along with him. A revival in 1974 met with little success.