Oh, What a Lovely War!

This article is about the 1963 stage musical. For the 1969 film adaptation, see Oh! What a Lovely War.

Oh, What a Lovely War!
Music	various
Lyrics	various
Book	Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop
Basis	The Donkeys by Alan Clark
Productions	1963 Stratford and West End 1964 Broadway 2010 UK Tour

Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic musical originated by Charles Chilton as a radio play, The Long Long Trail in December 1961,^[1][2] and transferred to stage by Gerry Raffles in partnership with Joan Littlewood and her Theatre Workshop in 1963.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.

Description

The show is usually performed in pierrot 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.^[5] 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 sergeant 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 Kaiser (music and lyrics by Paddy Ellerton) – Valerie Walsh Are We Downhearted – The Men It's a Long Way to Tipperary (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 Wimperis and Herman Finck) – Barbara Windsor Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag (lyrics by George Asaf) – The Men Hitchykoo (lyrics by L. Wolfe Gilbert, music by Lewis F. Muir 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-ling – The Men Keep the Home Fires Burning (lyrics by Lena Gulibert Ford, music by Ivor Novello) –Myvanwy Jenn Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts (lyrics by R. P. Weston, music by Herman Darewski) – Barbara Windsor La Chanson de Craonne (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.

References

1. ^ The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century English Literature, ed Laura Marcus & Peter Nicholls, page 478. Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 0521820774, 9780521820776.
2. ^ "Witness: Oh what a lovely war". Vincent Dowd. Witness. BBC World Service, London. 11 November, 2011.
3. ^ Banham (1998, 645), Brockett and Hildy (2003, 493), and Eyre and Wright (2000, 266-69).
4. ^ Milling and Thomson (2004).
5. ^ Arthur (2001, 47).

Other Appearances

Several Australian World War I movies and miniseries ('The Lighthorsemen', 'Gallipoli') have used these songs to give a stronger sense of period to them; the 80's series, 'ANZACs' used 'Oh, it's a lovely war' as one of the numbers while the credits rolled; 'I wore a tunic' was performed as part of an entertainment piece while the characters were on easy duties - 'Keep the home fires burning' was another credit number and 'The Bells of Hell' was sung by Tony Bonner and Andrew Clarke.

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 Press. 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, Richard 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.

External links

• IBDB listing