Marlowe (musical)

While the plot refers to his rebellious anti-clerical views, the main focus is on Marlowe's romantic relationship with Emelia Bossano, a woman he supposedly lured away from William Shakespeare. Other historical figures who put in an appearance are Richard Burbage, Matthew Parker, Ingram Frizer, and Queen Elizabeth I.

In keeping with the general rock music tone of the score, neither the set nor costume designs (miniskirts, Day-Glo tights and silver lamé jumpsuits) suggested the show was a period piece, although the action is set in 1593.

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;Act I

• "Rocking The Boat - Parker, Queen, Townsend, Chorus
• "Because I'm a Woman - Emilia, Shakespeare, Burbage
• "Live For The Moment - Marlowe, Chorus
• "Emelia - Shakespeare, Marlowe
• "I'm Coming Round' To Your Point of View - Marlowe, Emelia
• "The Ends Justify The Means - Frizer, Audrey
• "Higher Than High - Company
• "Rocking The Boat (reprise) - Company

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;Act II

• "Christopher - Emelia, Chorus
• "So Do I (Ode To Virginity) - Burbage, Chorus
• "Two Lovers - Emelia
• "The Funeral Dirge - Company
• "Live For The Moment (reprise) - Emelia, Marlowe
• "Emelia (reprise) - Marlowe, Emelia
• "Christopher (reprise) - Emelia, Shakespeare, Chorus
• "The Madrigal Blues - Marlowe, Company

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The Broadway production was directed and choreographed by Don Price. The musical opened at the Rialto Theatre on October 12, 1981, and ran for 48 performances and 8 previews. Mordente was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.{{Cite web|last=The Broadway League|title=Marlowe – Broadway Musical – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/marlowe-4858|access-date=2020-07-23|website=www.ibdb.com|language=en}}

While the production stopped performances after Sunday, November 22, 1981, the box office remained open, in the hopes that more tickets would be sold for the future. On December 1, the box office closed.{{Cite web|title=2 Dec 1981, 57 - Daily News at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/486064834/?terms=marlowe+rialto|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}

In his review in The New York Times, Frank Rich described Marlowe as "a wholly ridiculous show that is much more fun to sit through than many merely mediocre musicals . . . If Marlowe isn't quite a classic of its kind, that's a matter of size, not content. Tacky-looking and sparsely populated, this show lacks the Titaniclike splendor and expenditure of Broadway's all-time fabulous wrecks."Rich, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/13/theater/theater-marlowe-a-rock-musical.html?pagewanted= "Theater. 'Marlowe' A Rock Musical"] The New York Times, October 13, 1981

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4858 Internet Broadway Database entry]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/13/theater/theater-marlowe-a-rock-musical.html New York Times review]
• [https://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/11/nyregion/star-of-marlowe-is-a-marlowe-fan.htmlNew York Times feature article]

{{Christopher Marlowe}}

Category:1981 musicals

Category:Broadway musicals

Category:Cultural depictions of Christopher Marlowe

Category:Musicals set in the 16th century

Category:Musicals set in England