Overview
Synopsis
It is 1929 in New York and the city is divided by gang warfare. On one side, Dandy Dan’s mob terrorise the district, taking out those they turn against with their new splurge guns. On the other side, Dandy Dan’s rival, Fat Sam, runs his successful Grand Slam Speakeasy. There, he deals with business and enjoys the attentions of his girlfriend, the seductive Tallulah. However Sam is jealous of Dandy Dan’s gang as he still uses old-fashioned custard pies to take out their victims. When Fat Sam’s gang is brutally splurged and his empire under severe threat, he engages the help of Bugsy Malone, a smooth-talking man about town. While Bugsy simultaneously attempts to woo Blousey Brown, the new-girl singer in town, he helps Fat Sam steal a fresh delivery of splurge guns from Dandy Dan. However Bugsy’s efforts cost him his relationship with Blousey after he lets her down by not taking her to Hollywood as promised. Returning to the speakeasy, Blousey and the rest of Fat Sam’s crew are unaware of Dandy Dan’s intent for revenge. His mob burst into the speakeasy and chaos ensues. Splurge, custard pies, and flour bombs fly across the bar. As the pandemonium comes to a sticky end, it emerges that Bugsy and Blousey have reconciled and there is finally peace between the two rival gangs.
Show Information
- Book
- Alan Parker
- Music
- Paul Williams
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1983
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- new york, 1929
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Early Teen, Late Teen, Child Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Bugsy Malone premiered in London’s West End at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1983, running for 300 performances. It was written by Alan Parker, with music by Paul Williams, and the first London production was directed by Micky Dolenz and featured Catherine Zeta-Jones as Tallulah. It has since been revived on the West End several times, the most recent being in 2016 at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre. This production received an Olivier nomination for Best Musical Revival.
The musical was adapted
to read the context for Bugsy Malone and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
In his uneasy New York neighborhood, Bugsy Malone, a one-time boxer, guides the audience through the streets where three murders have just taken place by members of a local gang run by the influential, Dandy Dan ("Bugsy Malone"). He ends his tour guide at the Grand Slam Speakeasy, owned by local gangster, Fat Sam ("Fat Sam's Grand Slam"). Bugsy has come there as one of the men murdered was Roxy "the Weasel" Robinson, one of Fat Sam's best men. Enraged, Fat Sam, vows revenge on
to read the plot for Bugsy Malone and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- Bugsy Malone - Ensemble
- *Fat Sam's Grand Slam - Ensemble
- That’s Why They Call Him Dandy - Dandy Dan, Ensemble
- *Tomorrow - Fizzy
- *Show Business - Lena, Ensemble
- *Bad Guys - Fat Sam’s Gang
- I'm Feeling Fine - Blousey
- Bugsy Malone (Reprise) - Ensemble
Act Two
- *My Name Is Tallulah - Tallulah
- I’m Feeling Fine (Reprise) - Blousey Brown
- So You Wanna Be a Boxer? - Cagey Joe, Leroy, Boxers
- Ordinary Fool - Blousey
- Down and Out - Bugsy, Leroy, Ensemble
- *Fat Sam’s Grand Slam (Reprise) - Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher