Overview
Synopsis
Mack & Mabel depicts the days of the silent film era "when movies were movies". Based on the real life story of the director, Mack Sennett, and his star and lover, Mabel Normand. Narrated in flashback by Mack himself, he begins the show a broken man. His beloved silent two-reel comedies are no longer hit with the audiences in the late 1930s. The silent film industry has been made obsolete by talkies and Mack is forced to sell his Hollywood studio. Alone on the stage, he reminisces about the past, recalling his early days in New York, his rising success in Hollywood, and his turbulent love affair with Mabel. Mack discovered Mabel when she was just a sandwich delivery girl and made her a star. Although he loves her deeply, he cannot bring himself to fully commit to her. Frustrated and humiliated, Mabel is driven into the arms of William Desmond Taylor, an unsympathetic director who leads her into a life of drugs and partying.
Show Information
- Book
- Michael Stewart , Francine Pascal
- Music
- Jerry Herman
- Lyrics
- Jerry Herman
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1974
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy, Romance, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- New York, Los Angeles, 1911-1938
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
The idea for Mack & Mabel was first mooted by the director of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera to composer, Jerry Herman. Herman roped in Michael Stewart to write the book and the production opened for pre-Broadway try-outs in San Diego and Los Angeles in 1974. Gower Champion directed the production, and Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters starred in the lead roles. Reviews for the show were mixed, focusing on the poor libretto and dark ending. However, the show moved to engagements in St.
to read the context for Mack & Mabel and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
It is 2am in 1938 and the lights come up on a darkened motion picture sound stage. Someone is pounding on the door and the watchman opens it to reveal Mack Sennett. He is in his late fifties and a little bit drunk. Mack is in a bad mood and demands Eddie turns the lights on. He may be bankrupt, but the studio is his until noon the next day and he is determined that it will be left the way he created it. Pulling out his battered director’s chair, he rants about the way ‘talkies’
to read the plot for Mack & Mabel and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
Act One
Look What Happened to Mabel - Mabel, Fatty, Frank & Ensemble
Big Time - Lottie, Ensemble
I Won’t Send Roses [Reprise] - Mabel
*I Wanna Make the World Laugh - Mack, Ensemble
I Wanna Make the World Laugh [Reprise] - Mack, Ensemble
Hundreds of Girls - Mack, Ensemble
Act Two
*When Mabel Comes in the Room - Ensemble
Hit ‘Em On The Head - Mack, Baumann, Kessel, Ensemble
Time Heals Everything - Mabel
*Tap Your Troubles Away - Lottie, Ensemble
I Promise You a Happy Ending - Mack
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
A male or female person who performs a role in a play, work of theatre, or movie.
A persistent and intense urge and/or physical dependency on a drug.
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
Relating to a person's life.
The person who is responsible for all aspects of a production, including the overall concept, coordinating the designers, working with actors, and creating the artistic impact.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
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