Overview
Synopsis
Set in London’s East End during the harrowing World War II bombings, Blitz! by Lionel Bart weaves a vibrant tapestry of human resilience and romance against a backdrop of wartime chaos. The story centers on two feuding families: the Jewish Blitzteins, led by the formidable matriarch Mrs. Blitztein, and the Cockney Lockes, headed by Alfred (Alfie) Locke. The families operate rival stalls on Petticoat Lane—Mrs. Blitztein selling herring and Alfie peddling fruit—where their mutual animosity fuels daily tensions. Amid air raid sirens and underground shelter gatherings, the musical captures the spirit of a community enduring hardship with humor, defiance, and camaraderie, as they navigate love, loss, and reconciliation in a city under siege.
The heart of the narrative lies in the blossoming romance between Carol Blitztein, Mrs. Blitztein’s beautiful daughter, and Georgie Locke, Alfie’s son, whose love challenges the deep-seated rivalry between their families. Mrs. Blitztein, a strong-willed and protective mother, serves as the story’s emotional anchor, her perspective shaping much of the narrative as she grapples with her children’s choices and the war’s toll. Her son, Harry Blitztein, a petty criminal, adds further tension with his scandalous relationship with Joyce, an older, married non-Jewish woman, much to his mother’s dismay. The ensemble includes a lively cast of neighbors, children, and evacuees, whose stories of survival and unity are punctuated by rousing musical numbers like “Who’s This Geezer Hitler?” and the poignant “The Day After Tomorrow.”
As the Blitz intensifies, personal and communal struggles intertwine, leading to moments of tragedy and transformation. Carol’s life is altered by a bombing that leaves her blind, testing her relationship with Georgie and the families’ ability to overcome their differences. Through comedic clashes, heartfelt ballads, and dramatic confrontations, the musical explores themes of prejudice, forgiveness, and the enduring human spirit. Ultimately, Blitz! portrays a community that finds strength in unity, as the Blitzteins and Lockes move toward reconciliation, reflecting the resilience of Londoners during one of history’s darkest periods.
Show Information
Context
Blitz! is a musical by Lionel Bart that captures the resilience of London's East End during the Blitz, the intense German aerial bombings of World War II from 1940 to 1941. Drawing directly from Bart's own childhood experiences in the Jewish community of that era, the show portrays the human spirit amid devastation, blending personal stories of family feuds, romance, and survival with the broader epic of a city under siege. Described by critics as a massive production akin to "Abie's Irish
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Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
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|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
|
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Female |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Female |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Not Specified |
|
Songs
Act One
Act Two
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An attack in which bombs are dropped from aircraft on to a ground target.
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
An intensive or sudden military attack. During World War Two, the Blitz was the sustained aerial bombing campaign by Germany's Luftwaffe against British towns and cities from September 1940 to May 1941
A traditional London dialect spoken by working-class people, especially in the East End, characterized by unique phonology (like vowel shifts and the dropped 'h' sound), specific grammar, and most notably, Cockney Rhyming Slang. A "true" Cockney is often defined by their birth within the sound of the Bow Bells of St Mary-le-Bow church, making it a strong cultural and social identifier.
A powerful female figure who leads a family or social group, often featured in dramatic works as a symbol of strength, tradition, or authority. Matriarchs play pivotal roles in both classical and contemporary theatre as central moral or emotional anchors.
Spectacle refers to the visual elements of a production that create wonder and excitement through design, movement, or scale. This might include elaborate costumes, dazzling choreography, special effects, or impressive sets. Spectacle often heightens the theatrical experience by leaving audiences with vivid visual impressions alongside the story and music.
A global conflict often explored in theatre through themes of resistance, loss, trauma, and moral complexity.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
__Resilience and the Human Spirit in
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