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
Plot
Characters
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
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Lead |
Male |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
Male |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Male |
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Featured |
Female |
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Songs
- Our Hotel - Mrs. Blitztein & The Company
- Tell Him-Tell Her - The Company
- I Want To Whisper Something - Georgie Locke & Harry Blitztien
- The Day After Tomorrow - Vera Lynn
- We're Going To The Country - The Evacuees & Mums
- Another Morning - Alfie Locke, Ernie Nearmiss & The Company
- Who's This Geezer Hitler? - Mrs. Blitztein & The Company
- Be What You Wanna Be - Mrs. Blitztein & The Company
- As Long As This Is England - Alfie Locke, Ernie Nearmiss & Company
- Opposites - Georgie Locke & Carol Blitztein
- Magic Doorway - Georgie Locke & Carol Blitztien
- Bake A Cake - Mrs. Blitzstein
- Leave It To The Ladies - Elsie & The Ladies
- The Day After Tomorrow (Reprise) - The Company
- Entr'acte - The Orchestra
- Far Away - Carol Blitztein
- Petticoat Lane (On A Saturday Ain't So Nice) - Mr & Mrs Josephs & Company
- Down The Lane - Elsie & The Company
- So Tell Me - Mrs. Blitztein
- Mums And Dads - The Kids
- Who Wants To Settle Down - Georgie Locke
- Is This Gonna Be A Wedding? - Mrs. Blitztein & The Company
- Duty Calls - Harry Blitztein & The Company
- Who's This Geezer Hitler? (Reprise') - The Company
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
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Videos
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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