Subtle nods and bigger thefts abound.
Direct references include:
In Applause "She's No Longer a Gypsy" references the famous incident from Pajama Game when Shirley Maclaine went on for Carol Haney (and became a star) as a parallel to Eve's going on as Margo's understudy.
"She got there (or in?) early
and pulled a Shirley Maclaine"
In Follies, "I'm Still Here" references "Abie's Irish Rose"
"Manhattan," the Rodgers/Hart song from Garrick Gaieties (1925) may have had a reference to a long running show. In Ella Fitzgerald's recording, she sings:
"Through Central Park we'll stroll, where our first kiss we stole, soul to soul
And "My Fair Lady" is a terrific show, they say We both may see it close some day." I believe I've heard post-1925 and pre-My Fair Lady versions of the song which substituted South Pacific.
I think someone mentioned Two On the Aisle. There, in Dolores Grey's great song "If," she complains, "if you had not left me home when you had two seats for South Pacif."
Rodgers and Hart also make several show biz references in "Zip" from Pal Joey, including "Will Saroyan ever write a great play?"
Irving Berlin's "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate.
Tthere's "Me as KIng Lear" (Send in the Clowns) and "Speeches are brilliant when they're Shaw's" (The Glamorous life, film version, sometimes done on stage) from ALNM.
Finally: "She plays Medea later this week." Comedy Tonight, Forum.
Updated On: 8/30/12 at 07:25 AM