Jun 9, 2023
"Cleopatterer," from Leave it to Jane, 1917, sung by Joan Morris.
Today, P.G. Wodehouse is known for his novels and stories, especially those about that valet of valets, Jeeves. But for 30 years beginning in 1904, Wodehouse also wrote the books and lyrics for 33 musicals. In 1917 alone, he had five shows running on Broadway at once.
But Wodehouse produced more than hits: he was one of the great innovators in American musical theater. He steered it away from revues and imported operettas to stories about contemporary life that had a plot that made some sense. As a lyricist (or “lyrist,” to use the older term that he preferred), Wodehouse used vernacular speech rather than flowery poetics.
