# Du Barry Was a Lady

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1939 Broadway musical

Du Barry Was a Lady 1939 original Broadway production playbill cover Music Cole Porter Lyrics Cole Porter Book Herbert Fields and Buddy DeSylva Productions 1939 Broadway 1942 West End 1993 and 2001 London staged concert 1996 Encores!

***Du Barry Was a Lady*** is a Broadway musical, with music and lyrics by [Cole Porter](/source/Cole_Porter), and the book by [Herbert Fields](/source/Herbert_Fields) and [Buddy DeSylva](/source/Buddy_DeSylva).[1] The musical starred [Bert Lahr](/source/Bert_Lahr), [Ethel Merman](/source/Ethel_Merman) and [Betty Grable](/source/Betty_Grable), and the song "Friendship" was one of the highlights. The musical was made into the 1943 [Technicolor](/source/Technicolor) film *[Du Barry Was a Lady](/source/Du_Barry_Was_a_Lady_(film))*, starring [Red Skelton](/source/Red_Skelton), [Lucille Ball](/source/Lucille_Ball), [Gene Kelly](/source/Gene_Kelly), and [Tommy Dorsey](/source/Tommy_Dorsey) and his orchestra.

## Plot

A washroom attendant, Louis Blore, has won a sweepstakes, and subsequently quits his job. He is in love with the nightclub singer May Daly, but she is in love with Alex Barton. Alex is the brother of her friend Alice, who is in love with Harry Norton. Meanwhile, Alex is unhappily married to Ann. Charley, Louis's replacement, suggests that Louis slip Alex a [Mickey Finn](/source/Mickey_Finn_(drugs)). While trying to do so, Louis inadvertently drinks the Mickey Finn, falls asleep, and dreams he is King [Louis XV](/source/Louis_XV) of France, and that May is [Madame du Barry](/source/Madame_du_Barry).

In his dream, Charley becomes the [Dauphin](/source/Dauphin_of_France) (later [Louis XVI](/source/Louis_XVI)) and Harry becomes the captain of the guard, with Ann as Du Barry's [lady-in-waiting](/source/Lady-in-waiting), and Alex as a peasant who wrote a rude song about The King and Du Barry (the title song: "Du Barry Was a Lady"). Eventually after various entanglements (including the Dauphin's shooting the King in the posterior with a bow and arrow), Louis wakes up and realizes that Alex is the man for May. He uses the last of his winnings to pay for Alex's divorce from Ann, and (with Charley having just quit his job) goes back to being a washroom attendant.

## Productions

### 1939 Broadway

[Bert Lahr](/source/Bert_Lahr) in the original Broadway production of *Du Barry Was a Lady* (1939)

The musical opened on Broadway at the [46th Street Theatre](/source/46th_Street_Theatre) on December 6, 1939, transferred to the [Royale Theatre](/source/Royale_Theatre) on October 21, 1940 and closed December 12, 1940, after 408 performances. It was directed by Edgar MacGregor, choreographed by [Robert Alton](/source/Robert_Alton), with the orchestrations of [Robert Russell Bennett](/source/Robert_Russell_Bennett) and [Ted Royal](/source/Ted_Royal). The cast featured [Bert Lahr](/source/Bert_Lahr) as Louis Blore, [Ethel Merman](/source/Ethel_Merman) as May Daly, [Betty Grable](/source/Betty_Grable) as Alice Barton, [Benny Baker](/source/Benny_Baker) as Charley, [Ronald Graham](/source/Ronald_Graham_(actor)) as Alex Barton and [Charles Walters](/source/Charles_Walters) as Harry Norton. [Gypsy Rose Lee](/source/Gypsy_Rose_Lee) and Frances Williams later played the part of May Daly.[1][2]

### West End

The show opened in the [West End](/source/West_End_theatre) at [Her Majesty's Theatre](/source/Her_Majesty's_Theatre)[3] on 22 October 1942 and ran for 178 performances.[4] It was directed by [Richard Bird](/source/Richard_Bird_(actor)). The cast featured [Arthur Riscoe](/source/Arthur_Riscoe) as Louis Blore, [Frances Day](/source/Frances_Day) as May Daly, [Frances Marsden](/source/Frances_Marsden) as Alice Barton, Jacky Hunter as Charley, Bruce Trent as Alex Barton and Teddy Beaumont as Harry Norton.

### Later productions

The show has been produced in concert form in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The two London productions, in 1993 and 2001, were by the Discovering Lost Musicals Charitable Trust and featured [Louise Gold](/source/Louise_Gold) as May Daly with [Barry Cryer](/source/Barry_Cryer) as Louis in 1993 and Desmond Barrit in 2001.[5][6] The May 1993 production was at the [Barbican Centre](/source/Barbican_Centre). The November 2001 concert was (like the original London production) at Her Majesty's Theatre, recorded for radio by the BBC (it was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 during Christmas 2002).[7]

New York City Center [Encores!](/source/Encores!) presented a staged concert in February 1996 with [Robert Morse](/source/Robert_Morse) (Louis) and [Faith Prince](/source/Faith_Prince) (May).[8] New York's Musicals Tonight! presented a production March–April, 2017.

The song "[Give Him the Ooh-La-La](/source/Give_Him_the_Ooh-La-La_(song))" was performed by [Carol Burnett](/source/Carol_Burnett) in one of her earlier TV appearances in 1956 as part of the [Omnibus](/source/Omnibus_(U.S._TV_series)) program *The American Musical Comedy*.[9]

The show later appeared on the [BBC Radio](/source/BBC_Radio) with [Louise Gold](/source/Louise_Gold) and [Desmond Barrit](/source/Desmond_Barrit) singing the lead roles.

*Du Barry Was a Lady* received a fully staged production in May 2014 by San Francisco's [42nd Street Moon](/source/42nd_Street_Moon) Company starring [Bruce Vilanch](/source/Bruce_Vilanch) in the Bert Lahr role, directed and choreographed by Zack Thomas Wilde.[10][11]

## Casts

Original Broadway (1939)[12] National Tour (1940)[13] Original London (1942)[14] Encores! (1996)[15] May Daly/Mme. La Comtesse du Barry Ethel Merman Frances Williams Frances Day Faith Prince Louis Blore/His Most Royal Majesty, The King of France Bert Lahr Arthur Riscoe Robert Morse Harry Norton/Capt. of the King's Guard Charles Walters David Shelley Teddy Beaumont Scott Waara Alice Barton/Mme La Marquise Alisande De Vernay Betty Grable Ruth Bond Frances Marsden Liz Larsen Vi Hennessey/Mme. La Duchesse De Villardell Jean Moorehead Sunny Rice Inga Andersen Ruth Williamson Bill Kelly/Le Duc De Choiseul Walter Armin Oscar Ragland Bruce Adler Alex Barton/Alixe Ronald Graham Bruce Trent Burke Moses Charley/His Royal Highness, Dauphin of France Benny Baker Jackie Hunter Michael McGrath

## Songs

In an early shared credit, the songwriting duo of [Hugh Martin](/source/Hugh_Martin) and [Ralph Blane](/source/Ralph_Blane) handled the vocal arrangements for the original Broadway production.

Act I Where's Louie? – Ensemble Ev'ry Day's a Holiday – Harry Norton, Alice Barton and Ensemble It Ain't Etiquette – His Most Royal Majesty, The King of France and Vi Hennessey When Love Beckoned – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry Come On In – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry and Ensemble Dream Song – Four Internationals Mesdames and Messieurs – Dames de la Coeur Gavotte – Alice Barton and Ensemble But in the Morning, No! – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry and His Most Royal Majesty, The King of France Do I Love You? – Alex Barton and Mme. La Comtesse du Barry Do I Love You (Reprise) – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry and Zamore Du Barry Was a Lady – Entire Company Act II Give Him the Ooh-La-La – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry Well, Did You Evah! – Alice Barton and Harry Norton It Was Written in the Stars – Alex Barton and Ensemble L'Apres Midi d'un Boeuf – Charley and Zamore Katie Went to Haiti – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry and Ensemble Katie Went to Haiti (Reprise) – Alex Barton and Mme. La Comtesse du Barry Friendship – Mme. La Comtesse du Barry and His Most Royal Majesty, The King of France

## Reception

[Brooks Atkinson](/source/Brooks_Atkinson) wrote in *The New York Times*: "Although Miss Merman is jaunty and Mr. Lahr is funny, they have a hard time keeping this show merry. The authors have struck a dead level of Broadway obscenity that does not yield much mirth. As the music-maker Mr. Porter has written a number of accomplished tunes in the modern idiom and one excellent romantic song, "Do I Love You?" but the lyrics are no more inspired than the book; they treat all humor as middling. The performers supply more pleasure than the authors and composer. Betty Grable and Charles Walters, who would also be featured in a free society, dance and sing with remarkable dash."[16]

*Life* praised the performers, especially Betty Grable "who can dance and sing like a May breeze" and Merman and Lahr "two musical comedy veterans...in top form."[17]

## Film

Main article: [Du Barry Was a Lady (film)](/source/Du_Barry_Was_a_Lady_(film))

The film was released by MGM on May 30, 1943. It was directed by [Roy Del Ruth](/source/Roy_Del_Ruth). It used very little of the original Cole Porter score.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lady_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lady_1-1) ["'Du Barry Was a Lady'"](http://www.sondheimguide.com/porter/dubarry.html) sondheimguide.com, accessed February 15, 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Green, Stanley](/source/Stanley_Green_(historian)) and Green, Kay. ["Du Barry Was a Lady"](https://books.google.com/books?id=KDKFHniTy1YC&dq=%22Bert+Lahr%22+%22DuBarry+Was+a+Lady+%22&pg=PA109) *Broadway Musicals, Show By Show* (5 ed.), Hal Leonard Corporation, 1996, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7935-7750-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7935-7750-0), p. 109

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** The name of the theatre changes with the sex of the monarch, called His Majesty's Theatre in 1942

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [London Shows Chronology, 1942"](http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/london_shows_chronology/1942.htm) guidetomusicaltheatre.com, accessed January 12, 2011

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["*Du Barry Was A Lady* (1993 Production)"](http://www.qsulis.demon.co.uk/Website_Louise_Gold/Dubarry_Was_A_Lady_1993.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091211115814/http://www.qsulis.demon.co.uk/Website_Louise_Gold/Dubarry_Was_A_Lady_1993.htm) 2009-12-11 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), qsulis.demon.co.uk, accessed February 15, 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["*Du Barry Was A Lady* (2001 Production)"](http://www.qsulis.demon.co.uk/Website_Louise_Gold/Dubarry_Was_A_Lady_2001.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130719113437/http://www.qsulis.demon.co.uk/Website_Louise_Gold/Dubarry_Was_A_Lady_2001.htm) 2013-07-19 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) accessed February 15, 2010

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Koenig, Rhoda.["*Du Barry was a Lady*, Her Majesty's Theatre, London"](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/dubarry-was-a-lady-her-majestys-theatre-london-617633.html)[*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*],*The Independent*, 22 November 2001

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Brantley, Ben.["Theater Review: Du Barry Was No Lady, In 1939 or Even Today](https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/17/theater/theater-review-du-barry-was-no-lady-in-1939-or-even-today.html?pagewanted=1)*The New York Times*, February 17, 1996

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Omnibus" (1956) {The American Musical Comedy (#5.1)}"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0664935/combined). *[IMDb](/source/IMDb)*. Retrieved 12 October 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [\[1\]](http://blog.sfgate.com/artsandnot/2013/12/11/vilanch-takes-lahr-role-in-42nd-street-moons-next-cole-porter/) sfgate.com, 2013

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Du Barry](http://www.42ndstmoon.org/du-barry) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140413142848/http://www.42ndstmoon.org/du-barry) 2014-04-13 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 42ndstmoon.org

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Du Barry Was a Lady (Original Broadway Production, 1939) | Ovrtur"](https://ovrtur.com/production/2880324). *ovrtur.com*. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Credits for Du Barry Was a Lady (National Tour, 1940) | Ovrtur"](https://ovrtur.com/production/2901458/credits). *ovrtur.com*. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Credits for Du Barry Was a Lady (London Production, 1942) | Ovrtur"](https://ovrtur.com/production/2882922/credits). *ovrtur.com*. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Credits for Du Barry Was a Lady (Encores! Concert, 1996) | Ovrtur"](https://ovrtur.com/production/2890848/credits). *ovrtur.com*. Retrieved 2023-03-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Atkinson, Brooks. ["Bert Lahr and Ethel Merman in 'DuBarry Was a Lady' With Cole Porter's Music"](https://www.nytimes.com/books/98/11/29/specials/porter-dubarry.html) *The New York Times*, December 7, 1939

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** (no author). ["Old and New Stars Make 'Du Barry Was a Lady' Cole Porter's Latest Hit"](https://books.google.com/books?id=5EEEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Cole+Porter%22+DuBarry-Was-a-Lady&pg=PA59) *Life Magazine*, December 11, 1939, p. 59

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [DuBarry Was a Lady](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:DuBarry_Was_a_Lady).

- [*​Du Barry Was a Lady​*](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/1024) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [*Du Barry Was a Lady*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035829/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) (1943 film adaptation)

- [The Shelf: Review of Du Barry Was a Lady](https://randomshelf.blogspot.com/2007/06/dvd-review-lucille-ball-collection.html)

v t e Cole Porter Musicals See America First Hitchy-Koo of 1919 Paris Fifty Million Frenchmen Wake Up and Dream The New Yorkers Gay Divorce Nymph Errant Anything Goes Jubilee Red, Hot and Blue You Never Know Leave It to Me! Du Barry Was a Lady Panama Hattie Let's Face It! Something for the Boys Mexican Hayride Around the World Kiss Me, Kate Out of This World Can-Can Silk Stockings Happy New Year Films Born to Dance Rosalie Broadway Melody of 1940 You'll Never Get Rich Something to Shout About The Pirate Stage Fright High Society Les Girls Aladdin Songs Ace in the Hole After You, Who? All of You All Through the Night Allez-Vous-En Always True to You in My Fashion Another Op'nin', Another Show Anything Goes At Long Last Love Be a Clown Begin the Beguine C'est Magnifique Ça, C'est L'amour Do I Love You? Don't Fence Me In Down in the Depths Dream Dancing Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye From This Moment On Get Out of Town Give Him the Ooh-La-La I Am in Love I Concentrate on You I Get a Kick Out of You I Happen to Like New York I Love Paris I Love You I Love You, Samantha I've Got My Eyes on You I've Got You Under My Skin In the Still of the Night It's All Right with Me It's Bad for Me It's De-Lovely Just One of Those Things Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love Let's Misbehave Love for Sale Mind If I Make Love to You? Miss Otis Regrets My Heart Belongs to Daddy Night and Day Ridin' High So in Love So Near and yet So Far Tom, Dick or Harry Too Darn Hot True Love Well, Did You Evah! What Is This Thing Called Love? Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Why Can't You Behave? You Do Something to Me You'd Be So Easy to Love You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To You're Sensational You're the Top

v t e Herbert Fields Musicals Dearest Enemy (1925) The Girl Friend (1926) Peggy-Ann (1926) Hit the Deck (1927) A Connecticut Yankee (1927) Present Arms (1928) Fifty Million Frenchmen (1929) The New Yorkers (1930) America's Sweetheart (1931) Pardon My English (1933) Du Barry Was a Lady (1939) Panama Hattie (1940) Let's Face It! (1941) Something for the Boys (1943, also directed) Mexican Hayride (1944) Up in Central Park (1945, written by) Annie Get Your Gun (1946) Arms and the Girl (1950) By the Beautiful Sea (1954) Family Lew Fields (father) Dorothy Fields (sister) Joseph Fields (brother)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Du Barry Was a Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Barry_Was_a_Lady) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Barry_Was_a_Lady?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.