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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Rowdy backwoods hi-jinks as the spunky Milly, newly married to Adam Pontipee, tries to civilize his six wild brothers, who kidnap six girls in a hillbilly attempt to make them their brides.
Opened 7/11/1982 Ran for 5 performances.
Version: Original 1982 Broadway version
Credits: Book by Lawrence Kasha and David Landay
Music by Gene de Paul
Joel Hirschhorn
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Al Kasha
Based on the MGM film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and The Sobbin' Women by Stephen Vincent Benet
Type: Book Show
Acts: Two
Rating: G
Cast Size: Large (over 20)
Orchestra Size: Large (17+)
Chorus Required: large
Dancing Required: Yes, standard
Difficulty: Easy to learn
Easy to sing
Style: Americana
Broadway
Category: Comedy
Period Piece
Romance
Ideal For: Colleges
Community Theatres
Dancers
Festivals
Fund-Raising
High Schools
Regional Theatres
Cast Size: Large (over 20)
7 Men & 7 Women
Casting Notes:
Characters: Adam Pontipee, a bull-headed but earnest baritone
Milly, his spunky, independent bride
The Brothers:
Benjamin
Caleb
Daniel
Ephraim
Frank
Gideon, who sings more than his brothers
The Brides:
Alice
Dorcas
Ruth
Liza
Martha
Sarah
The rival suitors: Jeb, Carl, Luke, Matt, Joel, Zeke
Major townspeople: Preacher, Lumberman, Mr. Bixby, Mrs. Bixby, Mr. Perkins, Mrs. Perkins
Also: more townspeople, townsboys and townsgirls.
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS - STAGE MUSICAL
Overture
Bless your Beautiful Hide
Wonderful Wonderful Day
One Man
Goin' Courtin'
Love Never Goes Away
Sobbin' Women
The Townsfolk's Lament
A Woman Ought To Know Her Place
We Gotta Make It Through the Winter
We Gotta Make It Through the Winter (Reprise)
Lonesome Polecat
Spring, Spring, Spring
A Woman Ought To Know Her Place (Reprise)
Glad That You Were Born
Love Never Goes Away
Wedding Dance
Finale: Goin' Courtin' & Wonderful Wonderful Day
PLOT SUMMARY FOR SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
When backwoodsman Adam Pontipee goes to town looking for a bride, he finds Milly
and convinces her to marry him -- immediately Bless Yore Beautiful Hide.
Milly's friends are horrified that she is to marry a man she has only just met, and try
to warn her against the marriage -- but Milly is ecstatically happy and optimistic, and
she does not allow her friends to change her mind Wonderful Wonderful Day.
On their arrival at the farm after their wedding, Milly's joy turns to dismay when she
finds she is to also take care of Adam's six unkempt, rowdy brothers One Man.
Milly's heart quickly melts, however, and she sets about teaching the boys manners
-- as well as teaching them how to court girls Goin' Courtin'.
At the town social the brothers and girls' town suitors square off in a rousing challenge dance which ends in a brawl,
and the brothers' banishment from the town. When Gideon tells of his feelings of love for Alice, it soon becomes
apparent that his view of love is completely different to that of Adam's view on the subject Love Never Goes Away.
The boys become depressed at not being able to see their girls, and Adam advises his brothers to do like the
Romans did with the Sabine women -- just carry off the girls
they want Sobbin' Women.
The boys sneak into town to kidnap the girls -- and escape by causing an avalanche
which shuts off their pursuers The Townsfolk's Lament.
A horrified Milly bars the boys from the house until the spring thaw when the girls
could be taken back to town. Although his brothers decide to do so, Adam refuses
to take Milly's orders and leaves for the trapping cabin to wait out the winter there
A Woman Oughta Know Her Place.
During the winter, the brothers and girls long for each other -- but Milly advises
everyone to be patient until the spring We Gotta Make It Through the Winter.
By spring, the couples are together and very much in love Spring, Spring, Spring.
When Milly has a baby girl, Gideon goes up to the cabin to get Adam to come home,
and to tell him about his baby daugher. A still resentful Adam refuses to leave the
trapping cabin and return home -- but he begins to question his feelings for Milly
A Woman Oughta Know Her Place (Reprise).
When he returns home, to mention to his family that the pass is open, Adam hears
Milly and the couples singing the baby to sleep Glad That You Were Born.
Adam tells Milly that he had been thinking of the baby, while up at the cabin, and how
he would feel if somebody came and carried her off. He also tells Milly that he had been thinking of her while up at
the trapping cabin, and that he loved her. Adam kisses Milly
-- and a delighted Milly responds to his affection Love Never Goes Away (Reprise).
Adam realises that he was wrong and decides to take the girls back to town. The girls overhear Adam's plan and
run to hide. They want to stay with their men. The townsmen, who had left the town as soon as the pass was clear,
arrive at the farm and misinterpret what's happening as the brothers catch the girls in a situation that appears more
sinister than it is.
All ends well when each of the girls, simultaneously, claims to be the mother of Milly's
baby -- and the shocked townsmen fulfil everyone's wishes by forcing the couples to
marry in a shotgun wedding -- thereby inadvertently ensuring the happiness of all by
giving everyone exactly what they wanted Wedding Dance and Goin' Courtin' / Wonderful Wonderful Day.
1.Bless Your Beautiful Hide
2.Wonderful Day
3.One Man
4.Goin' Courting
5.Love Never Goes Away
6.Sobbin' Women
7.A Woman Ought To Know Her Place
8.We Gotta Make It Through The Winter
9.We Gotta Make It Through The Winter (Reprise)
10.A Woman Ought To Know Her Place (Reprise)
11.Glad That You Were Born
12.Love Never Goes Away (Reprise)
13.Wonderful Day (Reprise)
1.Bless Your Beautiful Hide
Adam
Bless your beautiful hide,
Bless your beautiful hide.
Bless your beautiful hide
Wherever you may be.
We ain't met yet
But I'm a willin' to bet
You're the gal for me.
Bless your beautiful hide
You're just as good as lost.
I don't know your name
But I'm a-stakin' my claim
Lest your eyes is crossed.
Oh, I'd swap my gun 'n' I'd swap my mule
Tho' whoever took it would be one big fool.
Or pay your way thru cookin' school.
If 'n you would say I do.
Bless your beautiful hide
Prepare to bend your knee.
And take that vow
Cause I'm tellin' you now,
You're the gal for me.
Pretty and trim but kinda slim.
Heavenly eyes but oh that size,
She's gotta be right to be the bride for me.
Bless her beautiful hide
Wherever she may be.
Bless your beautiful hide
Wherever you may be.
We ain't met yet but I'm a willin' to bet
You're the gal for me.
2.Wonderful Day [ Top ]
Milly
Could have married long ago
I said "no" when fellers came proposing.
Bankers, teachers, preachers, too
Were among the men I could have chosen.
Kept my feet on the ground,
Now I know where I'm bound.
He came out of nowhere,
Walkin' through the door,
Lookin' straight my way.
Wonderful, wonderful day.
He saw someone touch me
And he tossed him out like a bale of hay.
Wonderful, wonderful day.
Can't wait til I'm with him
In our cabin just for two.
Sheltered and secluded
Only trees near us
No one hearin' us.
And so you'll forgive me.
If I simply throw my chest and say:
"Wonderful, wonderful day."
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Think of the suitable men in this town
When you're in those mountains there's no comin' down.
Milly
He said there's a big spread
It's a hilltop haven where we will stay.
Liza, Martha, Ruth
You can't mean it,
You ain't even seen it.
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful
Liza, Martha, Ruth
You hardly know him,
He could mistreat you.
Think of the wolves and the bears that could eat you.
Milly
How bad can the wolves be after
Wolves that pinch me and grab my tray.
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Stop the pastor, oh, disaster.
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful day.
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Least ways let him court you
Make him come back in the spring.
Can this man support you?
Milly think is he a drifter,
A drinking man?
Milly
Full steam heading upstream
If I sink or swim I believe in him
Wonderful, wonderful
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Please don't be hurried
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Milly we're worried
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful
Liza, Martha, Ruth
Milly resist him.
Milly
It's too late,
It's too late,
It's too late,
I've already kissed him!
Beautiful, glorious, heavenly, marvelous,
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,
Wonderful, wonderful day!
3.One Man [ Top ]
Milly
It's enough to make you bitter
But I've never been a quitter
And I'm not nearly done.
Didn't marry seven brothers,
Didn't marry seven brothers.
Only married one.
I want one man to be mine alone
Crowds of strangers are all I've known.
One man to be frank and free with
One vow to be tied to
Someone willing to love me honestly.
Don't want to be lied to,
I want one man who can show he cares
For more than cookin' and dusted chairs.
One man who respects my thinking,
Two promises planted firmly rooted
We'll share our feelings and not take them for granted.
I walked into love and I took a blow,
But I'll never break.
I'm holding my ground 'cause deep down I know
It's not a mistake, it's not a mistake, it's not a mistake!
I want one man and I'll face the fight
Won't give in 'til it works out right.
Things worth havin' don't come easy,
I'll finish what I began.
I know this is it, I'm not gonna quit
I've found that one man.
Things worth havin' don't come easy,
I'll finish what I began.
I know this is it, I'm not gonna quit
I've found that one man.
I know this is it, they won't make quit
I've found that one man.
4.Goin' Courting [ Top ]
Milly
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
Oh it sets your senses in a whirl.
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
Dudin' up to go and see your gal.
Oh, it's fun to hunt and shoot a gun,
Or to catch a rabbit on the run
But you'll find it's twice as sportin' goin' courtin'.
Now there's lots o' things you gotta know
Be sure the parlor light is low
Y' sidle up and squeeze her hand
Let me tell you fella's that is grand.
You hem and haw a little while
She gives you kinda half a smile.
You cuddle up she moves away
Then the strategy comes into play.
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
If you find it hard to break the ice
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
Here's a little feminine advice.
Roll your eyes and heave a little sigh.
Grunt and groan like you're about to die.
That is what's known as emotin' goin' courtin'!
Benjamin
(spoken)
How 'bout parkin parlor's darkin'
And you're longing for a fond embrace
Daniel
(spoken)
How 'bout pettin'
How 'bout sofa settin'
Gideon
(spoken)
Suppose she up and slaps your face
Milly
(spoken)
Just remember "blessed are the meek"
(sung)
Don't forget to turn the other cheek,
Soon you'll both be larkin',
Goin' sparkin'?
Goin' dancin'?
Boys
Goin' dancin'?
Milly
At a fancy ball or minuet.
Goin' dancin',
You'll impress her with your etiquette.
Frank
(spoken)
You mean that men are learnin' how to dance?
Milly
Yes, it came direct from Paris, France
It'll help with your romancin' goin' dancin'.
Brothers
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
Oh, it sees your senses in a whirl
Goin' courtin', goin' courtin'
Duddin' up to go and see your girl.
Oh it's fun to shoot a gun
Or to catch a rabbit on the run,
But you'll find it's twice as sportin'
Goin' courtin'.
Milly
(spoken)
Keep your fishin'
Brothers
(spoken)
And fussin'
Milly
(spoken)
And fightin'
Brothers
(spoken)
And cussin'
All
(spoken)
And trappin'
(sung)
'Cause we're goin' courtin'!
5.Love Never Goes Away [ Top ]
Adam
Look at you,
Like a lost little calf
I don't mean to laugh or tease you.
Where's your sense there are so many girls
With long golden curls to please you.
Love comes and goes away,
You're hurtin' bad tonight.
Oh, love comes and goes away,
I'm older ain't I always led you right.
Gideon
Alice isn't just any girl.
Adam
I know that love's not a game.
Gideon
Alice isn't just any girl.
Adam
At heart ev'ry girl's the same,
Ev'ry girl's the same.
Gideon
Not her, not her.
Adam
Love comes and goes away
You're hurtin' bad tonight.
Oh love comes and goes away
I'm older ain't I always led you right?
Milly
I could run but the feeling is there.
No place anywhere can hide me,
I'm in love and I don't have a chance
I can't stop that voice inside me.
Love never goes away,
It plays on like a song.
Oh, love never goes away,
He holds me and I know where I belong.
Gideon
Alice isn't just any girl
I know that love's not a game.
Milly
Adam isn't any man
Adam
At heart ev'ry girl's the same,
They are all the same
Gideon
Not her, not her
Milly
Not him, not him
Adam
He'll see, he'll see
Milly Adam Gideon
Love never goes away It goes away I love Alice
It plays on like a song. Comes and goes away. This feeling
Can't be wrong.
Oh love never goes away I love Alice
You can't get free In time you'll see You can't get free
When you're in love You'll look at love When you're in love
All
Like me!
6.Sobbin' Women [ Top ]
Adam
Tell ya 'bout them sobbin' women
Who lived in the Roman days.
It seems that they all went swimmin'
While their men was off to graze.
Well, a Roman troop was ridin' by
And saw them in their "me oh my",
So they took 'em all back home to dry.
Least that's what Plutarch says.
Oh yes!
Them a woman was sobbin', sobbin', sobbin'
Fit to be tied.
Ev'ry muscle was throbbin', throbbin'
From that riotous ride.
Oh they cried and kissed and kissed and cried
All over that Roman countryside
So don't forget that when you're takin' a bride.
Sobbin' fit to be tied
From that riotous ride!
They never did return their plunder
The victor gets all the loot.
They carried them home, by thunder,
To rotundas small but cute.
And you've never seens so,
They tell me, such downright domesticity.
With a Roman baby on each knee
Named "Claudius" and "Brute"
Six Brothers
Oh yes!
Them a women was sobbin', sobbin', passin' them nights.
Adam
While the Romans was goin' out hobbin', nobbin'
Startin' up fights.
They kept occupied by sewin' lots of little old togas
For them tots and sayin' "someday women folk'll have rights."
Gideon
Passin' all o' them nights.
Adam
Just sewin'!
While the Romans had fights.
Caleb
"Hey listen to this"
Now when their men folk went to fetch 'em
Them women would not be fetched.
It seems them Romans ketch 'em
That their lady friends stay ketched.
Adam
Now let this be because it's true,
A lesson to the likes of you,
Treat 'em rough like them there Romans do
Or else they'll think you're tetched.
Six Brothers
Oh yes!
Them a women was sobbin', sobbin',
Sobbin' buckets of tears
On account o' old dobbin',
Dobbin' really rattled their ears.
Oh they acted angry and annoyed
Gideon
But secretly they was overjoyed
Adam
You must recall that when corralin' your streets
Brothers
Oh, oh, oh, oh them poe little dears.
Six Brothers Adam
Oh yes
Them a women was sobbin', sobbin', sobbin' Oh yeah
Weepin' a ton Then sobbin' women
Just remember what Robin, Robin, Robin Oh yeah
Hood woulda done. Them sobbin women.
We'll be just like them three merry men
And make 'em all merry once again.
Adam
And though they'll be a sobbin' for a while
All
Oh yes!
We're gonna make them sobbin' women smile!
Suitors Lament
Preacher, Bixby, Perkins
Protect the virtue of our lambs
Don't lead them to the slaughter.
Townsmen
Slaughter the snakes.
Tear 'em to apart.
Batter their bones.
Bash in their heads.
While they're at home
Asleep in their beds.
Preacher, Bixby, Perkins
Lord, sweet lord!
Keep our maidens pure as snow,
As pure as holy water.
Townsmen
Shootin' em down.
They're gonna fall.
Beatin' 'em up.
They're gonna crawl.
Burn 'em alive.
Murder them all.
Bustin' their butts, Bustin' their, Bustin their,
Amen!
7.A Woman Ought To Know Her Place [ Top ]
Adam
I'm leavin' here I'm gettin' out
I won't have any woman takin' over.
She's gonna have to learn
I ain't no holy coddle she can shove around.
No more tellin' me what I can do or think,
When to smoke when to cuss and what to drink.
Ever since the wedding she's tried to hold the reins,
No one's puttin' me in chains.
A woman ought to know her place.
A place she's had since time began.
A woman ought to know her place is behind her man
Is behind her man.
She's figurin' we share a bed
So she can twist me round her little finger.
I've seen her try to change my brothers
But God she won't change me.
The boys took what belonged to them they meant no harm.
She was wrong to throw me out it ain't her farm.
She was smart and foxy full of woman's wiles
Foolin' me with girlish smiles.
A woman ought to know her place,
And give her husband all she can.
When will Milly learn her place is behind her mind?
And after all I married her,
A waitress with no living kin.
She thinks I'll beg on bended knee,
But when I don't come home
She'll see, she'll see.
A woman's got to know her place.
Milly's got to learn her place
If she ever wants to take her place with me.
8.We Gotta Make It Through The Winter [ Top ]
Daniel
Lemme out, lemme out
Lemme just see her.
Lemme out, lemme out
Out of this cage.
Gideon
Stuck in a barn with cupid's cramp,
Ephraim
How can we live like this?
Daniel
Why don't we go and sample just one kiss.
Caleb
Lemme out, lemme out
Lemme get near her,
Gotta shout, gotta shout
Gotta get free.
Ephraim
Didn't make plans to sleep with you
Cuddle up by your ear
Wanted to smell perfume and not smell beer.
All
But we gotta make it through the winter
Or we won't get lovin' in the spring.
We gotta make it make it through the winter
Or Millie says we won't get a doggone
Millie says we won't get a doggone
Millie says we won't get a doggone thing.
Benjamin
I see Dorcas lyin' there in a siky gown
All
(spoken)
Gosh!
Ephraim
Bet my Martha's in the tub soapin' herself down
All
(spoken)
Wow!
Gideon
Did ya see how Alice danced never seen such curves
All (except Gideon)
Yeah!
Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it,
You're gettin' on our nerves.
Caleb
Lemme out, lemme out,
Lemme caress her
All
He'll caress her.
Caleb
Lemme go through the door fella's it's war.
Daniel
Gonna bust in and stake my claim
Gideon
What am I man or mouse.
All
We should be with our women in that house.
Benjamin
Lemme by, lemme by
Lemme get to her
All
He'll get to her.
Daniel
Feelin' bad
Frank
Goin' mad
All
Goin' hog wild
Dan
Thought I'd be squeezin' someone soft
Somebody soft and frail
Who woulda dreamed that she'd be big and male?
All
Oh!
We gotta make it through the winter
Or we won't get lovin' in the spring.
We gotta make it through the winter
Or Milly says we won't get a doggone thing.
Frank
Nothin' would be half as nice as strokin' Sarah's hair
All
Yeah!
Dan
Touchin' Liza while her clothes are hangin' on a chair.
All
Yeah!
Caleb
Ruth'll sigh and beg for more when we begin to pet.
All (except Caleb)
Yeah!
Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it
You got us in a sweat.
Yes!
We gotta make it through the winter
Or we won't get lovin' in the spring.
We gotta make it through the winter
Or Milly says we won't get any
Milly says we won't get any
Milly says not a doggone thing.
Benjamin, Ephraim, Gideon
We gotta make it through the winter.
9.We Gotta Make It Through The Winter (Reprise) [ Top ]
Milly
You've got to make it through the winter
And hope for some lovin' in the spring.
You've got to make it through the winter
The time'll come when church bells will start to ring.
Just be patient 'til the spring.
Girls
'Til the spring, 'til the spring, 'til spring.
10.A Woman Ought To Know Her Place (Reprise) [ Top ]
Adam
Stayin' here I'm keepin' out
I won't have any woman takin' over.
Gideon
Milly needs you please come home.
Adam
She's gonna have to learn
I ain't no Molly Coodle
She can shove around.
Gideon
She only wanted to reason with you.
Adam
No more tellin' me what I can do or think
Gideon
Try to see it her way.
Adam
When to smoke and when to cuss and what to drink.
Adam Gideon
Ever since our weddin' Don't be stubborn and unbending
She' tried to hold the reins.
No woman's puttin' me in chains. She's depending on you.
A woman ought to know her place Lovers should be sharin'
And give her husband all she can. Stand together carin'
A woman ought to know her place
Is behind her man. Not behind him
Gideon
But beside him.
Adam
Am I stubborn and unbending?
Is she really depending on me?
Can it be?
Is my brother right?
11.Glad That You Were Born [ Top ]
Milly
Through your eyes skies look brighter
Grass more green clouds are whiter.
When you're close cares grow lighter,
I'm glad that you were born.
Through your eyes hills stretch higher.
When you smile you inspire hearts to sing in a choir.
I'm glad that you were born.
Born to laugh, born to dream
Born to spread your light.
Through your eyes I see clearer
You bring God so much nearer.
Life has grown so much dearer,
I'm glad that you were...
All
Born to laugh, born to dream.
Born to spread your light.
Milly
Through your eyes I see clearer
You being God so much nearer.
Life has grown so much dearer
I'm glad that you were born.
12.Love Never Goes Away (Reprise) [ Top ]
Adam
Tried to run but the feeling is there,
No place anywhere could hide me.
Here I am and I don't have a choice
I can't stop stop that voice inside me.
Love never goes away.
It plays on like a song.
Adam and Milly
Love never goes away
I hold you and I know where I belong.
13.Wonderful Day (Reprise) [ Top ]
Milly
You came out of nowhere
Walkin' through the door
Lookin' straight my way
Wonderful, wonderful
Adam
Milly, let's hurry
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful
Adam
Milly don't worry
Milly
Wonderful, wonderful
Adam
Milly, resist me.
Milly
It's too late, its too late,
You've already kissed me.