The Roar of the Greasepaint The Smell of the Crowd

The Roar of the Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd was another allegorical musical in the same style as the previous Anthony Newley-Leslie Bricusse Stop the World — I Want to Get Off. Again Newley starred and directed, Sean Kenny designed the symbolic set (this one resembling a huge gaming table), and David Merrick was the producer. Here the writers are concerned with the weighty theme of Playing the Game, which covers such universal topics as religion (the supplicating ballad, “Who Can I Turn To?,” is addressed to God), hunger, work, love, success, death, and rebellion. Leading the cast were Cyril Ritchard as Sir, representing ruling class authority, and Anthony Newley as Cocky, representing the masses who submissively play the game according to the existing rules — no matter how unfair they are. In the end, emboldened by a character called The Negro (Gilbert Price), Cocky challenges Sir’s dominance, and they both realize that power must be shared between them. Though the musical folded in England without opening in London, Merrick secured the American rights and sent the Production on a 13½-week tryout tour, thus allowing the infectious music-hall type songs to win favor the show reached Broadway.

Music

Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley

Lyrics

Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley

Book

Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley