Applause (Strouse Anthology Version)

Applause (Strouse Anthology Version)

From: Applause
By: Strouse
Voice Type(s): Baritone,Tenor,Alto,Mezzo,Soprano

Full
F
Melody
F

Show Synopsis:
Margo Channing presents a Tony Award to her young proteges Eve Harrington, and while she gives an acceptance speech which thanks Margo, Margo remembers the night she and Eve met. It was another opening night for her, and her fiancé Bill is leaving to direct a film in Rome. Instead of going to the opening night party without him, Margo goes to a gay nightclub with her hairdresser and young fan Eve, who has no friends in New York. Eve becomes Margo?s assistant and eventually conspires to be Margo?s understudy in a play as her marriage to Bill crumbles. Margo?s friend believes Margo was too hard on Eve and drains her gas tank so that Margo misses a show and Eve can perform. Bill goes back to Margo but she rejects him because she wants time and energy to focus on her career. Eve struggles to maintain a solid relationship with either Buzz, a playwright, or Howard, a producer, both of whom can help her career. Margo realizes that a life with Bill is better than anything Eve could have.	

Character:
Bonnie, a confident gypsy.

Song Context:
Bonnie and the other gypsies sing about how much they love performing and their audiences.	

Fun Facts:
1) This musical was based on the 1950 film All About Eve, which was based on Mary Orr's short story "The Wisdom of Eve." 
2) Soap opera star Bonnie Franklin originated the role of Bonnie in her only Broadway performance, which earned her a Theatre World Award and a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. 3) This song was recorded by Franklin and an orchestra and released as a single, and its popularity led to her performance at the 24th Tony Awards. It was without a doubt the most popular song of that Broadway season's new scores.
    

"What is it that we?re living for?
Applause, applause!
Nothing I know brings on the glow
Like sweet applause!
You?re thinking you?re through, that nobody cares
Then suddenly you hear it starting!
And somehow you?re in charge again and it?s a ball.
Trumpets all sing. Life seems to swing
And you?re the king of it all, ?cause
You?ve had a taste of the sound that says love
Applause, applause, applause!


What is it that we?re living for?
Applause, Applause!
Nothing I know brings on the glow
Like sweet applause.
You?re catching the flu,
Your bank account?s bare,
You?re lonely and blue, then you hear it!
And all at once you know again
What life is for.
Cares disapper
Soon as you hear, 
That happy audience roar ?cause,
You?ve had a taste of the sound that says love
Applause, applause, applause!"