Show Synopsis:
Three sailors, Chip, Ozzie and Gabey, have 24 hours leave in New York City and want to find Ivy Smith, who Gabey has seen in magazines. Throughout the day, Chip falls in love with the taxi driver Hildy and Ozzie falls in love with the anthropologist Claire. Gabey finally finds Ivy, and the three men bid goodbye to their women as they head back to war.
Character:
Hildy Esterhazy, a young taxi driver who loves men and flirting with them; very aggressive.
Song Context:
Hildy is trying to seduce Chip in her apartment, and she tries to impress him with her knowledge of many areas of life, including romance and sex.
Fun Facts:
1. This plot of this musical came out of Jerome Robbins' 1944 American Ballet Theatre ballet Fancy Free.
2. Nancy Walker originated the role of Hildy on Broadway. She was dating Jerome Robbins during the time that On the Town was being outlined and written.
3. Bernadette Peters played Hildy in the 1999 Broadway revival of this musical, and told a fan site in an interview that when she approached Hildy, "I start with the words, the character. I totally start with the character. I don't think I consciously erase memories, but I really do start fresh - from the words on the page, what they're saying to me and how I would interpret them. You don't ever want to be a carbon copy of somebody. If it happens you're doing it like somebody, it still must always come from a real place."
"Oh, I can cook, too, on top of the rest,
My seafood's the best in the town.
And I can cook, too.
My fish can't be beat,
My sugar's the sweetest around.
I'm a man's ideal of a perfect meal
Right down to the demi-tasse.
I'm a pot of joy for a hungry boy,
Baby, I'm cookin' with gas.
Oh, I'm a gumdrop,
A sweet lollipop,
A brook trout right out of the brook,
And what's more, baby, I can cook!
Some girls make magazine covers,
Some girls keep house on a dime,
Some girls make wonderful lovers,
But what a lucky find I'm.
I'd make a magazine cover,
I do keep house on a dime,
I make a wonderful lover,
I should be paid overtime!
'Cause I can bake, too, on top of the lot,
My oven's the hottest you'll find.
Yes, I can roast too,
My chickens just ooze,
My gravy will lose you your mind.
I'm a brand new note
On a table d'hôte,
But just try me à la carte.
With a single course
You can choke a horse.
Baby, you won't know where to start!
Oh, I'm an hors d'oeuvre,
A jelly preserve,
Not in the recipe book,
And what's more, baby, I can cook!
Baby, I'm cookin' with gas.
Oh, I'm a gumdrop,
A sweet lollipop,
A brook trout right out of the brook,
And what's more, baby, I can cook!
Some girls make wonderful jivers,
Some girls can hit a high ""C"",
Some girls make good taxi drivers,
But what a genius is me.
I'd make a wonderful jiver,
I even hit a high ""C"",
I make the best taxi driver,
I rate a big Navy ""E""!
'Cause I can fry, too, on top of the heap,
My Crisco's as deep as a pool.
Yes, I can broil, too,
My ribs get applause,
My lamb chops will cause you to drool.
For a candied sweet
Or a pickled beet,
Step up to my smorgasbord.
Walk around until
You get your fill.
Baby, you won't ever be bored!
Oh, I'm a paté,
A marron glacé,
A dish you will wish you had took.
And what's more, baby, I can cook!!"