Show Synopsis: Curley McLain and Jud Fry have both asked Laurey Williams to the box social dance, and even though she likes Curley, Laurey accepts Jud to spite Curley's teasing nature. Ado Annie has been seeing the Persian peddlar Ali Hakim while her sweetheart Will was in Kansas City and does not want to choose between the two of them. Annie's father Andrew forces Ali to propose to Annie while Curley tries to convince Jud to go to the dance with someone else. Laurey has a smelling salt-induced nightmare where she realizes that Curley is the man she wants, but she leaves for the dance with Jud anyway. Ali buys all of Will's souvenirs from Kansas City so that Will will have an acceptable amount of money for Andrew to approve of him proposing to Annie. In the basket auction, where men bid on the women's baskets and thus win dates with them, Ali tries to outbid Will so that Will will save his money, and Curley and Jud enter a bidding war in which Curley sells everything he has to win Laurey's basket. Annie promises Will she will not flirt with other men if they marry and Jud threatens Laurey, who accepts Curley's proposal of marriage. Three weeks later, a drunken Jud reappears at their wedding and tries to kill Curley, accidentally killing himself in the process. Laurey and Curley go off on their honeymoon. Character: Laurey Williams, an independent young woman in love with Curley. Song Context: Gertie Cummings is flirting with Curley and it annoys Laurey, but she protests to her friends that it does not bother her at all. Fun Facts: 1. This musical was based on a play by Lynn Riggs called Green Grow the Lilacs. 2. This musical was the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. 3. Joan Rivers originated the role of Laurey on Broadway. She originally auditioned for the role of Ado Annie and was cast as Laurey because her soprano voice suited an ingenue role better.
"Why should a woman who is healthy and strong, Blubber like a baby if her man goes away? A-weepin' and a-wailin' how he done her wrong, That's one thing you'll never hear me say! Never gonna' think that the man I lose is the only man among men. I'll snap my fingers to show I don't care, I'll buy me a brand new dress to wear, I'll scrub my neck and I'll brush my hair, And start all over again. Many a new face will please my eye, Many a new love will find me. Never've I once looked back to sigh over the romance behind me. Many a new day will dawn before I do! Many a light lad may kiss and fly, A kiss gone by is bygone. Never've I asked an August sky, ""Where has last July gone?"" Never've I wandered through the rye, wondering where has some guy gone. Many a new day will dawn before I do! Many a new face will please my eye, Many a new love will find me. Never've I once looked back to sigh over the romance behind me. Many a new day will dawn before I do! Many a light lad may kiss and fly, A kiss gone by is bygone. Never've I asked an August sky, ""Where has last July gone?"" Never've I wandered through the rye, wondering where has some guy gone. Many a new day will dawn before I do! Many a red sun will set! Many a blue moon will shine before I do!"