Little Mary Sunshine
by Rick Besoyan

Name: Little Mary Sunshine
Brand: Rick Besoyan
SKU: 9780573680847
Rating: 3.29 (7 reviews)

Off-Broadway West End

Little Mary Sunshine Book Cover — Little Mary Sunshine Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins 1900-1910 Expandable Casting Exterior Set Period Costumes

Awards & Recognition

Obie Award

Winner! 1960 Obie Award

Synopsis

This hugely successful off-Broadway show played for almost three years at New York’s Orpheum Theatre, winning an Obie award as the Best of the Season.

Billed as “a new musical about an old operetta,” Little Mary Sunshine gently spoofs such old-time favorites as Rose Marie and Naughty Marietta , but has a personality all its own.

The plot is a little bit of everything: Colorado Rangers led by stalwart Captain Jim; the lovely Mary Sunshine and her “naughty” maid Nancy; a chorus of giggling schoolgirls; and the ominous but benevolent Indian chief.

Hearts are won and lost and won again in this delightful, laugh-filled and charming show.

Press Reviews

"The burlesque is delightful, lively and humorous. Mr. Besoyan's musical parody is tuneful, genteel and amiable... He also has a way with lyrics."
— The New York Times

"Wild improbabilities follow one another in wooly sequences... Audiences shout with laughter at every sinister turn in the plot."
— Time Magazine

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
CHIEF BROWN BEAR Chief of the Lakota Indians	—	—	Chief of the Lakota Indians
CPL “BILLY” JESTER A forest ranger, tenor or high baritone	—	—	A forest ranger, tenor or high baritone
CAPT. “BIG JIM” WARINGTON Captain of the forest rangers, handsome, baritone	—	—	Captain of the forest rangers, handsome, baritone
“LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE” (MARY POTTS ) – Proprietress of the Colorado Inn, soprano	—	—	) – Proprietress of the Colorado Inn, soprano
MADAME ERNESTINE VON LIEBEDICH An opera singer, contralto	—	—	An opera singer, contralto
NANCY TWINKLE (Mary's maid) Little Mary's maid, soubrette	female	—	Little Mary's maid, soubrette
FLEET FOOT An elderly Indian guide	—	—	An elderly Indian guide
YELLOW FEATHER Chief Brown Bear's rogue son	male	—	Chief Brown Bear's rogue son
GEN. OSCAR FAIRFAX, RET a Washington diplomat, likes to flirt with younger ladies	—	—	a Washington diplomat, likes to flirt with younger ladies
CORA, HENRIETTA, GWENDOLYN, BLANCHE, MAUD, MILLICENT and	—	—	and
MABEL YOUNG GENTLEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES FOREST RANGERS –	—	—	YOUNG GENTLEMEN OF THE UNITED STATES FOREST RANGERS –
PETE, SLIM, TEX, BUSTER, HANK, CHUCK and	—	—	and
TOM	—	—	—