TUNESMITH TUESDAY - "The Royal Nonesuch" (from "Big River")

The Broadway production of Big River opened on on Broadway on April 25, 1985, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, and closed on September 20, 1987, running for 1,005 performances. The cast featured René Auberjonois as The Duke, and John Goodman as Pap Finn.

A critically-acclaimed revival, directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun, opened on Broadway on July 24, 2003 at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 67 performances and 28 previews. This production, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company and Deaf West Theatre, was notable in that it featured both deaf and hearing actors performing together. About half the characters, including the leading role of Huck, were played by deaf or hard-of-hearing performers. All dialogue and lyrics in the production were both spoken or sung and signed, making the production equally accessible to hearing and deaf audiences.

I first saw this musical in Los Angeles with my sons (where the actors taught the kids - and the parents - to do sign-language for one of the songs). The second time I saw it was on April 15, 2015 at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. - the 150th anniversary of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

The Royal Nonesuch

(CHORUS)
She's got one big breast in the middle of her chest

And an eye in the middle of her nose

So says I, if you look her in the eye

You're better off looking up her nose

Whoever you are, wherever you've been

You've come this far

Well, come on in

See the Nonesuch

I get up early, I stay up late

I've seen it before

But I still can't wait

To see the Nonesuch

(REPEAT CHORUS)

Because the nonesuch will be exhibited in a state of nature

No ladies will be permitted

But the education of no man or boy is complete

Until he has witnessed this shocking spectacle

Believe you me

It's the best of the best

I know what I'm saying I've seen the rest

The Nonesuch

It'll strike you blind

With a heave and a sigh

But come up close enough

To risk one eye

For the Nonesuch

She's got hound dog ears that hang down to here

And lips like the bud of a rose

So says I, if you look her in the eye

You're better off looking up her nose

Only fifty cents, the one-half part of a dollar

Servants ten cents!

I've been to Natchez and to New Orleans

But this beats anything I've ever seen

The Nonesuch

I've your money, I can see your face

Now come on in and take your place

For the Nonesuch

Well, it ain't no woman and it ain't no man

And it don't wear very many clothes

So says I, if you look her in the eye

You're better off looking up her nose