Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for. In 1955, a us editor finally saw the potential of patrick denniss auntie mame, a comic depressionera novel about a 10yearold orphan and his irreverent, madcap manhattan aunt. When i was a sophomore in high school, my community theatre did the jerry herman musical, mame. Run along to ito and tell him to bring me a light breakfast black coffee and a side car. Mame original, musical, comedy, broadway opened in new york city may 24, 1966 and played through jan 3, 1970. Like tennessee williams, patrick dennis caught the boldness, vitality, and iridescent theatricality of modern american personality. Lindsay woolsey, a publisher, reminds mame, therere a lot of women in this town who think im a reasonably good catch. Auntie mame 1955, patrick dennis book, auntie mame. Nora, ito, and mame come back down followed by brian.
Lets hope patrick dennis is finally recognized for what he is. I probably read the book when i was about 15 and loved it. Theatre arts magazine december 1956 rosalind russell as auntie mame, complete play a hatful of rain by michael vincente gazzo, ward morehouse, et al. Mame is an unconventional individualist socialite from the roaring 20s. With a wit as sharp as a vodka stinger and a heart as free as her spirit, auntie mame burst onto the literary scene in 1955and today remains one of the most unforgettable characters in contemporary fiction. Two weeks and thirteen cocktail parties later, norah and patrick have settled into the eccentric household with mames houseboy, ito, her best friend, actress vera charles, who sleeps off hangovers in one of mames extra rooms, and mames boyfriend, publisher lindsay woolsey, who also visits frequently. Auntie mame by morton da costa morton da costa, rosalind. The book is often described as having been inspired by dennis reallife eccentric aunt, marion tanner, whose life and outlook mirrored those of mame, but dennis denied the connection. The 1958 movie auntie mame is considered a classic, and its a kick to watch for the constantly changing, overthetop sets and costumes it was based on a popular stage play starring the fabulous rosalind russell, who reprised her role in the film. Its great to have this book in electronic format, especially with the formerly excised russian chapter, but the reading experience is marred by frequent formatting errors. Around the world with auntie mame book by patrick dennis. Auntie mame suffers the loss of her fortune with the stock market crash, remedied later with her marriage to a wealthy businessman. Around the world with auntie mame is a great book, a strong sequel to the blockbuster auntie mame, and well worth reading, but the kindle edition leaves much to be desired.
Flamboyance, indulgence, and hilarious adventure are entertainingly amalgamated into patrick denniss much beloved rare book, auntie mame. There were few nonwhite people in my rural, midwestern hometown. The loco in her parentis an eccentric, a free spirit and an unflaggingly openminded heroine, mame dennis taught more than one protege including nprs bob mondello. Through the eyes of her young nephew, patrick, the boisterous and wildly eccentric figure mame is sketched. Mame says she is sending her to the party with brian, but agnes says she is too nervous. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. It opens in 1928 when her young nephew patrick arrives at her doorstep as an orphan, in need of a guardian. It is also, incidentally, one of the most important books in my life. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for ito from auntie mame join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Auntie mame 1955, patrick dennis book, auntie mame 1958 film auntie mame is a 1958 technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis and its theatrical adaptation by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee. Auntie mame began as a novel by patrick dennis aka ed fitzgerald, then was adapted into a longrunning broadway play by jerome lawrence and robert e.
Around the world with auntie mame by patrick dennis. The nominees for the 5th annual vivian awards are june 12, 2017 june 12, 2017 dehron albuquerque little theatre is pleased to announce the following volunteers from the 201617 season have been nominated for a vivian award in their respective categories. Auntie mame is a witty, hilarious and charming skewering of all that was conventional and pretentious in american life from the 1920s until the 1950s. Patrick dennis, the fictional narrator of auntie mame and little me, was the pen name of edward everett tanner iii 19211976. Lifes a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times. Mame is one of the iconic figures of american literature and the novel was one of the bestselling books of the twentieth century. Hopefully the publisher will get a clue and republish some of his other works. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 112 weeks. However, patricks father has designated an executor to his will to protect the boy from absorbing too much of mames rather unconventional perspective.
Mame dennis raises her orphaned nephew patrick, her unorthodox ideas of education in stark conflict with the executor of the fathers estate. Not quite a bad girl but deliciously naughty and so very much fun. Its a shame to know after you read auntie mame and around the world with auntie mame that these are the only books in print. This 1958 film version permits rosalind russell to recreate her stage role as mame dennis, the flamboyant, devilmaycare aunt of young, impressionable patrick dennis. Meeting her and her servant, ito, changes his perspective on life by teaching him the lessons and morals of life auntie mame style. Rosalind russell title character cons her paid biographer obannion robin hughes into taking her frump secretary gooch peggy cass on a date, so she can receive her nervous nephew patrick roger smith and his snooty new girlfriend gloria joanna barnes, in auntie mame. Auntie mame is a unique literary achievementa brilliant novel disguised as a lightweight piece of fluff.
Brandon stars in the production playing a very eccentric japanese butler. With an introduction by paul rudnick and a swank new cover, auntie mame is back in print, the classic novel that introduced the world to americas most madcap, funloving, and irresistible aunt. Mame tells agnes that the message of her book is to live, and they run up the stairs. The episodic book concerns an orphaned child, patrick dennis, who is sent to live with an aunt he has never before seen in 1920s new yorkand the aunt is mame dennis, a fastliving, intellectually sharp, and decidedly eccentric woman beset by both the fads and fashions of the day and the money and social connections with which to. Ito shows norah mame s latest educational apparatus for patrick. Although not for herself, mame realizes that she needs money to get patrick back and support who she considers her entire family, which includes norah and her faithful butler, ito. Auntie mame books are awfully decorative mark ramsay. It was made into a play, a broadway as well as a hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring rosalind russell. One of the great comedic writers of the 20th century. Mame is a 1974 technicolor musical film in panavision based on the 1966 broadway musical of the same name itself based on the 1958 film auntie mame and the 1955 novel auntie mame. Auntie mame is the funniest movie to come out of the 1950s. Rosalind russell recreates her hallmark stage role as the accentric grande dame of highlife, briging up a 10yearold nephew. Its witty wildean phrases ring in my mind, and its flamboyant characters still enamor me. Auntie mame is a 1958 american technicolor comedy film based on the 1955 novel of the same name by patrick dennis and its theatrical adaptation by jerome lawrence and robert edwin lee.
One of the most eccentric, celebrated, and widely read authors of the 1950s and 60s, tanner wrote sixteen novels in all, a majority of which were national bestsellers. Mame dennis was a hero to a generation of young novel readers some forty years ago, and those who saw her character on the original musical stage were struck by her energy and her view of the world. Auntie mame original, play, comedy, broadway opened in new york city oct 31, 1956 and played through jun 28, 1958. These clips were taken from the play auntie mame act 1 scenes 2 and 3 performed in mepham high school during a rehearsal. Beware of what you may get into as you watch it though. Patrick dennis is a great author and his stories transend time and generations. Any reader of this book will adore the hilarious adventures, encounters, and escapades of the two, all while witnessing patrick growing up with his dear auntie mame. Book reflects on overlooked role of aunts the complete book of aunts covers everything from aunts in literature and film, to remembrances from nieces and nephews who had unusual relationships with. Despite being caucasian and blond, i landed the role of ito, auntie mame s asian houseboy. Mame says she is not going to the party, and he says he is not either. Here youve been taking my dictations for weeks and you havent gotten the message of my book. Lost classic auntie mame revived after 50year gap books. Auntie mame mame 3055 an irrepressible whirlwind of energy and excitement, embracing all of life. Its far funnier and frankly, far better than the lucile ball musical remake, mame, but its nowhere near as charming.
This film version stars rosalind russell and was directed by morton dacosta. Auntie mame, one the 1950s most talkedabout books, a true runaway bestseller and one of the great classics of american humor. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, patrick dennis auntie mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the new york times bestseller list for 11. An irreverent escapade is a 1955 novel by american author patrick dennis chronicling the madcap adventures of a boy, patrick, growing up as the ward of the sister of his dead father, his aunt mame dennis. The official database for broadway theatre information mame broadway musical original ibdb. Every page sparkles with wit, style andthough mame would cringe at the thoughthigh moral purpose. Mame, based on patrick dennis novel auntie mame, features a score by jerry herman and a book by jerome lawrence and robert e. As a musical, mame is a delight, but the novel, auntie mame, is superior in that it makes mame not just a dotty old aunt who is a sort of. Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Around the world with auntie mame by dennis, patrick and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She may get a little help in the matter from her best friend, broadway actress vera charles, and a southerner she meets named beauregard jackson pickett burnside. My hair was spraypainted black and my eyes were lined for the show.
922 847 1475 322 804 1110 1077 985 804 1438 732 121 261 880 963 135 580 180 1187 856 84 1274 31 298 387 213 1526 201 35 1484 1437 826 175 59 989 1108 794 352 1384 899 1175 91 1475 145 313 550 992 913