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are going badly for King. With Lucky and his gang exerting pressure on any prospective opponents, he can get no proper fights. The best Jack can do is to sign him up with Greb Mabisa, a middleweight. Lucky lets this fight go, knowing it will make a fool of King. Meanwhile, the ex-champ has laid off training, is making no attempt to get fit, and has fallen out with Joyce. But she agrees to give King one more chance, on condition that he never hits another man outside the ring. In the atmosphere of reconciliation, Jack at last announces that he and Nurse Miriam Ngidi are getting married ("Quickly in Love").
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group reminiscing about the life of King Kong, who has become something of a legend in the township. And so we see the great King Kong in his heyday, surrounded by photographers, journalists and an excited township crowd ("Marvelous
Muscles"). There is a big fight coming off, and everybody is confident it will be a pushover for the Champ ("King Kong"). King wins the fight and takes his friends to celebrate in Back of the Moon, the township's most famous shebeen ("Kwela Kong").
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shebeen keeper and gangster's girl. In blind fury, he kills Joyce. At his trial, a showman and eccentric to the end, King dismisses his lawyer, pleads guilty and asks the judge to sentence him to death ("Death Song"). He is given fifteen years imprisonment, but two weeks later drowns himself in a dam at the farm prison to which he was committed. As the show ends, it is evening in the township yard and the people are streaming back from work.
244:
South
Africans that art does not recognize racial barriers. King Kong has played to capacity houses in every major city in the Union , and now, the first export of indigenous South African theatre, it will reveal to the rest of the world the peculiar flavour of township life, as well as the hitherto unrecognized talents of its people. The show, as recorded here, opened at the Princes Theatre, London, on February 23, 1961."
228:, known as "King Kong". Born in 1921, his life degenerated, after a meteoric boxing rise, into drunkenness and gang violence. He knifed his girlfriend, asked for the death sentence during his trial and instead was sentenced to 14 years' hard labour. He was found drowned in 1957 and it was believed his death was suicide. He was 36.
42:
561:
King loses the fight against Greb. The township is incredulous, and King experiences the scorn and mockery of the early morning bus queue the day after the fight ("In the Queue"). Lucky and his gang taunt him unmercifully. Enraged, he hits at the people in the queue, and Joyce, in disgust, walks out
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King spends ten months in the cells awaiting trial and Joyce finds new male company. King's trainer, Jack, signs up a new heavyweight, and continues with his pursuit of Nurse Miriam Ngidi. With King out of the picture, the
Prowlers have it all their own way in the township. Then one Sunday, when the
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Joyce, who is the "shebeen queen", falls for King ("Back of the Moon"). Their love affair goes off at a hot pace, which is unlucky for Petal, who has a secret passion for the prizefighter ("The Earth Turns Over"). It is also bad news for Lucky, the fast and fancy leader of the
Prowlers gang, who had
243:
in 1961. The liner notes for the London cast recording state: "No theatrical venture in South Africa has had the sensational success of King Kong. This musical, capturing the life, colour, and effervescence -- as well as the poignancy and sadness -- of township life, has come as a revelation to many
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Act Two opens with children playing in the township streets. Popcorn warns the children against boxing and tells of trouble in King Kong's camp ("Be Smart, Be Wise"). Lights go out, the township turns in for the night, then suddenly—crash! It is another snatch and grab raid by the
Prowlers. Things
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wrote: "The resounding welcome accorded to the musical at Wits
University Great Hall, in Johannesburg, on Feb 2nd 1959, was not so much for the jazz musical as a finished artistic product as it was applause for an idea which had been achieved by pooling together resources from both black and white
545:
In the dim light of early morning the township people set out for work ("Sad Times, Bad Times"). As
Pauline, the washerwoman, leaves to deliver a bundle of washing a boy picks out a tune on a penny whistle—the "Little Kong" song, which has become a great favourite with the children. This sets the
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The whole town comes to Jack and Miriam's wedding ("Wedding Hymn") and in the middle of the ceremony King arrives, demanding "Where's Joyce?" A few minutes later Joyce comes in with Lucky, and in that moment King sees not only his own downfall, but Joyce's tragic return to the tough life of the
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streets are full of people ("Gumboot Dance"), King Kong returns home acquitted. Everybody is overjoyed to see him and although King's pleasure sours a little when he learns about the new heavyweight, he is reassured by the tribal welcome home given him by the whole township ("King King").
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previously been Joyce's man. Later, Lucky and his gang corner
Popcorn, King Kong's friend and second, and King and his crowd arrive just in time to save him. In the ensuing brawl, King kills one of the gangsters with his fists, and Lucky swears to get even with him ("Damn Him!").
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365:– formerly known as Dollar Brand – puts the record straight about his supposed involvement with the musical: "In spite of what everyone says, I had nothing to do with it." The London cast featured Nathan Mdlele and
768:
283:
s first night was attended by
Mandela, who at the interval congratulated Todd Matshikiza "on weaving a subtle message of support for the Treason Trial leaders into the opening anthem". As
143:-torn South Africa.... a model of fruitful co-operation between black and white South Africans in the international entertainment field, and a direct challenge to apartheid." Opening in
602:, for whom it took 20 years to secure the rights. It received positive reviews in South African press, but drew unfavourable comparisons with the original production from a writer in
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After being a hit in South Africa, touring for two years during which it was seen by more than a quarter of a million people, of whom two-thirds were white, the musical played at the
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It "swept South Africa like a storm" according to one report, touring the country for two years and playing to record-breaking multi-racial audiences, before being booked for a
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255:, which had begun in 1956 and lasted for more than four years before it collapsed with all the accused acquitted. Among the defendants were
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369:, with Joseph Mogotsi, Ben Masinga, Stephen Moloi, Sophie Mgcina, Patience Gowabe and former "Miss South Africa 1955" Hazel Futa.
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Jack Hylton
Presents King Kong, All African Musical; London Production Cast, Original Cast Recording, Decca #LK 4392, 1961.
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184:. The musical was directed by Leon Gluckman with orchestration and arrangements by pianist Sol Klaaste, tenor saxophonist
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19:
This article is about the 1959 South African jazz musical. For the 2013 Australian musical based on the 1933 film, see
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510:"Quickly in Love" (Nathan Mdlele, Peggy Phango, Stephen Moloi, Ben Massinga, Patience Gowabe, Sophie Mgcina)
751:
John Matshikiza, "An incomplete masterpiece" (5 February 1999), in Todd Matshikiza & John Matshikiza,
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982:"ALL-BLACK SOUTH AFRICAN CAST EXPLOSIVE IN THE REWARDING "KING KONG" REVIVAL AT JOBURG MANDELA THEATRE"
769:"King Kong lives again: Iconic 1950s musical revival set to be highlight on SA 2017 cultural calendar"
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The song "Sad Times, Bad Times" was considered a reference at the time to the infamous South African
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665:
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20:
599:
153:
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King Kong – Our Knot of Time & Music: A personal memoir of South Africa’s legendary musical
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72:
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Great Hall, the musical, based on the life of Ezekiel Dhlamini was an immediate success, with
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King Kong - Our Knot of Time and Music: A personal memoir of South Africa's legendary musical
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8:
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963:
232:
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had an all-black cast. The musical portrayed the life and times of a heavyweight boxer,
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newspaper calling it "the greatest thrill in 20 years of South African theatre-going".
947:"BWW Review: Revival of KING KONG at The Fugard Theatre as Complex as it is Thrilling"
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production in 1961, by which time it had been seen by some 200,000 South Africans.
111:
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among the featured guests. A revival of the musical opened in autumn 2017 at the
497:"Be Smart, Be Wise" (Ben Masinga, Sophie Mgcina, Lemmy "Special" Mabaso, and Men)
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It has been called "an extraordinary musical collaboration that took place in
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500:"Crazy Kid" (Lemmy "Special" Mabaso and The Alexander Junior Bright Boys)
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From the London cast recording liner notes (no indication of copyright):
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With the Lid Off: South African Insights from Home and Abroad 1959-2000
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903:"SA’s first ‘black’ musical King Kong returns with a world-class cast"
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357:, all of whom went on to have successful careers. In the 2017 memoir
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381:
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866:. Focus on world music (2nd ed.). Routledge. pp. 88–89.
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384:-produced single "She's Fallen in Love with the Monster Man" by
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queen of the Back of the Moon, a popular shebeen of the time in
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208:
161:
999:
Ballantine, Christopher (2019). "Revisiting Todd Matshikiza's
133:
850:, Gallo, catalogue no. CDZAC51R, 2003. (Via Stern's Music.)
125:
218:(who was later arrested during an apartheid clampdown).
648:"Sunday Feature: King Kong – The Township Jazz Musical"
626:"Trends in the Black Music of South Africa, 1959-1969"
463:"Marvelous Muscles" (Nathan Mdlele and The Company)
730:Todd Matshikiza, Harry Bloom, & Pat Williams,
472:"Back of the Moon" (Peggy Phango, Joseph Mogotsi)
180:. The lyrics were by Pat Willams and the book by
1076:
1034:1961 "Theater Abroad: Cry, the Beloved Country"
632:, University of California Press, 1980, p. 197.
586:, with Hugh Masekela, Pat Williams and singer
475:"The Earth Turns Over" (Sophie Mgcina and Men)
979:
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686:"King Kong, the first All African Jazz Opera"
460:"Sad Times, Bad Times"—Overture (The Company)
132:, billed at the time as an "all-African jazz
681:
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1105:Cultural depictions of South African people
528:"Sad Times, Bad Times--Finale" (Orchestra)
466:"King Kong" (Nathan Mdlele and The Company)
998:
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763:
761:
755:, Milpark: M&G Books, 2000; pp. 95–96.
705:, Vol. 3, No. 4 (Summer, 1970), pp. 42–44.
40:
799:"South African Singer Miriam Makeba Dies"
676:
380:band and performed backing vocals on the
288:artists in the face of impossible odds."
817:
630:Musics of Many Cultures: An Introduction
314:The male lead was Nathan Mdledle of the
203:The decor and costumes were designed by
98:Witwatersrand University Great Hallmaver
758:
372:Peggy, Patience and Hazel later became
1077:
859:
838:
642:
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359:King Kong – Our Knot of Time and Music
1110:Musicals inspired by real-life events
584:King Kong – The Township Jazz Musical
337:Other musicians in the show included
318:. There was a cast of 72, among them
299:launched the international career of
172:The music and some of the lyrics for
824:. Granta Publications. p. 161.
699:"An African Theatre in South Africa"
386:Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages
124:(1959) was a landmark South African
635:
525:"King Kong--Reprise" (The Company)
200:was choreographed by Arnold Dover.
13:
1027:
797:Diane Coetzer (10 November 2008).
732:King Kong – The African Jazz Opera
14:
1161:
980:Diane de Beer (11 October 2017).
847:King Kong – An African Jazz Opera
666:"King Kong the Musical 1959–1961"
785:"Hugh Masekela – Musical Legend"
654:from the original on 4 May 2017.
376:, the backing vocal singers for
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46:Original African cast recording
16:1959 South African jazz musical
920:"Past Productions | King Kong"
745:
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708:
691:
688:, Soul Safari, 10 August 2009.
658:
650:(Press release). London: BBC.
618:
574:In February 2017, saxophonist
516:"It's a Wedding" (The Company)
1:
1100:Cultural depictions of boxers
945:David Fick (19 August 2017).
611:
519:"Wedding Hymn" (The Company)
513:"In the Queue" (The Company)
478:"Gumboot Dance" (The Company)
167:
1115:Musicals set in South Africa
863:Focus: Music of South Africa
670:South African History Online
522:"Death Song" (Nathan Mdlele)
507:-- Road Song" (The Company)
7:
1005:South African Music Studies
87:the life of Ezekiel Dlamini
10:
1166:
860:Muller, Carol Ann (2008).
628:, in Elizabeth May (ed.),
487:"King King" (The Company)
18:
1135:Musicals set in the 1950s
1130:Musicals set in the 1940s
1125:Musicals set in the 1930s
1120:Musicals set in the 1920s
734:, London: Collins, 1961.
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481:"Damn Him!" (The Company)
261:African National Congress
104:
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83:
71:
61:
51:
39:
30:
469:"Kwela Kong" (Orchestra)
391:
149:Witwatersrand University
21:King Kong (2013 musical)
1065:Various Press Clippings
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450:London production, 1961
291:
1145:South African musicals
715:Percy Tucker biography
404:"Sad Times, Bad Times"
378:Cyril Davies All Stars
361:by lyricist Williams,
263:president), secretary
147:on 2 February 1959 at
1095:Biographical musicals
1042:review, 3 March 1961.
818:Williams, P. (2017).
1017:10520/EJC-1c9d39bfb0
407:"Marvellous Muscles"
582:programme entitled
398:Original production
188:, alto saxophonist
964:"KING KONG REVIEW"
924:The Fugard Theatre
775:, 10 January 2017.
416:"Back of the Moon"
316:Manhattan Brothers
108:1959 Johannesburg
1150:West End musicals
986:The Theatre Times
873:978-0-415-96071-7
831:978-1-84627-654-5
562:on him for ever.
434:"Quickly in Love"
428:"Better than New"
303:, who played the
117:
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96:2 February 1959:
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1067:relating to the
1051:Portobello Books
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970:, 6 August 2017.
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440:"It’s a Wedding"
363:Abdullah Ibrahim
334:and Dottie Tiyo
332:Benjamin Masinga
233:Prince's Theatre
205:Arthur Goldreich
176:were written by
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65:Todd Matshikiza
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1028:Further reading
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844:Original cast:
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719:Just the Ticket
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624:John Blacking,
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484:"Party Tonight"
446:
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347:Kippie Moeketsi
320:Caiphus Semenya
294:
277:John Matshikiza
275:. According to
226:Ezekiel Dlamini
216:visual designer
194:Stanley Glasser
190:Kippie Moeketsi
178:Todd Matshikiza
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56:Todd Matshikiza
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1045:Pat Williams,
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1011:(1): 357–360.
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951:Broadway World
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909:, 7 June 2017.
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773:Daily Maverick
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598:, produced by
592:Fugard Theatre
588:Abigail Kubeka
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437:"In the Queue"
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419:"Petal’s Song"
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395:
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355:Thandi Klaasen
293:
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273:Nelson Mandela
257:Albert Luthuli
214:architect and
186:Mackay Davashe
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374:The Velvettes
370:
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351:Miriam Makeba
348:
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343:Jonas Gwangwa
340:
339:Hugh Masekela
335:
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324:Sophie Mgcina
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301:Miriam Makeba
298:
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265:Walter Sisulu
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249:Treason Trial
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192:and composer
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928:. Retrieved
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877:. Retrieved
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718:
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703:African Arts
702:
693:
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629:
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603:
600:Eric Abraham
583:
578:presented a
576:Soweto Kinch
573:
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560:
556:
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548:
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505:Tshotsholosa
492:
455:
449:
448:
443:"Death Song"
413:"Kwela long"
397:
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367:Peggy Phango
358:
336:
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269:Oliver Tambo
246:
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145:Johannesburg
138:
128:-influenced
120:
119:
118:
31:
25:
1140:Rock operas
926:. Cape Town
580:BBC Radio 3
410:"King Kong"
328:Letta Mbulu
285:Lewis Nkosi
182:Harry Bloom
105:Productions
78:Harry Bloom
67:Pat Willams
1090:1959 plays
1079:Categories
930:17 January
907:City Press
612:References
608:magazine.
422:"Damn Him"
309:Sophiatown
281:King Kong'
168:Background
1069:King Kong
1001:King Kong
804:Billboard
596:Cape Town
425:"Strange"
388:in 1964.
297:King Kong
222:King Kong
212:communist
198:King Kong
174:King Kong
141:apartheid
121:King Kong
33:King Kong
1071:musical.
1053:, 2017,
652:Archived
382:Joe Meek
253:Pretoria
237:West End
154:The Star
112:West End
92:Premiere
740:2399779
305:shebeen
235:in the
130:musical
1057:
879:6 June
870:
828:
738:
570:Legacy
493:Act II
241:London
209:Jewish
162:London
62:Lyrics
605:Opera
456:Act I
431:"Mad"
392:Songs
134:opera
110:1961
84:Basis
52:Music
1055:ISBN
1039:TIME
932:2024
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