The Rothschilds
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The Rothschilds was a Broadway musical that was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical in 1971. It opened on October 19, 1970 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran for 505 performances. The book, based on The Rothschilds by Frederic Morton, was by Sherman Yellen, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. The cast featured Hal Linden as Mayer Rothschild (who won the Tony for his performance) and Jill Clayburgh as Hannah Cohen. A young Robby Benson and Chris Sarandon were also in the cast. A successful off-Broadway revival ran for 435 performances in 1990-91, starring Robert Cuccioli as Nathan, David Cantor as Amshel, and Mike Burstyn as Mayer.
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[edit] Synopsis
The story tells of the rise of the Rothschild family and their financial empire, under the guidance of patriarch Mayer Rothschild, their assistance in funding Napoleon's defeat, and how they secure a declaration of rights for their people.
In Frankfurt, Germany, in 1772, the Jews are restricted to the ghetto and frequently the victims of violence. Mayer Rothschild returns from Hanover, where he was an apprentice banker, to make his fortune in his home town. Because only 12 Jewish marriages are permitted in a given year, he is forced to come up with a plan in order to marry his fiance Gutele. He reopens his shop, carrying goods and rare coins. At the Frankfurt Fair, he entices Prince William of Hesse with fanciful tales about rare coins, then bribes the prince in order to marry Gutele. Later, Mayer becomes agent for the court bankers, but he wants more.
Mayer and Gutele have five sons by 1778, each of whom enters the business as soon as they're old enough. As they age, they and their father chafe at the many restrictions and indignities heaped upon Jews. In 1804, their success and their chutzpah take them to Denmark as superior court agents to the Danish king when Hesse must loan money to him to help fight a war. However, Hesse is overthrown by Napoleon, and his Minister of Police, Joseph Fouche, takes over. When Mayer and his sons return to Germany, they find no court for which they can be agents. So Mayer sends his sons off to collect Hesse's debts before the French can get them. Nathan Rothschild is sent to London to invest the money.
Initially awkward in England, Nathan soon displays considerable investing talents. He falls in love with Hannah Cohen, an aristocratic English "Jewish Joan of Arc" devoted to charitable works. He eventually wins her over by pledging to loan money to England to help win their war against Napoleon -- if the Chancellor of the Exchequer Herries pledges to make Germany and Austria lift their restrictions on Jews. In Germany, Prince Metternich promises roughly the same thing if the Rothschilds make the loan. However, in 1818, Metternich reneges on his bargain, and old Mayer dies, broken-hearted. His sons scheme to force Metternich to come to terms by continually undercutting his price for peace bonds, though the plan brings them to the brink of bankruptcy. Metternich not only concedes but is forced to guarantee that all state bonds will be handled by the House of Rothschild. The ghetto walls are torn down, and Mayer's dream is realized.
[edit] Musical numbers
Act 1
- Prologue: Pleasure and Privilege -- Prince William of Hesse
- One Room -- Mayer and Gutele (Mama)
- He Tossed a Coin -- Mayer , Vendors and Ensemble
- Sons -- Mayer, Gutele, Young Amshel, Young Solomon, Young Nathanand Young Jacob
- Everything -- Nathan, Gutele, Solomon, Kalman, Amsheland Jacob
- Rothschild and Sons -- Mayer, Nathan, Solomon, Kalman, Amsheland Jacob
- Allons -- Joseph Fouche and Male Ensemble
- Rothschild and Sons (Reprise) -- Mayer, Nathan, Solomon, Kalman, Amsheland Jacob
- Sons (Reprise) -- Gutele (Mama) Rothschild and Mayer Rothschild
Act 2
- Hymn: Give England Strength -- Herries and Male Ensemble
- This Amazing London Town -- Nathan Rothschild
- They Say -- Sceptic and Male Ensemble
- I'm in Love! I'm in Love! -- Nathan Rothschild
- I'm in Love! I'm in Love! (Reprise) -- Hannah Cohen
- In My Own Lifetime -- Mayer Rothschild
- Have You Ever Seen a Prettier Little Congress? -- Prince Metternich
- Stability -- Prince Metternich and Ensemble
- Bonds -- Nathan, Solomon, Kalman, Amshel, Jacob, Prince Metternich and Ensemble
[edit] References
- Information about the Broadway production
- Information about the off-Broadway revival
- Synopsis, analysis and other information
- Summary of the show's Tony Award winners and nominations
- Extensive synopsis
