#Applause musical full#

His music forms a great part of the Great American Songbook.' In the finale, she and Bill join with everybody answering the question 'why do we live this crazy life?' вЂ“ 'Applause'.'Irving Berlin (вЂ“ September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. Margo seems to have lost everything because of Eve, but suddenly she realizes she could be the winner because she now has a chance at something greater вЂ“ a life with Bill. Her plans with Buzz are crushed by Howard who claims her for himself, telling her 'We both know what you want and you know I'm the one who can get it for you' вЂ“ Eve needs Howard's influence as a producer as well as his silence concerning her devious rise to stardom. Eve, who has made an unsuccessful pass at Bill, ensnares the playwright, Buzz, and she rejoices that she now has a man who can help her career. Margo, though, is too focused on her career to want to return to Bill.

#Applause musical full#

Margo is devastated when she reads a nasty interview that Eve has given in which she refers to 'aging stars.' Bill now realizes what Eve's true intentions are and rushes back full of love for Margo, telling her she's one of a kind. Howard again takes Eve to the 'gypsy' hangout where she snubs Bonnie and her friends, who do a scathing parody of a girl who becomes an overnight star. Back in New York, Eve gives a triumphant performance in Margo's role. Stuck in the country for the night, they express their warm feelings as good friends. Karen, thinking Margo behaved unfairly to Eve, arranges for Margo to miss a performance by draining the car's gas tank so they cannot return to New York in time for the evening's performance. Margo is visiting her friends, playwright Buzz Richards and his wife Karen, in their Connecticut home. Bill accuses her of being paranoid about Eve, and after a bitter fight, he says goodbye to Margo, ending his relationship with her. Margo, feeling betrayed and threatened, faces Eve with an ironic 'welcome to the theatre'. Eve, as Margo's ever-present assistant, knows Margo's part in the play completely, and Eve contrives to get herself hired as Margo's understudy. Bill arranges to hurry back two weeks later, but at Margo's welcome home party for him a misunderstanding leads to a disastrous evening. after a phone call from Bill in Rome, Margo longingly wishes he would hurry back. 'Gypsy,' Howard explains,'is the name dancers affectionately give themselves as they go camping from show to show.' The 'gypsies', led by one of their own, Bonnie, celebrate 'the sound that says love' вЂ“ 'Applause'. Margo, seeing her 19-year-old self in one of her old movies on TV, senses the impact her increasing age will have on her career and sarcastically asks 'Who's That Girl?'.ДЇour months later, Eve has become Margo's indispensable assistant, impressing Margo's close friends, including her producer, Howard Benedict. Eve declares that it has been the best time she's ever had. The lively evening ends back at Margo's apartment. Margo dreads facing the opening night party alone, and, wanting to have a good time, she persuades, Duane, her gay hairdresser, to take her and Eve to a gay nightclub in Greenwich Village. Bill firmly but lovingly tells her goodbye. As soon as Margo can be alone with Bill Sampson, her director and fiancГ©, she tries to convince him to stay with her and not go to Rome to direct a movie. Among the admirers is Eve, a young woman who says that she, alone and friendless in New York, has found solace in watching her hero, Margo, perform. Margo's admirers crowd her dressing room and fill the air with backstage babble.

In flashback, Margo recalls the opening night for one of her plays a year-and a-half before, when Eve entered her life. Middle-aged actress Margo Channing presents the Tony Award to rising star Eve Harrington, who graciously thanks 'my producer, my director, my writer and above all, Margo Channing'.