I HAVE A LOVE

Anita and Maria Broadway Original Cast 1957 Chita Rivera and Carol Lawrence

The character of Maria turns from importunate girl to self-sufficient woman in the dramatic segue from the fervent and ultimately scolding passage that follows "A Boy Like That" to the poised and confident young lady who sings "I Have a Love." Strains of the melody have already been heard in the Processional of the Dream Ballet and are reminiscent even of the fiery "Boy" that just precedes it, though tempo and attitude go far to mask the similarity. The audience, who for an entire act have been continuously led by their noses from one seesawing surprise to another, from the misleading merriment of "I Feel Pretty" through the joys and horrors of the ballet, and the unexpected jaunt of "Krupke" to the severity of "A Boy Like That" may finally hear this moving and uncomplicated declaration of love and warily decide, with some justification, that the story may be leading to a climax that is hopeful and not tragic. That this radiant music precedes, not a romantic reconciliation, but rather a rape attempt and yet another murder is nothing less than a phenomenon. "Genius" doesn’t begin to describe it.

---

click logo more information

Next Exhibit (The Taunting)            

           Previous Exhibit ("A Boy Like That")

Back to "Score Gallery"




Back to "Knowing the Score"




Home