Gay's the Word

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"Gay's the Word" is a British musical comedy that premiered in 1951 with music and lyrics by Ivor Novello and book by Alan Melville. The story takes place in 1918 during World War I and centers around a group of performers and friends who stage a benefit show to help their friend Tom win the heart of the woman he loves.

The show features many popular Novello songs, including "Why Isn't It You?", "And Her Mother Came Too", and "I Can Give You the Starlight". It was well received by audiences and critics alike and played for over a year in the West End.

The title of the musical is a reference to a popular London bookshop called "Gay's the Word", which was known for its collection of gay and lesbian literature. While the show does not have any explicit LGBTQ themes, its use of the phrase "gay" has been seen as a nod to the bookshop and an acknowledgement of LGBTQ audiences.