Tip-Toes

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Tip-Toes: A West End Jazz Age Romp

"Tip-Toes" premiered in London’s West End at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 31, 1926, a musical comedy that ran for 182 performances until February 5, 1927. With music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson, it was produced by Alex A. Aarons and Vinton Freedley, directed by Stanley Brightman, with dances staged by Max Scheck. Following a 1925 Broadway debut at the Liberty Theatre (192 performances), this satire of the Florida land boom starred Dorothy Dickson as Tip-Toes Kaye and Allan Kearns as Steve Burton. Fresh off "Lady, Be Good!"’s success, the Gershwin brothers brought their jazzy flair to London, where the show despite a solid run didn’t match Broadway’s fervor, yet remains a vibrant snapshot of 1920s musical theatre.

A Florida Fling of Deception and Dance

Set during the 1925 Florida land boom, the story follows Tip-Toes Kaye, a vaudeville dancer traveling with her brother Al and Uncle Hen as the “Komical Kayes.” In Palm Beach, they aim to snag Tip-Toes a millionaire husband, targeting Steve Burton, heir to a glue factory fortune. Tip-Toes poses as heiress “Roberta Van Renssalaer” after a car accident triggers amnesia, convincing her she’s rich. Steve, smitten from their train station meet-cute, falls hard, but his sister Sylvia’s husband, Rollo Metcalf Tip-Toes’ ex-flame exposes her ruse to protect his own secret. Love triumphs as Tip-Toes regains her memory, confesses her true self, and wins Steve, who surprises her with a real engagement ring, proving wealth doesn’t define their bond in this frothy tale of mistaken identities.

A Gershwin Score That Swings

George Gershwin’s music, paired with Ira Gershwin’s witty lyrics, infuses "Tip-Toes" with Roaring Twenties zest, featuring numbers like “That Certain Feeling,” “Sweet and Low-Down,” “Looking for a Boy,” and the title track “Tip-Toes.” Conducted by J.B. Hastings in London, the score sparkles with jazz-age rhythms think “When Do We Dance?” and “These Charming People” and tender moments like “Nightie-Night.” Sammy Lee’s Broadway choreography carried over, with Max Scheck’s West End staging adding flair to the Gaiety Girls’ routines. A 2001 New World Records CD, from a 1998 Carnegie Hall concert, preserves its effervescent sound, lauded by Stephen Holden as “irresistible fizz,” though it never birthed timeless standards.

A Cast of Twenties Talents

Dorothy Dickson led as Tip-Toes Kaye, her lithe grace and vocal charm captivating London, opposite Allan Kearns’ earnest Steve Burton, reprising his Broadway role. Laddie Cliff played Al Kaye with comic gusto, while John Kirby shone as Hen Kaye. Vera Bryer portrayed Sylvia Metcalf, with Peggy Beaty as Binnie and Evan Thomas as Rollo, rounding out a spirited ensemble. The cast, bolstered by the Gaiety Girls, brought Bolton and Thompson’s farce to life, their chemistry fueling the show’s 182-performance run. Dickson’s star turn fresh from American acclaim echoed Queenie Smith’s Broadway original, cementing "Tip-Toes" as a showcase for Edwardian-era performers.

A Jazzy West End Legacy

After its 1925 Broadway bow and a 1927 silent film with Dorothy Gish, "Tip-Toes" landed in London amid a thriving West End scene, following "Lady, Be Good!"’s 1926 run (330 performances). Its 182 performances outpaced some peers but didn’t rival giants like “The Desert Song” (432 performances, 1927). Rediscovered in a 1982 Secaucus warehouse find, it saw a 1998 Carnegie Hall revival and a 2007 Whitefire Theatre staging in California, praised by Variety as “exuberant.” Licensing via Concord Theatricals keeps it alive, though it’s rarely staged today. As of March 2025, "Tip-Toes" endures as a Gershwin gem a West End echo of 1920s euphoria, blending satire, romance, and a toe-tapping beat.