Book by
LAWRENCE KASHA and DAVID LANDY 

      Based on the MGM Film and "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benet

November 19-24, 2009

Goin’ courting” has never been as much fun as in this rip-roaring, high-kicking stage version of the popular MGM musical comedy.  Produced by the ECU/Loessin Playhouse, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers will be on the McGinnis stage for six performances, November 19-24.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers takes place in an Oregon logging town in the 1850’s.  Adam Pontipee has come to town with two things on his mind; selling his crops and finding a wife.  He espies Millie, a spirited waitress who’s tired of taking care on so many men, and sweeps her off her feet.  They rush into marriage and immediately return to Adam's home in the mountains.  The honeymoon is short-lived as Millie discovers that his home is a pig sty which he shares with his six slovenly brothers.  

Millie quickly realizes that her best path from being a maid to seven men to that of Adam’s wife is to get the brothers married.   But the brothers are completely uncouth, ill-mannered, and have no idea how to woo women.  Millie musters all of her determination, and tough love, to smooth their rough-hewn edges.  

Thinking they are finally presentable, they all go to a community social that quickly goes from barn-raising, to dance, to donnybrook.  When they return home, Adam convinces his love-sick brothers they should ignore Millie’s advice and follow the actions of the ancient Romans and kidnap the girls just as the Romans did with the Sabine (Sobbin’) women.  The Pontipee men return to town and abduct the girls of their dreams but not before making such a ruckus that they cause an avalanche.  With the pass covered in snow, the townspeople cannot come to the rescue of the girls and they are stuck at the farm until spring.

Millie is shocked when the brothers show up with their captives and sends all the men to live in the barn.  Stung by Millie’s harsh words, Adam goes to spend the rest of the winter in his trapping cabin in the mountains.  The snowbound women soon begin to moon over the brothers, and when Millie announces she is going to have a baby, they all long to be married.

Spring finally arrives, and the brothers and their girlfriends are reunited to happily pursue romance.  Adam returns from the mountains to their baby daughter, Hannah.  The townspeople arrive to (finally) rescue the girls, only now they have no intention of leaving the farm.  Just as the townspeople are about to hang the brothers, Hannah's cries are heard over the fracas.  Reverend Elcott inquires about the baby and, in a moment of inspiration, all the women simultaneously claim to be the mother.  A shotgun wedding is performed at once, and the happy couples kiss.

Bursting with the rambunctious energy of the original film, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is all boisterous fun and romance that harkens back to the glory days of the movie musical.  Sure, it’s not politically correct by today’s standards, but its charm and its innocence allows us to overlook this.  There’s dare-devil choreography, and rip-roaring tunes like “Bless Your Beautiful Hide,” “Goin’ Courtin’” and “Wonderful Wonderful Day.” It’s a roof-raisin’ good time!   

Tickets are $12.00-$17.50 in advance, $17.50 at the door, and may be purchased by calling 252-328-6829, 1-800-ECU-ARTS, or by going online at www.ECUARTS.com.  The ECU/Loessin Playhouse is produced by the School of Theatre and Dance, College of Fine Arts and Communication, East Carolina University.

Advance Ticket Purchase Price:

All TICKETS ARE $17.50 AT THE DOOR.