LOOK AT ME

A WOMAN IN HER PRIME,

IS IT A CRIME TO BE ADMIRED,

DESIRED?

THE WORLD IS AT MY FEET,

EVERYONE TREATING ME LIKE A DREAM

OR SO IT WOULD SEEM.

Sing for my supper huh? Yes, I’ll sing for my supper.

I’LL SHOW ALL THOSE STUCK-UP BITCHES

WHAT RICHES REALLY MEAN.

I’VE GOT EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES

TO BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT WOMAN

IN THE WORLD.

NO ONE WILL DISCUSS THE WEATHER,

OR WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE BOURSE.

HIGH BORN LADIES WILL NOT BLETHER

ON THE RIVER NILE AND ITS SOURCE,

BUT THEY’LL NATTER ON AND ON

UNTIL THEIR THROATS ARE HOARSE

AND THE SUBJECT OF THEIR CHATTER

WILL BE ME OF COURSE.

BECAUSE,

I AM UNIQUE…

SO TO SPEAK.

I’VE GOT EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES

TO BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT WOMAN

IN THE WORLD.

NO ONE WILL DISCUSS TRAVIATA,

CARMEN, FAUST, OR OPERA COMIQUE.

I’M THE ONE INAMORATA

OF THE HIGHEST SOCIAL CLIQUE.

FOR THE REST WHO GIVES A FIG

THEIR SUFFERING FROM PIQUE

WHEN THE SUBJECT OF THE SHINDIG WILL BE

MY PHYSIQUE,

BECAUSE

I AM UNIQUE…

SO TO SPEAK.

I WANT TO REACH FOR THE STARS,

EVERY RIVAL TO OUTSHINE.

FROM MUD HUT TO ALCAZARS

THE GLITTERING PRIZES WILL BE MINE.

I WON’T RUN WITH THE HERD

BUT WITH GLAMOUR AND GRACE,

UNDETERRED

I’LL BE FIRST IN EVERY RACE.

I’VE GOT EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES

TO BE THE MOST TALKED ABOUT WOMAN

IN THE WORLD.

THERE’LL BE NO END TO MY AMBITION,

TO THE FAME THAT I’LL ACHIEVE.

I’VE A SNEAKING PREMONITION

AS TO WHAT APPLAUSE I WILL RECEIVE

WHEN I STEP ONTO THAT STAGE TONIGHT

THE NEW WORLD EVE,

AND THE AUDIENCE WILL BE AMAZED,

THEY WON’T BELIEVE

MY WONDERFUL TECHNIQUE,

MY INCRFEDIBLE MYSTIQUE,

BECAUSE

I AM UNIQUE.

How’s that for a snubbed diva to wrap her vocal cords around?

There were four famous horizontals of the period: Cleo de Merode, Emilienne d’Alincon, Liane de Pougy and Otero and later in the show they have a quartet –

ALL: WE’RE THE GRAND HORIZONTALS OF LA BELLE ÉPOQUE,

OTERO: AND I AM THE GRANDEST OF THEM All.

ALL: EVERY MAN WHEN HE SEES US SIMPLY RUNS AMOK,

OUR FASCINATION NEVER SEEMS TO PALL.

OUR LOVERS ARE THE RICHEST MEN IN EUROPE,

AND AMERICA,

OTERO: AND RUSSIA.

ALL: CROWNED AND TITLED HEADS FROM MONACO

TO PRUSSIA.

EACH MADE HER FORTUNE

LYING FLAT ON HER BACK,

DOESN’T TAKE TOO MUCH EFFORT

TO DO A SIMPLE THING LIKE THAT.

COITION IN THE BEST

MISSIONARY POSITION.

OTERO: SO WHAT MATTERS IF THE PEASANTS STARVE?

CLEO: OR IF THE CONGO’S PILLAGED.

LIANE: DOES IT MATTER IF THEY LOSE THEIR CROWN JEWELS?

TWO: THEY SHOULD BE SO PRIVILAGED,

THREE: TO LOSE THEIR JEWELS IN OUR DIRECTION,

ALL: WITH EACH AND EVERY NEW ERECTION.

WE’RE THE GRAND HORIZONTALS OF LA ELLE ÉPOQUE,

OTERO: AND I AM THE GRANDEST OF THEM ALL.

CLEO: NO I AM THE GRANDEST,

LIANE: NO I AM THE GRANDEST,

EMIL: I AM THE GRANDEST,

OTERO: WHAT?

CLEO: Oh, have it your way…

THREE] YOU ARE THE GRANDEST OF US ALL.

OTERO] I AM THE GRANDEST OF US ALL.

The eleven o’clock number goes like this…

OTERO: LIFE IS A BOWL OF CHERRIES

MARIA: BUT NOT ALWAYS SWEET.

OTERO: How true.

LIFE IS THAT BIG AFFAIRE,

MARIA: NOT ALWAYS DISCREET.

OTERO: IF IT GOES WRONG BEAT A HASTY RETREAT,

IT’S CERTANLY QUEER,

HOW THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

WILL SUDDENLY APPEAR.

MARIA: That’s fine for you but you are unique.

OTERO: And so are we all, my dear, so to speak.

MARIA: LIFE’S SO MYSTERIOUS YOU DON’T

KNOW WHAT’S IN STORE.

OTERO: wq right yoHow right you are.How right you are.

FOR HE COULD BE PRINCE CHARMING,

MARIA: HE COULD BE A BORE.

OTERO: Or he could be a skinflint what’s more.

MARIA: You have a one-track mind.

OTERO: IF HE’S THE LATTER YOU GENTLY WITHDRAW,

Gently, so as not to hurt his feelings too much.

AND GIVE OUT A CHEER

FOR THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

IS BOUND TO APPEAR.

MARIA: But what if your way in life is the way of love?

LOVE IS THE KISS THAT LINGERS THROUGH ALL OF THE YEARS,

LOVE IS ONE KISS REMEMBERED THROUGH LAUGHTER

AND TEARS,

ONE KISS TO SOOTHE AWAY ALL OF YOUR FEARS.

OTERO: That’s all very well

BUT STILL BE AWARE

THAT THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

HAS GOT TO BE NEAR.

MARIA: My dear Nina, you are shameless.

OTERO: Oh that’s been said to me before. But can you teach an old bitch new tricks? Or a leopard to change her spots?

LIFE IS A POT POURRRI, A BOUQUET

OF FLOWERS…

MARIA: Oh, I thought we would get on to flowers sooner or later. What is it with you and flowers?

OTERO: You don’t like flowers? All right, forget the flowers?

BOTH: LIFE IS A FANTASY, FAMINE OR FEAST,

MARIA: OTHERS TO MOLLIFY,

OTERO: PALMS TO BE GREASED.

BOTH: TRY TO TAKE CARE YOU WILL NEVER BE FLEECED

AND BE DEBONAIRE

WHEN THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

OFFERS THAT REVIERE.

LIFE DEALS SOME FANCY HANDS,

NOT ALWAYS GLAD,

TAKEN IN ALL YOU’LL FIND IT’S TOO OFTEN SAD,

BUT WHAT THE HELL, KICK YOUR HEELS IN THE AIR

AND LET OUT THAT CHEER,

HERE’S THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

WITH HIS BIG SOUVENIR.

LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH YOU,

YOU CRY ON YOUR OWN.

LIVE EVERY PASSING MOMENT,

THE FUTURE’S UNKNOWN.

HAVE NO REGRETS FOR THE TIME THAT HAS FLOWN

AND NEVER DESPAIR,

FOR THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE

IS BOUND TO APPEAR.