TOMFOOLERY Music, book and lyrics by Tom Lehrer. Adapted by Cameron Mackintosh and Robin Ray. Original London Production by Cameron Mackintosh A celebration of the genius of Tom Lehrer. Cameron Mackintosh has taken twenty-eight of Lehrer's greatest songs and added a linking narrative to produce an evening of subtle humorous delights as Lehrer attacks American 'sacred cows', having made sure to milk them thoroughly first! Drawing mainly from Lehrer's greatest years, the 1950's and 1960's, this wacky and deliciously wicked entertainment includes such favourites as "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park", I Hold Your Hand In Mine", "The Masochism Tango", "The Old Dope Peddlar" and "I Got It From Agnes". Cast: 1 female, 3 male, no chorus Instrumentation: 1 Reed (flute, alto sax, clarinet), horn, percussion, piano, bass Vocal Score and Libretto on hire only ABOUT TOM LEHRER One of America's wittiest and most intelligent song satirists, Tom Lehrer released his first album, "Songs by Tom Lehrer", on his own record label in 1953. Although much of Lehrer's material was considered too controversial for radio airplay, the record sold 370,000 copies. Born in 1928 in New York city, Lehrer wrote his first song parody, "Fight Fiercely Harvard", at the age of 17. After the release of "Songs by Tom Lehrer", Lehrer spent three years in the army and, upon leaving, signed with RCA. In 1959, his second LP as released, by which time some of his songs, such as "The Masochism Tango" and "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park", were being released as singles. These received airplay abroad, including on the BBC, but stations in the US shied away from them, fearing them to be subversive. After several successful concert tours and two more albums, he decided to abandon his career to become a university mathematics teacher. Lehrer made a brief return to the spotlight in 1965 with another album and concert tour, but abandoned performing again to go back teaching maths and musical theatre at the University of California, where he still teaches to this day. He made no new recordings until 1997, when he recorded a new song titled "I Got It from Agnes" for the compilation CD "Songs and more songs by Tom Lehrer".