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The Crooked Mile - Part 2
 
THE STORY
ACT I
It is the weekend of 16th August 1959. Jug Ears, an ineffectual small-time crook (Jack MacGowran) is bemoaning with his gang the demise of their Italian compatriot Gorgonzola Joe (REQUIEM FOR JOE). Jug Ears means to adopt Gorgonzola Joe's baby son, Luigi, and bring him up in Soho with the help of his girlfriend of sixteen years, the black owner of an ironmongery shop, Sweet Ginger (Elisabeth Welch) (SOMEONE ELSE'S BABY). Jug Ears has only to raise the necessary funds for Luigi's flight to Britain, and he and Sweet Ginger discuss the possibility of a money-raising lottery (LOLLY-BY). The street-walker Cora (Millicent Martin) is storing up horticultural artefacts at Sweet Ginger's shop against her retirement. Cora's profession is already threatened because 'at midnight' a new law comes into force to keep girls off the street. An American businessman, Mortiss Garrity (John Larsen) explains that he is planning to open a high-rise bargain store in Soho (GOING UP).

Jack MacGowran and Elisabeth Welch in the ironmongery shop

Sweet Ginger, fed up with her unsatisfactory life with Jug Ears, is interested in Mortiss (IF I EVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN). Jug Ears' lottery (BUY A TICKET) doesn't succeed. The Carver, a violent pimp (Elwyn Brook-Jones), confronts Jug Ears threateningly (THIS IS WAR). Cora explains to one of Jug Ears' gang that 'there's nothing so respectable as a nice tidy garden' (HORTICULTURE). The Carver expresses his philosophy of life (THE CROOKED MILE). Mortiss and Jug Ears' gang keep trying to sell lottery tickets (BUY A TICKET). Mortiss and Sweet Ginger, who sees in him a father figure for little Luigi, forge their friendship (COUSIN COUNTRY)  
She decides to leave Jug Ears, and tells him 'There's a lot of men who'd be glad to have their freedom'. He tells her what prison life has taught him about being FREE. Life in the street markets of Soho goes on (STREET SCENE). Cora warns Sweet Ginger about her forthcoming date with Mortiss (MEET THE FAMILY). Jug Ears, undaunted, keeps trying to raise the money for Luigi (SPARE A PENNY).
 
ACT II
Gang warfare is rife (THE WAR ON SATURDAY NIGHT). Sweet Ginger begins to realise she can't desert Jug Ears (I'LL WAIT). The street girls carry on living THE SIMPLE LIFE. When Mortiss sells lottery tickets for the cause, Jug Ears rewards him by giving him Cora's new bubble-car which he has stolen.

Her finest moment? Millicent Martin sings 'Horticulture'

MUSICAL NUMBERS (as listed in Cambridge Theatre programme)

ACT I
Requiem For Joe (Jug Ears and Gang)
Someone Else's Baby (Sweet Ginger, Jug Ears and Gang)
Lollyby (Sweet Ginger, Jug Ears and Gang)
Going Up (Mortiss)
If I Ever Fall In Love Again (Sweet Ginger)
Buy A Ticket (The Company)
Horticulture (Cora)
The Crooked Mile (The Carver, Weed and Weed's Girl)
Cousin Country (Sweet Ginger and Mortiss)
If I Ever Fall In Love Again: reprise (Sweet Ginger)
Free (Jug Ears)
Street Scene (The Company)
Meet The Family (Cora and Sweet Ginger)
Spare A Penny (Jug Ears and Company)

ACT II
The War On Saturday Night (The Gang)
I'll Wait (Sweet Ginger)
The Simple Life (Weed's Girl and Girls)
Monday Morning March (Girls)
Other People's Sins (Cora and the Girls)
Strike! (Cora and Ensemble)
Free: reprise (Sweet Ginger)
Down To Earth (Mortiss)
Luigi (Luigi and Ensemble)
Finale (The Company)
In the court, Cora leads the girls in an explanation of their charitable status (OTHER PEOPLE'S SINS). She has Mortiss arrested for theft of her bubble-car. The Carver wrecks Sweet Ginger's shop and with it Cora's horticultural purchases. She takes the street girls out on STRIKE, refusing any sex until Soho is quiet again. Sweet Ginger realises she will never walk out on Jug Ears and tells Mortiss so. Mortiss tells her she has been deluding herself and that he has never had romantic feelings for her (DOWN TO EARTH). Luigi arrives but turns out to be not a puling babe in arms but a virile Italian policeman (Alan Thomas) (LUIGI). Jug Ears promises Sweet Ginger that the Crooked Mile of the future will be a little less crooked (FINALE).

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