National Lampoon: Lemmings, a spinoff of the humor magazine National Lampoon, was a 1973 stage show that helped launch the performing careers of John Belushi, Christopher Guest, and Chevy Chase. The show was co-written and co-directed by a number of people including Sean Kelly. The show opened at The Village Gate on January 25, 1973, and ran for 350 performances.
The songs from the show were subsequently issued as a record album. A video of one of the original performances, National Lampoon: Lemmings: Dead in Concert 1973, was eventually made available several decades later.
Plot
The first half of the show was sketch comedy; the second half was a mock rock festival, "Woodshuck: Three Days of Peace, Love and Death", a parody of "Woodstock: Three Days of Peace and Music." "Woodshuck" featured spoofs of Woodstock performers, including Joe Cocker and Joan Baez, as well as parodies of John Denver, Bob Dylan and James Taylor, plus songs performed by fictional groups (e.g., the "Motown Manifestoes" singing "Papa was a Running Dog Lackey of the Bourgeoisie").
Acts
Welcome to the Woodshuck Festival: Three Days of Peace, Love, and Death; plus band introductions throughout - John Belushi Freud, Marx, Engels, and Jung, performing "Lemmings Lament." - A parody of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and the songs "Woodstock", "Long Time Gone", and others. (Also referred to in performance as Freud, Pavlov, Adler, and Jung) Bob Dylan, performing "Positively Wall Street," a parody of several of his styles, with the title taken from "Positively 4th Street" - Christopher Guest Goldie Oldie, a parody of old, 1950s-style performers, performing "Pizza Man," a parody of the "teen tragedy" songs - Alice Playten John Denver, performing "Colorado" - Chevy Chase Joan Baez, performing "Pull the Triggers, Niggers," a parody of her protest songs and of Dylan's song "George Jackson," in particular. Listed on the album cover as "Pull the Tregroes, Negroes." - Mary Jenifer Mitchell (later replaced by Rhonda Coullet) Joe Cocker, "Lonely at the Bottom" - Belushi as Cocker, Paul Jacobs as Leon Russell on piano. James Taylor, "Highway Toes," a parody of his heroin abuse - Christopher Guest Motown Manifestoes singing "Papa was a Running Dog Lackey of the Bourgeoisie" (parody of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"), with most of its lines taken from The Communist Manifesto. Donovan, "Nirvana Banana" - Peter Elbling (later addition to the show). Joni Mitchell, "I Do for You" - Alice Playten (replaced by Rhonda Coullet). Farmer Yassir (parody of Max Yasgur, owner of the land on which Woodstock was held), greeting the audience - Gary Goodrow Megadeath, a parody of heavy metal groups, who end their act by turning the amps so loud that the audience dies. "Jackie Christ, Superstar." Parody of "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Jesus is a stand-up comedian, while John Belushi played King Herod. "Deteriorata." A Tony Hendra parody of Les Crane's recording of "Desiderata." "Defeat Day" - a parody of America's first military defeat in the Vietnam War. "Put all your troubles in a nickel bag and smile, smile, smile." The Rolling Stones Parody, with Alice Playten playing "Mick Jagger."
Cast
The cast included: John Belushi - bass guitar Chevy Chase - drums Garry Goodrow - sax Christopher Guest - guitar Paul Jacobs -guitar, piano Mary Jenifer Mitchell Alice Playten
Later cast replacements: Rhonda Coullet Nate Herman Bob Hoban Zal Yanovsky Tony Scheuren Peter Elbling Archie Hahn John Wall
Production
Writers
The writers included: Christopher Guest – music, musical arrangements Paul Jacobs – music, musical arrangements, musical director John Belushi Sean Kelly Tony Hendra David Axlerod
Reception
Awards
Alice Playten – 1973 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance
Cast recording
A cast recording of the show was released in 1973, with album cover art by Melinda Bordelon.