The Happy Time (musical)
| The Happy Time | ||
|---|---|---|
Book N. Richard Nash | | |
| Basis | Samuel A. Taylor's play The Happy Time | |
| Productions | 1967 Los Angeles 1968 Broadway 1980 Connecticut 1983 Lyric Opera of Kansas City 2007 New York reading | |
The Happy Time is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by N. Richard Nash loosely based on a 1950 hit Broadway play, The Happy Time by Samuel A. Taylor, which was in turn based on stories by Robert Fontaine. The story had also been made into a 1952 film version.
The original 1967 Los Angeles and 1968 Broadway productions were directed and choreographed by
Background
Producer David Merrick had initially asked Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields to write the songs and Yves Montand to play the lead, but they were all busy with other projects and declined to participate.[1] Merrick then asked N. Richard Nash to write the script, but Nash suggested an original story of his own. Merrick, holding the rights to The Happy Time, asked that the setting be changed to Canada, and the deal was set. The final script had little of the Taylor play but did use the characters and some minor details from Fontaine's stories. Nash showed the outline of the story to Kander and Ebb, who agreed to write the music.[2]
Merrick had approached Gower Champion to direct the new musical. Champion agreed, with the provision that it open in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre. Rehearsals began in September 1967 in Los Angeles, and the show opened on November 19 at the Ahmanson. Although the reviews were poor, the show was sold out.[3] The show ran to December 23, 1967.[4][5][6][7]
The Happy Time opened on
Synopsis
Jacques Bonnard is a prize-winning photographer who travels the world. He returns to his 1920s French-Canadian village, after five years away, seeking the happy time of his childhood. His cantankerous but lovable father (Grandpere), two brothers and their wives, and their children all welcome him ("He's Back"). His stories of his travels have a profound effect on his nephew Bibi, who is having trouble at school and going through an especially rough puberty, inspiring the boy to want to live life to the fullest. Jacques goes to a nightclub and takes Grandpere and Bibi, where they are entertained by the dancers (Six Angels) ("Catch My Garter"). After their night on the town, Bibi begs Jacques to "Please Stay".
When Bibi takes Grandpere's "naughty" pictures to school and is discovered, his stern father Philippe forces him to apologize to his school-mates. Bibi is embarrassed and upset and tries to cajole Jacques into taking him away when he leaves. Although Jacques at first agrees, thinking that Bibi will be a companion, he quickly realizes that this would not be good for Bibi.
Meanwhile, Jacques finds it difficult to commit to his former sweetheart Laurie ("I Don't Remember You"). The couple finally realize that they have opposite ideas about life and the future ("Seeing Things"), with Laurie understanding that Jacques is emotionally a boy, like her students. Grandpere, Jacques and Bibi playfully sing an ode to "A Certain Girl". Jacques finally realizes that he returned home searching for family and love ("Running"), and understands that he must set out alone again.
Original cast and characters
| Character | Broadway (1968)[10] |
|---|---|
| Jacques Bonnard | Robert Goulet |
| Suzanne Bonnard | Jeanne Arnold |
| Philippe Bonnard | George S. Irving |
| Bibi Bonnard | Michael Rupert |
| Louis Bonnard | Charles Durning |
| Annabelle Bonnard | Kim Freund |
| Gillie Bonnard | Julane Stites |
| Nanette Bonnard | Connie Simmons |
| Felice Bonnard | June Squibb |
| Grandpere Bonnard | David Wayne |
| Laurie Mannon | Julie Gregg |
Songs
|
|
+Denotes songs added during the revised 2002 Niagara University production.
Productions
The
In May 2002, the Niagara University Theatre in Niagara Falls, New York staged a revival of The Happy Time. John Kander and Fred Ebb went to Niagara University to work with the cast, helping recreate the work. "They were here a few weeks ago for rehearsals and thought the show was just beautiful..."[12] Most notably, they incorporated five songs, originally cut from the musical, into the production, as well as making a few other minor changes. "This NU Theatre production, with Kander and Ebb's blessing, has reinstated several songs and restored text, prompting them to label this version 'definitive.'"[13]
The revised version was performed in New York City for the first time in 2007 in a staged reading by "Musicals Tonight!", as part of their season long tribute to George S. Irving, who returned to the show, this time playing Jacques' father, Grandpere.[14][15][16]
The
The musical was profiled in the
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Tony Award
|
Best Musical | Nominated | [19] | |
| Best Original Score | John Kander and Fred Ebb | Nominated | |||
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
|
Robert Goulet | Won | |||
| David Wayne | Nominated | ||||
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
|
Michael Rupert | Nominated | |||
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
|
Julie Gregg | Nominated | |||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Gower Champion | Won | |||
| Best Choreography | Won | ||||
| Best Scenic Design | Peter Wexler | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume Design | Freddy Wittop | Nominated | |||
| Theatre World Award | Julie Gregg | Won | [20] | ||
| Michael Rupert | Won | ||||
Recordings
The Original Broadway cast recording was released by RCA Victor Broadway in January 1968 and the CD was released on March 10, 1992.[21]
Notes
- ^ Gilvey, pg. 183
- ^ Gilvey, pp. 182-84
- ISBN 1429925590(no page number)
- ^ "Ahmanson Theatre. !967-68 Premiere Season" centertheatregroup.org, accessed February 21, 2016 Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Ahmanson: All-Star Stage" Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1997
- ISBN 1429928328, pp. 75-78
- ^ " 'The Happy Time' Production History" ovrtur.com, accessed July 6, 2016.
- ^ Gilvey, p. 200
- ^ "'The Happy Time' Overview and Review" allmusic.com, accessed February 21, 2016.
- ^ Playbill 1961 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/03/2023
- ^ Rich, Frank, "Stage:'The Happy Time' at the Goodspeed", The New York Times, May 7, 1980, pg. C29
- ^ Staff, "Coming to See 'The Happy Time'", Buffalo News, May 3, 2002, pg. C2
- ^ Hadley, Ted, "Happy Time is Here Again", Buffalo News (New York), May 2, 2002, pg. C8
- ^ "Reviews: The Happy Time", musicalstonight.org, retrieved March 13, 2009 Archived May 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dale, Michael. "2007 Concert Review" Broadwayworld.com, March 11, 2007
- ^ McKinnon, Fred. "Review 'The Happy Time'" Theatreonline, 2007.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Sentimental Journey: Signature Revives Kander & Ebb's 'Happy Time' April 1" Archived 2008-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, playbill.com, April 1, 2008
- ^ Pressley, Nelson. "'The Happy Time': a Little Charmer", The Washington Post, April 10, 2008, pg. C05
- ^ "List of 1968 Tony Award Nominees and Winners" broadwayworld.com
- ^ List of Theatre World Award Winners theatreworldawards.org
- ^ Amazon.com: The Happy Time (1968 Original Broadway Cast)
References
- Gilvey, J., "Before the Parade Passes by: Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical" (2005), St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0-312-33776-0
