Walking Happy is a musical with music by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and book by Roger O. Hirson and Ketti Frings. The story is based on the 1916 play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse. The musical was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Walking Happy
MusicJimmy Van Heusen
LyricsSammy Cahn
BookRoger O. Hirson
Ketti Frings
BasisHobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse
Productions1966 Broadway

Production history

edit

The production opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 26, 1966 and ran for 161 performances. Directed by Cy Feuer with choreography by Danny Daniels. Conductor Herbert Grossman served as Music Director.

The original cast recording was released by Angel Records in 1966.[1]

Plot synopsis

edit

In Lancashire, England in 1880 the men of the town gather in the local pub, with much drinking. The widower Henry Hobson, owner of a boot shop, has three daughters, and he wishes them to marry. The local leader of the temperance league, George Beenstock, has two sons. The two younger Hobson daughters flirt with the Beenstock sons, while Hobson tells his eldest daughter Maggie that her time has passed. Maggie decides to make a match with Will, a skilled shoemaker, even though Will is engaged to another. Will and Maggie establish their own boot shop. Meanwhile, Hobson's drinking continues, his young daughters try to take Maggie's place at his shop, and Will and Maggie marry. Hobson and Beenstock settle on a dowry for the young ladies. Hobson realizes that he needs Maggie and Will, and they become partners.

Original cast and characters

edit
Character Broadway (1966)[2]
Maggie Hobson Louise Troy
Will Massop Norman Wisdom
Henry Horatio Hobson George Rose
Georgy Beenstock Ed Bakey
Tubby Wadlow Gordon Dilworth
Mrs. Hepworth Emma Trekman
Vickie Hobson Gretchen Van Aken
Alice Hobson Sharon Dierking
Albert Beenstock James B. Spann
Freddie Beenstock Michael Berkson
Mrs. Figgins Lucille Benson
Ada Figgins Jane Laughlin

Songs

edit

The title song "Walking Happy" was originally meant to be used in the 1963 film Papa's Delicate Condition, with Jackie Gleason singing it, but it was dropped before the film's release.

Critical response

edit

Walter Kerr reviewed the musical for the New York Times. He wrote that the musical was "easygoing, unpretentious, minor-league...a light, slight, occasionally charming pastime." The "principal asset" is Norman Wisdom, a "zany original".[3]

Awards and nominations

edit

Original Broadway production

edit
Year Award Category Nominee Result
1967 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Composer and Lyricist Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Norman Wisdom Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Louise Troy Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Gordon Dilworth Nominated
Best Choreography Danny Daniels Nominated

References

edit
  1. ^ Cast album database castalbumdb.com
  2. ^ Playbill 1966 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07/10/2023
  3. ^ Kerr, Walter. Review, "New York Times", November 28, 1966, p. 47
edit