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{{Infobox Musical
'''''Walking Happy''''' is a [[musical theater|theater musical]] with music by [[James Van Heusen]], lyrics by [[Sammy Cahn]] and book by [[Roger O. Hirson]] and [[Ketti Frings]]. The story is based on the play ''[[Hobson's Choice]]'' by [[Harold Brighouse]].
| name = Walking Happy
| image = Walking Happy.jpg
| caption =
| music = [[Jimmy Van Heusen]]
| lyrics = [[Sammy Cahn]]
| book = [[Roger O. Hirson]] <br> [[Ketti Frings]]
| basis = ''[[Hobson's Choice (play)|Hobson's Choice]]'' by [[Harold Brighouse]]
| productions = 1966 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
}}

'''''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 (play)|Hobson's Choice]]'' by [[Harold Brighouse]]. The musical was nominated for six [[Tony Awards]], including Best Musical.

==Production history==
The production opened on [[Broadway theatre|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.<ref> [http://www.castalbumdb.com/rec.cfm?RNumber=1229 Cast album database] castalbumdb.com</ref>

==Plot synopsis==
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 ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50%; text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Character
!Broadway (1966)<ref>[https://www.playbill.com/production/walking-happy-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005071 ''Playbill 1966 Bio Cast List'']accessed 07/10/2023</ref>
|-
!Maggie Hobson
| colspan="1" |[[Louise Troy]]
|-
!Will Massop
| colspan="1” |[[Norman Wisdom]]
|-
!Henry Horatio Hobson
| colspan="1” |[[George Rose (actor)|George Rose]]
|-
!Georgy Beenstock
| colspan="1" |[[Ed Bakey]]
|-
!Tubby Wadlow
| colspan="1" |Gordon Dilworth
|-
!Mrs. Hepworth
| colspan="1" |Emma Trekman
|-
!Vickie Hobson
| colspan="1" |Gretchen Van Aken
|-
!Alice Hobson
| colspan="1" |Sharon Dierking
|-
!Albert Beenstock
| colspan="1" |James B. Spann
|-
!Freddie Beenstock
| colspan="1" |Michael Berkson
|-
!Mrs. Figgins
| colspan="1" |[[Lucille Benson]]
|-
!Ada Figgins
| colspan="1" |Jane Laughlin
|}


==Songs==
==Songs==
{{col-begin}}
*"Be Joyful"
{{col-2}}
*"Circle This Day on Your Calendar"
; Act 1
*"Clog and Grog"
* "Think of Something Else"
*"How D'ya Talk to a Girl?"
* "Where Was I"
*"I Don't Think I'm in Love"
* "How D'ya Talk to a Girl"
*"I Should've Said"
* "Clog and Grog"
*"I'll Make a Man of the Man"
*"If I Be Your Best Chance"
* "If I Be Your Best Chance"
* "A Joyful Thing"
*"It Might as Well Be You"
* "What Makes It Happen"
*"A Joyful Thing"
* "Use Your Noggin'"
*"Love Will Find a Way - They Say"
{{col-break}}
*"The Man Has Got to Wear the Pants"
; Act 2
*"Most Girls"
*"Must You Go"
* "You're Right, You're Right"
* "I'll Make a Man of the Man"
*"No More Mister Nice"
* "Walking Happy"
*"People Who Are Nice"
* "I Don't Think I'm In Love"
*"A Policeman's Whistle"
*"Such a Sociable Sort"
* "Such a Sociable Sort"
*"There's No Love Like Ours"
* "It Might As Well Be Her"
*"Think of Something Else"
* "People Who Are Nice"
* "You're Right, You're Right" (reprise)
*"To Keep the Chill Off the Bones"
* "I Don't Think I'm In Love" (reprise)
*"Touch a Hair of His Head"
{{col-end}}
*"Use Your Noggin"
*"Very Close to Wonderful"
*"Walking Happy"
*"What Makes It Happen?"
*"Where Was I?"
*"Wouldn't It Break Your Heart?"
*"You're Right, You're Right"


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.
==Broadway production==


==Critical response==
The show opened at the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]] on [[November 26]], [[1966 in music|1966]] and ran for 161 performances. It was directed by [[Cy Feuer]].
[[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".<ref>Kerr, Walter. ''Review'', "New York Times", November 28, 1966, p. 47</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award
! width="40%"| Category
! width="25%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="6" align="center"| 1967
| rowspan="6"| [[Tony Award]]
| colspan="2"| [[Tony Award for Best Musical|Best Musical]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Original Score|Best Composer and Lyricist]]
| [[Sammy Cahn]] and [[Jimmy Van Heusen]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Norman Wisdom]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Louise Troy]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| Gordon Dilworth
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Choreography|Best Choreography]]
| [[Danny Daniels]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{ibdb show|9145}}
*[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_w/walking_happy.htm Production information and plot at guidetomusicaltheatre.com]
*[http://www.musicalheaven.com/Detailed/249.html musicalheaven]


[[Category:1966 musicals]]
Cast
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
*[[Norman Wisdom]] ''as Will Mossop''
[[Category:Musicals based on plays]]
*[[Louise Troy]] ''as Maggie Hobson''
[[Category:Plays by Roger O. Hirson]]
[[Category:Musicals set in England]]
[[Category:Works by Ketti Frings]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1880]]

Latest revision as of 05:42, 14 July 2023

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

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.

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]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Walking_Happy&oldid=1165282424"