Walking Happy

Walking Happy
Music	Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics	Sammy Cahn
Book	Roger O. Hirson Ketti Frings
Basis	Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse
Productions	1966 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 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 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 26, 1966 and ran for 161 performances. Directed by Cy Feuer with choreography by Danny Daniels, the cast included George Rose as Henry Hobson, Norman Wisdom as Will Mossop, Louise Troy as Maggie Hobson, and Ed Bakey as George Beenstock. Conductor Herbert Grossman served as Music Director.

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

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 youngest 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 Wil 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.

Songs

Act 1

• "Think of Something Else"
• "Where Was I"
• "How D'ya Talk to a Girl"
• "Clog and Grog"
• "If I Be Your Best Chance"
• "A Joyful Thing"
• "What Makes It Happen"
• "Use Your Noggin'"

Act 2

• "You're Right, You're Right"
• "I'll Make a Man of the Man"
• "Walking Happy"
• "I Don't Think I'm In Love"
• "Such a Sociable Sort"
• "It Might As Well Be Her"
• "People Who Are Nice"
• "You're Right, You're Right" (reprise)
• "I Don't Think I'm In Love" (reprise)

Critical response

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".

Awards and nominations

Nominations

• Tony Award Best Musical — Book by Ketti Frings, Roger O. Hirson; Music by James Van Heusen; Lyrics by Sammy Cahn; Produced by Cy Feuer, Ernest H. Martin
• Tony Award Best Composer and Lyricist — Lyrics by Sammy Cahn; Music by James Van Heusen
• Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical — Norman Wisdom
• Tony Award Best Actress in a Musical — Louise Troy
• Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical — Gordon Dilworth
• Tony Award Best Choreography — Danny Daniels

External links

• ​Walking Happy​ at the Internet Broadway Database
• Production information and plot at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
• musicalheaven