Baker Street (musical)

Baker Street is a 1965 musical with a book by Jerome Coopersmith and music and lyrics by Marian Grudeff and Raymond Jessel.[1]

Baker Street
A Musical Adventure of Sherlock Holmes
Original Cast Recording [CD reissue]
MusicMarian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Jerry Bock
LyricsMarian Grudeff, Raymond Jessel and Sheldon Harnick
BookJerome Coopersmith
BasisThe Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Productions1965 Broadway

Background

Loosely based on the 1891 Sherlock Holmes story "A Scandal in Bohemia" by Arthur Conan Doyle with elements of "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House" as well,[2] it is set in and around London in 1897, the year in which England celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of the reign of Queen Victoria[2] (an event marked by an elaborate royal procession depicted by Bil Baird's marionettes). The musical veers from Conan Doyle's work in that Irene Adler becomes an associate of Holmes rather than his opponent, thus allowing an element of romance between the two.[2]

Because of problems the show went through during out of town tryouts, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock, the successful composing team of Fiddler on the Roof were brought in to contribute additional songs including "Cold Clear World" and "I Shall Miss You." They also wrote "I'm In London Again" which was the first number for Irene Adler, but after opening night, this number (which can be heard on the cast album) was dropped and replaced by another Bock-Harnick composition, "Buffalo Belle" which had Irene Adler performing an elaborate Wild West number. Stereo Review Magazine's review described the score as being "Warmed-over Gilbert & Sullivan with a gelid sauce of Lerner & Loewe."

Productions

The musical opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre, a Broadway theater on Broadway, on February 16, 1965[3] running to October 30, and then transferred to the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) on November 3, 1965, where it closed on November 14, 1965 after a total of 311 performances[4] and six previews.[5] Directed by Hal Prince, the cast included Fritz Weaver, Peter Sallis, Martin Gabel, Inga Swenson, Virginia Vestoff, Teddy Green, and, in supporting roles, Tommy Tune and Christopher Walken in their Broadway debuts.

Producer Alexander H. Cohen felt the show was such an event that he announced, prior to the opening, men would not be admitted unless they were clad in jackets and ties, and women would be allowed in only if they wore dresses. This policy quickly changed once the mixed reviews were in and Cohen realized he needed all the business he could get, no matter how it was attired.

Cast

The following list includes the roles in the musical and the cast members in the 1965 production. The production also included additional ensemble cast members and understudies.[6]

Musical numbers

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
1965 Tony Award Best Author Jerome Coopersmith Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Inga Swenson Nominated
Best Scenic Design Oliver Smith Won[7]
Best Costume Design Motley Nominated
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References
  1. Eyles, Allen (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration. Harper & Row. p. 107. ISBN 0-06-015620-1.
  2. Boström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 327. ISBN 978-0-8021-2789-1.
  3. "Baker Street". Tams-Witmark Music Library. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  4. Boström, Mattias (2018). From Holmes to Sherlock. Mysterious Press. p. 333. ISBN 978-0-8021-2789-1.
  5. Baker Street Playbill, retrieved February 1, 2018
  6. "Baker Street". Playbill. 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. "Baker Street: The First Sherlockian Musical". Baker Street Babes. May 10, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.


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