Half a Sixpence
Half a Sixpence is a musical comedy based on the 1905 novel Kipps by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele.
Half a Sixpence | |
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Official Broadway Cast recording cover art | |
Music | David Heneker |
Lyrics | David Heneker |
Book | Beverley Cross |
Basis | Kipps by H. G. Wells |
Productions | 1963 West End 1965 Broadway 1967 Film adaptation 2008 UK Tour 2016 West End revival |
Background
The show is based on H.G. Wells's novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul. Steele played Arthur Kipps, an orphan who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can't buy happiness.
David Heneker (who had also worked on Irma La Douce and Charlie Girl) wrote both music and lyrics. Steele's importance to the show was made evident by his appearance in twelve of the musical's fifteen songs. Much of this musical was tailored as a star vehicle for Steele's particular talents which was especially evident in the musical number "Money to Burn": when Arthur Kipps realises that he is about to become wealthy, he decides that the first thing he will buy is a banjo. This is the cue for someone to hand Tommy Steele a banjo so that he can demonstrate his skill on the instrument. However, in Wells's novel, one of the first things that Arthur Kipps purchases with his newfound wealth is, indeed, a banjo.
Productions
London
Half a Sixpence was first produced in London's West End at the Cambridge Theatre on 21 March 1963, with Marti Webb, in her first leading role, playing Ann. Anna Barry also appeared as Helen. The production was directed by John Dexter, with choreography by Edmund Balin, and the set was designed by Loudon Sainthill. It ran for 677 performances.[1]
Broadway
The show opened on Broadway in 1965, playing at the Broadhurst Theatre for 511 performances, also starring Steele. John Cleese played a small role of Walsingham, the stockbroker from a respectable family who embezzles Kipps' fortune. Cleese has stated in several venues that he can not sing, and was asked to mime singing-with no sound-during numbers he appeared in. Half a Sixpence was the last West End show to transfer successfully to New York City before the late-1970s and early-1980s musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Film version
A 1967 film adaptation starring Steele, along with Julia Foster and Cyril Ritchard, was directed by George Sidney and choreographed by Gillian Lynne. Lesley Judd, a future presenter of the BBC children's TV series Blue Peter, was one of the dancing chorus. Foster's singing voice was dubbed by Marti Webb.[1]
"I'm Not Talking To You", which had been excluded from the Broadway score, was subsequently reinstated for the film. Two new songs were also written: "Lady Botting's Boating Regatta Cup Racing Song (The Race Is On)" and "This Is My World".
2016 revised version
A revised version of the show opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre to rave reviews and standing ovations in July 2016, co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Reuniting Mackintosh's Mary Poppins collaborators, the show features a new book by Julian Fellowes and new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe alongside revisions of Heneker's originals.[2] The cast included Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps, Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick and Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham.
Following the success in Chichester, the production transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End on 17 November 2016 with previews from 29 October 2016. It initially booked until 11 February 2017.[3] Due to five-star reviews and audience acclaim, the show was extended until 22 April 2017. [4] It was extended, once again, until 6 May 2017. It extended again until 2 September 2017, when it closed.[4][5]
2015 North Wales version
In 2015, a production created by the Llangollen Operatic Society was performed at Llangollen Town Hall.
2017 Independent UK version
A production created by Theatre in the Community was shown at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl from 9–12 August 2017, with matinees on the 10th and 12th. Ryan Thomas Ebbrell played the lead role of Arthur Kipps, earning rave reviews.
This production celebrates the 50th anniversary of the feature film of the same name and nearly 55 years since the original West End production in 1963.
Songs
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2016 West End Production
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Awards and nominations
Broadway production
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
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1965 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
Best Producer | Allen-Hodgdon, Stevens Productions Inc. and Harold Fielding | Nominated | ||
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Tommy Steele | Nominated | ||
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | James Grout | Nominated | ||
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Carrie Nye | Nominated | ||
Best Author | Beverley Cross | Nominated | ||
Best Original Score | David Heneker | Nominated | ||
Best Direction of a Musical | Gene Saks | Nominated | ||
Best Choreography | Onna White | Nominated |
2016 West End revival
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
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2017 | Whatsonstage.com Awards | Best New Musical | Nominated | |
Best Actor in a Musical | Charlie Stemp | Won | ||
Best Actress in a Musical | Devon-Elise Johnson | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical | Ian Bartholomew | Nominated | ||
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical | Emma Williams | Won | ||
Best Direction | Rachel Kavanaugh | Nominated | ||
Best Choreography | Andrew Wright | Won | ||
Best Costume Design | Paul Brown | Nominated | ||
2017 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Actor in a Musical | Charlie Stemp | Nominated |
Best Actor in Supporting Role in a Musical | Ian Bartholomew | Nominated | ||
Best Actress in Supporting Role in a Musical | Emma Williams | Nominated |
Recordings
- Half a Sixpence: An Original Cast Recording - Decca SLK4521 (1963)[1]
- Half a Sixpence: The Original Broadway Cast Recording - RCA Victor LOC1110 (1965)[1]
- Half a Sixpence: The Original 1962 Demo Recordings - Stage Door STAGE9052 (2017)[1]
- "Half A Sixpence: Music From the Paramount Motion Picture" Count Basie Dot DLP 3834 (mono) & DLP 25834 (stereo), (November 9–10, 1967, a recording session attended by Tommy Steele)
References
- Dietz, Dan (2014). The Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 298. ISBN 9781442230712.
- Gapper, John (15 January 2016). "Interview: Cameron Mackintosh". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
- "Half a Sixpence to transfer to the West End". Retrieved 31 August 2016.
- https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/half-a-sixpence-extends-booking-at-the-noel-coward-theatre-in-londons-west-end
- http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/half-a-sixpence-close-west-end-noel-coward_43534.html?cid=homepage_news