Half a Sixpence

For the film adaptation, see Half a Sixpence (film).
Half a Sixpence

Official Broadway Cast recording cover art
Music David Heneker
Lyrics David Heneker
Book Beverley Cross
Basis H.G. Wells's novel Kipps
Productions 1963 West End
1965 Broadway
1967 Film
2008 UK Tour
2016 Chichester Festival Theatre
2016 West End revival

Half a Sixpence is a musical comedy based on the novel Kipps by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele.

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 realizes 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. The set designer was Loudon Sainthill.

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. 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.

New Cameron Mackintosh 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.[1] 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 Noel Coward Theatre in London's West End on 17 November 2016 with previews from 29 October 2016. It is currently booking until 11 February 2017.[2] Due to five-star reviews and audience acclaim, the show has since extended through 22 April 2017. [3]

Songs

Act I
  • "All in The Cause of Economy" - Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins and Pearce
  • "Half a Sixpence" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "Money to Burn" - Arthur Kipps, Laura and The Men
  • "A Proper Gentleman" - Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pearce and Shopgirls
  • "She's Too Far Above Me" - Arthur Kipps
  • "If The Rain's Got to Fall" - Arthur Kipps, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls, Singers and Dancers
  • "The Old Military Canal" - Singers
Act II
  • "A Proper Gentleman" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps, Mrs. Walsingham, Helen Walsingham, Mrs. Botting, Young Walshingham and Party Guests
  • "The One That's Run Away" - Chitterlow & Kipps
  • "Long Ago" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "Flash Bang Wallop" - Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Chitterlow, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls and Singers
  • "I Know What I Am" - Ann Pornick
  • "The Party's On the House" - Arthur Kipps, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls, Singers and Dancers
  • "Half a Sixpence" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "All in the Cause of Economy" (Reprise) - Flo, Pearce, Sid Pornick and Buggins
  • "Finale" - Entire Company

2016 West End Production

Act I
  • "Half a Sixpence" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "Look Alive" - Company
  • "Money to Burn" - Arthur Kipps, Mr Shalford, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pierce and Flo
  • "Believe in Yourself" - Arthur Kipps and Helen Walsingham
  • "She's Too Far Above Me" - Arthur Kipps
  • "Money to Burn" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "A Proper Gentleman" - Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pearce and Flo
  • "Half a Sixpence" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "Long Ago" - Ann Pornick
  • "Back the Right Horse" - Chitterlow and Company
  • "Just a Few Little Things" - Helen Walsingham and Arthur Kipps
  • "A Little Touch of Happiness" - Ann Pornick and Flo
  • "If The Rain's Got to Fall" - Mrs Walsingham, Arthur Kipps, Foster, Helen Walsingham, Lady Punnet and Company
Act II
  • "The One That's Run Away" - Chitterlow & Arthur Kipps
  • "Pick Out a Simple Tune" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "You Never Get Anything Right / I Know Who I Am" - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "We'll Build a Palace / I Only Want a Little House" - Arthur Kipps, Helen Walsingham, Mrs Walsingham, James Walsingham
  • "In the Middle There's Me" - Arthur Kipps, Buggins, Sid Pornick and Pierce
  • "Long Ago" (Reprise) - Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick
  • "Flash Bang Wallop" - Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company
  • "Flash Bang Wallop" (Reprise)- Chitterlow, Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company
  • "Finale" - Company

Awards and nominations

Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
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 Original Score David Heneker Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Gene Saks Nominated
Best Choreography Onna White Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Gapper, John (2016-01-15). "Interview: Cameron Mackintosh". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Half a Sixpence to transfer to the West End". Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  3. ↑ https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/half-a-sixpence-extends-booking-at-the-noel-coward-theatre-in-londons-west-end

External links

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