Half a Sixpence

Half a Sixpence

:"For the 1967 film adaptation, see Half a Sixpence."

Infobox Musical
name= Half a Sixpence
subtitle=


caption=
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
awards=

"Half a Sixpence" is a musical comedy written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele.

It is based on H.G. Wells's novel "". Steele plays 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 seems to be tailored as a star vehicle for Steele's particular talents. This seems 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.

"Half a Sixpence" transferred to Broadway in 1965, playing at the Broadhurst Theatre for 511 performances. This production also starred Steele. John Cleese played the small but crucial role of Walsingham, the stockbroker from a respectable family who embezzles Kipps's fortune. "Half a Sixpence" was the last West End show to transfer successfully to New York before the late 1970s and early 1980s musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

A 1967 film adaptation starring Steele 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.

ongs

;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
* 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

External links

* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com Synopsis,musical numbers]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Half a Sixpence (film) — The music and lyrics are by David Heneker. Set in Edwardian England, the plot centers on Arthur Kipps, a draper s assistant who falls in love with a chambermaid named Ann. In quick succession, he comes into a fortune, nearly marries a wealthy… …   Wikipedia

  • Sixpence — Six pence, n.; pl. {Sixpences}. An English silver coin of the value of six pennies; half a shilling, or about twelve cents. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • half-crown — (also half a crown) ► NOUN ▪ a former British coin and monetary unit equal to two shillings and sixpence (121 / 2p) …   English terms dictionary

  • half-crown — (hăfʹkrounʹ, häfʹ ) n. A coin formerly used in Great Britain, worth two shillings and sixpence. * * * …   Universalium

  • half crown — half′ crown′ n. num a former British coin equal to two shillings and sixpence • Etymology: 1535–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • half crown — n. a former British coin equal to two shillings and sixpence (21/ 2 shillings) …   English World dictionary

  • half crown — noun an English coin worth half a crown • Hypernyms: ↑coin * * * noun : a British coin worth 2s 6d being in the 16th cent. of gold, from 1601 1946 of silver, and then of cupronickel; sometimes : the sum of 2s 6 …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sixpence (British coin) — The sixpence, known colloquially as the tanner or half shilling [http://www.st mike.org/money/coins.html] also sprarzi, was a British pre decimal coin, worth, as the name indicates, six pence.In England, the first sixpences were struck in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Half a crown — The phrase half a crown was used before currency decimalisation in the United Kingdom to express the value of two shillings and sixpence as in, for example, That will cost you half a crown. cite book |editor=H. W. Fowler and F. G. Fowler… …   Wikipedia

  • Half crown (British coin) — The half crown was a denomination of British money worth two shillings and sixpence, being one eighth of a pound. The half crown was first issued in 1549, in the reign of Edward VI. No half crowns were issued in the reign of Mary, but from the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”