The Happy Time (musical) - Background and Productions

Background and Productions

Producer David Merrick had initially asked Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields to write the songs and Yves Montand to play the lead, but they were all busy with other projects and declined to participate. Merrick then asked N. Richard Nash to write the script, but Nash suggested an original story of his own. Merrick, holding the rights to The Happy Time, asked that the setting be changed to Canada, and the deal was set. The final script had little of the Taylor play but did use the characters and some minor details from Fontaine's stories. Nash showed the outline of the story to Kander and Ebb, who agreed to write the music.

The Happy Time opened on Broadway at The Broadway Theatre on January 18, 1968. It received mixed reviews from the critics, who generally admired the performances but noted large deficiencies in the script. It closed on September 28, 1968, after a run of 286 sparsely attended performances and 23 previews. It was the first Broadway musical to lose a million dollars. The production was directed, filmed, and choreographed by Gower Champion, set design by Peter Wexler, costume design by Freddy Wittop, lighting design by Jean Rosenthal, film sequences created by Christopher Chapman, film technical direction by Barry O. Gordon, orchestrations by Don Walker, musical direction and vocal arrangements by Oscar Kosarin, associate choreography by Kevin Carlisle, and dance and incidental music arrangements by Marvin Laird.

The production starred Robert Goulet (Jacques Bonnard), David Wayne (Grandpere Bonnard), Michael Rupert (Bibi Bonnard), Julie Gregg (Laurie Mannon), and George S. Irving (Philippe Bonnard), Charles Durning (Louis Bonnard), Gena Page (Annabelle Bonnard), Julane Stites (Gillie Bonnard), Connie Simmons (Nanette Bonnard), June Squibb (Felice Bonnard), Jacki Garland (Lizette), Mary Gale Laverenz (Dorine), Tammie Fillhart (Sylvie), Gil Gimbel (Henri), Mary Ann O'Reilly (Monique), Vicki Powers (Bella), Susan Sigrist (Grace), Julie Gregg (Laurie Mannon), Jeffrey Golkin (Foufie), and Dallas Johann (Ganache).

The Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Connecticut, presented the show in April 1980-May 1980. The production was revised, by rewriting the book "so that it no longer changes its tune in the second act", eliminating photographic projections and adding four songs that had been dropped.

In May 2002 the Niagara University Theatre in Niagara Falls, NY staged a revival of The Happy Time. John Kander and Fred Ebb went to Niagara University to work with the cast, helping recreate the work. "They were here a few weeks ago for rehearsals and thought the show was just beautiful..." Most notably, they incorporated five songs, originally cut from the musical, into the production, as well as making a few other minor changes. "This NU Theatre production, with Kander and Ebb's blessing, has reinstated several songs and restored text, prompting them to label this version 'definitive.'"

The revised version was performed in New York City for the first time in 2007 in a staged reading by Musicals Tonight!, as part of their season long tribute to George S. Irving, who returned to the show, this time playing Jacques' father, Grandpere.

The Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA staged a revised production of The Happy Time from April 1, 2008 through June 1, 2008. The production was directed by Michael Unger and choreographed by Karma Camp. It received favorable reviews. For example, the Washington Post reviewer wrote: "A little charmer... Effervescent. The cast is strong... which is part of why it generally feels like a luxury to be able to see the show in this space." Variety agreed: "Fresh and earnest... staged with ultimate intimacy in Signature's tiny ARK Theater."