 THE MOST HAPPY FELLA
a musical in 3 acts, 11 scenes by Frank Loesser based on They Knew
What They Wanted by Sidney Howard.
Imperial Theatre, New York, 3 May 1956; transferred to the Broadway
Theatre, 21 October, 1957 (total 678 perfs)
London Coliseum, 21 April 1960
The heart-warming story of the ageing, shy and self-deprecating
Italian fruit grower Tony, living in California, and the San Francisco
waitress Rosabella, who he courts by post and, during his convalescence
after a car accident, wins through his sincerity. The show is a jewel
of the musical theatre.
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Story
Act I
At closing time in a San Francisco restaurant, waitress Rosabella
finds an amethyst tie-pin with a love letter in broken English. Signed
'Tony', it begs her to send a postcard to his vineyard in Napa Valley.
Ignoring the advice of her workmate Cleo, and longing for romance,
she decides to reply (Somebody, Somewhere).
In Napa, the townsfolk are delighted for Tony when the mail brings
him a photograph of Rosabella (The Most Happy Fella - none
more so than happy-go-lucky Herman who can only watch the girls go
by (Standing on the Corner). Fearful of losing Rosabella,
the ageing Tony secretly sends her a photograph of his departing
Foreman, the handsome young Joe, and despite recriminations from
his sister Marie, a proposal of marriage.
As the welcoming party gets under way (Spozalizio) Tony finds
Joe is staying for the wedding. Panic-stricken, he crashes the truck
on his way to meet Rosabella, who arrives at the ranch with the Postman;
from the photograph, meeting Joe, she assumes him to be Tony. Humiliated
when she discovers her mistake, she is prevented from leaving when
Tony is carried in, near to death. In a confused moment of compassion
for Tony and anger against Joe, Rosabella agrees to an immediate
ceremony and then, in a conflict of emotions, succumbs to Joe's advances.
Act II
A week later, Joe and Rosabella stare at each other across the vineyard,
their momentary passion cold and dead. Tony, recovering but confined
to a wheelchair, takes his impatience out on the Doctor, who prescribes
love and kindness from a good-looking nurse. He coaxes Rosabella
into pushing Tony's chair and they start getting to know each other
(Happy To Make YOur Acquaintance). Rosabella is thrilled by
Cleo's arrival and touched by Tony's kindness in sending for her.
Cleo finds a soulmate in Herman when they discover that they both
come from Dallas (Big D).
Soon Tony is learning to walk again; Rosabella grows to love him,
but, painfully aware of their age difference, he treats her as an adored
child. When Rosabella finally declares her feelings, Tony's world is
complete (My Heart is so Full of You). He proclaims the news
and Rosabella is swept into a vigorous dance. She faints; Tony readily
believes the evasive doctor that she is just dizzy from excitement
- but as he sings of his joy in his beautiful bride, a distraught Rosabella
tells Cleo that she is to have a baby.
Act III
As the people gather in Tony's barn to celebrate, Cleo has her own
problems in getting Herman to declare his intentions. Tony and Rosabella
are finally left alone; she tells him the awful truth and leaves
with Cleo. The stunned Tony flies into a rage when he learns that
Joe is also going, and, believing they are leaving together, takes
Pasquale's pistol and limps to the station seeking revenge. Finding
Joe gone and Rosabella waiting desolately for the bus, he relents.
With some spirited assistance from Cleo and Herman in resisting Marie's
hysterical pleas to let Rosabella go, Tony finally persuades her
to come home with him and pretend the bambino is his. |
Principals:
14 Male, 4 Female. Townspeople
Chorus.
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Characters
TONY |
Ageing Italian immigrant vineyard owner. Warm,
exuberant personality, with an endearing little-boy streak.
Played in a strong Italian accent. |
ROSABELLA |
Small-town girl, lonely in her waitress job
in the big city. Attractive, but not imposingly sexy, can be
resolute and independent yet still vulnerable. |
JOE |
Tony's foreman; strong outdoor type, animal-handsome.
Though young, he's been around. A loner, outwardly friendly
but with a selfish, egotistical streak. |
MARIE |
Tony's sister, younger than he but very maternal
towards him in a possessive way. Still very old-world Italian,
although her accent is less marked than Tony's. |
HERMAN |
Rotund, perennially happy young man who works
for Tony and loves everyone. Should be a good mover with a
strong sense of comedy. |
CLEO |
Rosabella's down-to-earth waitress friend.
Has a big heart and a personality to match. Requires good movement
and a sense of comedy. |
The 3 chefs. Exuberant,easy movers. |
PASQUALE
GIUSEPPE
CICCIO
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Cook/paymaster on Tony's ranch.
Ranch watchman}
Handyman |
DOC |
Kindly country doctor, approaching middle age. |
POSTMAN |
Rural postman who reads all the letters. Elderly, character-comedian. |
JAKE, CLEM and AL |
Three of the local lads, friends of Herman. |
CASHIER |
A slick bully who fancies himself with the ladies. |
PRIEST |
Traditional country priest; kindly character, not too young. |
MAX |
Peddler and part-time photographer. |
COUNTRY GIRL |
A rural, forward young miss. |
CITY BOY |
A city goof. |
A Little Girl, An Even Littler Boy,
Two Truck Drivers, Brakeman, Busdriver, Waitresses, Customers,
Townspeople, Ranch Workers And Neighbours |
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Scenes and Settings:
Act 1
Scene 1: A Restaurant in San Francisco, January 1927.
Scene 2: Main Street, Napa, Calaifornia. In April.
Scene 3: Tony's Barn. A few weeks later.
Scene 4: Tony's front yard.
Act 2
Scene 1: The Vineyards in May.
Scene 2: Later in May.
Scene 3: The Vineyards in June.
Scene 4: The Barn.
Scene 5: The Vineyards in July.
Act 3
Scene 1: The Barn an hour later.
Scene 2: Napa Station. A little later
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Musical Numbers:
- Ooh! My Feet! - Cleo
- I Know How It Is - Rosabella, Cleo
- Seven Million Crumbs - Cleo
- I Don't Know (The Letter) - Rosabella
- Maybe He's Kind of Crazy - Cleo
- Somebody, Somewhere - Rosabella
- The Most Happy Fella - Tony, Company
- A Long Time Ago - Marie, Tony
- Standing on the Corner - Herman, Jake, Clem, Al
- Joey, Joey, Joey - Joe
- Soon You Gonna Leave Me, Joe - Tony
- Rosabella - Tony
- Abbondanza - Pasquale, Giuseppe, Jake
- Plenty Bambini - Tony
- Sposalizio - Giuseppe, Jake, Pasquale, Ensemble
- Special Delivery! (I Seen Her at the Station) - Postman
- Benvenuta - Pasquale, Jake, Giuseppe
- Aren't You Glad? - Rosabella
- No Home, No Job - Rosabella
- Don't Cry - Joe
- Fresno Beauties/Cold and Dead - Ensemble, Joe, Rosabella
- Love and Kindness - The Doctor
- Happy to Make Your Acquaintance - Tony, Rosabella, Cleo
- I Don't Like This Dame - Marie, Cleo
- Big D - Herman, Cleo, Ensemble
- How Beautiful the Days - Tony, Rosabella, Joe
- Young People - Marie, Tony, Ensemble
- Warm All Over - Rosabella
- Old People Gotta - Tony
- I Like Everybody - Herman, Cleo
- I Love Him/I Know How It Is - Rosabella, Cleo
- Like a Woman Loves a Man - Rosabella, Tony
- My Heart Is So Full of You - Tony, Rosabella
- Hoedown - Tony, Rosabella, Ensemble
- Mamma, Mamma - Tony
- Abbondanza" (reprise) - Pasquale, Giuseppe, Jake
- Goodbye, Darlin'/I Like Everybody (reprise) - Cleo, Herman
- Song of a Summer Night - The Doctor, Ensemble
- Please Let Me Tell You - Rosabella
- Tell Tony and Rosabella Goodbye for Me (Tony's Thoughts) - Joe
- She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me - Tony
- Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You - Marie, Tony, Cleo
- I Made a Fist - Cleo, Herman
- Finale - Tony, Rosabella, Ensemble
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ORCHESTRATION
Reed 1: Piccolo, Flute, Alto Flute
Reed 2: Oboe, Cor Anglais
Reed 3: Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Sax
Reed 4: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Reed 5: Bassoon
3 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones
2 Percussion
Harp, Accordion
4 Violins, Viola, Cello, 2 Basses
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Discography:
Original Broadway Cast Recording- Columbia O3L-240
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