Lucky Stiff

Lucky Stiff
Music	Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics	Lynn Ahrens
Book	Lynn Ahrens
Basis	The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo , 1983 novel by Michael Butterworth
Productions	1988 off-Broadway 1994 UK Premiere 1997 West End 2003 Staged Concert New York 2011 NZ Premiere

Lucky Stiff is a musical farce. It was the first collaboration for the team of Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music). The show is based on the 1983 novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth. It was created and performed at Playwrights Horizons off-Broadway in 1988, and won the Richard Rodgers Award for that year.

Productions

Lucky Stiff premiered off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizon on April 1988 for 15 performances. Directed by Thommie Walsh, the cast featured Stuart Zagnit, Mary Testa, and Julie White.

The musical was produced at the Olney Theatre, Olney, Maryland, in May 1989, starring Evan Pappas. It won the Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical and Pappas won as Best Actor in a Musical.

A 1994 studio cast recording included Judy Blazer as Annabel, Jason Graae as Vinnie, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte as Dominique, Paul Kandel as Luigi, Evan Pappas as Harry, Mary Testa as Rita, Barbara Rosenblatt as the Landlady/Ensemble, Mary Stout as the Spinster/Ensemble, Bruce Winant as the Boarder/Ensemble, and Patrick Quinn as the Monte Carlo Emcee/Ensemble.

In 1994, the musical had its British debut at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln in the English midlands, and in 1997 it had a West End production, starring Frances Ruffelle, Paul Baker, and Tracie Bennett, directed by Steven Dexter. It was revived for five performances as part of the York Theatre's Musicals in Mufti staged concert series in October 2003, with Zagnit, Testa, and several of the other original Playwrights Horizons cast members, as well as Malcolm Gets as Harry and Janet Metz as Annabelle.

Lucky Stiff had its New Zealand premiere on Friday 27 January 2011 at the Havelock Town Hall, Marlborough. Sell-out finale on Saturday 5th February. Directed by Gillian Palmer, the Havelock Theatre Company presented its first musical production. By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty on behalf of Dramatists Play Services Inc, New York. Harry was played by Steven Leov. Annabel by Sarah Ritchie.

Synopsis

Prologue

Ten characters as a sort of Greek Chorus warn the audience of the numerous plot twists to come. One of them, a man wearing dark glasses and silk pajamas, is murdered. (Something Funny's Going On)

Act I

English shoe salesman, Harry Witherspoon, who normally spends his Friday night taking inventory in the shoe shop and dreaming of a better life (Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night), gets a telegram summoning him to a solicitor's office, (Mr. Harry Witherspoon's Friday Night). There Harry finds himself the recipient of a six million dollar inheritance. He learns that Anthony Hendon, an uncle that he never met has left him this estate. There is a condition. Harry must follow the instructions which have been pre-recorded on a cassette tape. He must take Uncle Anthony’s corpse on vacation to Monte Carlo. If Harry is unwilling to do this, the money will go to his Uncle's favorite charity, the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Harry, who seriously dislikes dogs, reluctantly accepts the challenge and travels to Monte Carlo with the cassette tape, a heart-shaped box and Uncle Anthony’s corpse in a wheelchair. A taxidermist has dressed the corpse so that it appears alive.

Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, an optometrist, Vinnie Di Ruzzio, is visited by his legally blind sister, Rita La Porta. She confuses her brother by showing him a newspaper article about "Shoe Salesman Inherits Six Million Dollars from Casino Manager". Vinnie is told that Rita had a lover. Her lover Tony was her husband's casino manager. Rita reveals to her brother that because of her poor eyesight she accidentally shot and killed Tony. She also explains that she has embezzled six million dollars worth of diamonds from her husband, and that the heart shaped box containing the diamonds is gone. Rita also confesses to her shocked brother that she has blamed the embezzlement on him and there is a possible hit out on him. Together, they embark for Monte Carlo to find Harry and retrieve the money before Rita's husband does something nasty. (Rita's Confession)

During his travels, Harry encounters Luigi Gaudi, a flashy Italian who offers to be his tour guide. Harry realises that a mysterious young woman is watching him and taking notes. He describes the sights to the dead uncle. (Good to Be Alive)

Harry arrives in Monte Carlo and begins to take his uncle around. Although frustrated at the specific things he must do he decides that he is "Lucky" to be there. Later he notices that he is being followed by the same young woman from the train. He confronts her and discovers that she is Annabel Glick, a representative of the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. It appears that there is a loophole in Anthony’s will. Annabel is there to make sure Harry conforms to every part of the will, and to make sure that he doesn't make the smallest mistake. If he does, she'll take the uncle, finish the trip with him, and get the money. Harry vows not to relinquish it, and Annabel highlights the conflict. (Dogs Versus You)

Vinnie and Rita arrive in Nice. As Rita calls hotels in the Monte Carlo area to find the one Harry is staying in, Vinnie calls his wife. Vinnie tells his wife, Mary Alice, that he will not be home for dinner because his sister has taken him to Europe. Mary Alice hangs up on Vinnie's call. (The Phone Call) Rita finds the right hotel, and books two rooms right down the hall from Harry.

Meanwhile, Harry spends the day taking his uncle all sorts of places around town (with Annabel right behind them). Buying new clothes, gambling, a museum, skydiving, fishing, scuba diving... (A Day Around Town (Dance))

That night, Harry, Annabel, and Luigi Gaudi find themselves at a glamorous French nightclub (Monte Carlo!). Uncle Anthony has arranged for a special surprise for Harry in the form of sexy performer Dominique du Monaco. She sings a huge cabaret number that has everybody bumping (Speaking French). Dominique tells Harry that Anthony has arranged for them to spend many prepaid hours together. She sits in the empty seat next to Harry (as was specified in the will). As Dominique teaches Harry a continental toast, Annabel, alone, sings about wishing she had a dog with her (Times Like This). Dominique exits with Harry, and Annabel follows. (Monte Carlo! (Reprise))

While Harry is having fun in the casino, Rita La Porta has disguised herself as a maid. She searches Harry's hotel room for the diamonds, while Vinnie stands nervously nearby. Vinnie leaves. When Harry returns with Uncle Anthony, Rita hides in the closet. Harry leaves the corpse in the hotel room, and goes gambling. He is followed by Miss Glick. As he leaves, he says goodbye to "Uncle Anthony." Squinting from the closet, Rita can barely make out the shape of a man in a wheelchair. Rita tucks away her unbecoming glasses, and steps out to face who she believes to be a living Tony. After begging forgiveness and speaking of love, she kisses Hendon's hand and discovers he is really dead (Fancy Meeting You Here).

Harry is on a winning streak at the casino (thanks to Hendon's friend's infallible system for roulette), when a livid Rita arrives. She has the corpse with her, and a gun. She wants the diamonds, and she intends to kill for them. (Act I Finale: Good to Be Alive)

Prologue

The cast as a Greek Chorus briefly reminds the audience of where they left off. (Something Funny's Going On (Reprise))

Act II

Harry manages to break away from Rita. Annabel and Harry grab Uncle Anthony and run. Rita's gun goes off accidentally as her brother tries to restrain her. Rita turns the crowd on Vinnie, and she escapes after Harry.

Chaos ensues as Harry and Annabel try to hide from Rita and protect Uncle Anthony. In the fray, a drunken maid mistakes Uncle Anthony for a pile of laundry and wheels him away. When Harry and Annabel discover he is missing they're frantic. If they can't find Uncle Anthony they'll lose everything! All around Monte Carlo, Annabel, Harry, Rita and Vinnie search for each other, the heart-shaped box and the missing corpse. During this sequence, Vinnie meets the shapely Dominique du Monaco, who is most interested in his search for the money. (Him, Them, It, Her)

Unable to locate Uncle Anthony, Annabel and Harry return to Harry's room. Several people attempt to get a cash reward for bringing people in wheelchairs. None of them are Uncle Anthony. Harry and Annabel open a bottle of Anthony's champagne, and let down their guard. Annabel makes a toast to the both of them, saying that it was Nice suffering through the week with him. Their relationship mellows.

That night, Harry has a terrible nightmare. Everyone is a dog/human. His landlady welcomes him back. Rita threatens him with a machine gun. Luigi taunts him. Annabel echoes the sentiment of "Nice Meeting You." His dead uncle gets out of his wheelchair and tap dances while everyone else forms a kickline. (Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon)

Harry wakes up, horrified. Annabel pops up next to him and comforts him. Both are apparently nude. They are shocked to find themselves in bed together. The drunk maid enters the bedroom with Uncle Anthony. Harry and Annabel exchange a quick moment of joy before becoming embarrassed again. Annabel goes to the bathroom to get dressed. Harry mulls over the situation (A Woman in My Bathroom). As Annabel is about to leave, Rita LaPorta enters, gun in hand. She is now wearing her glasses and realises that the corpse is in fact not her lover, but a dead stranger.

There is a knock at the bedroom door. The mysterious Luigi Gaudi (fulfilling his role as a deus ex machina) enters and proclaims that he is the real Uncle Anthony. He explains how the man in the chair (the real Luigi Gaudi) was murdered and why Harry was dispatched to Monte Carlo. (Confessions #2 (Reprise)) Anthony also reveals that the six million dollars in diamonds is actually sewn inside the corpse. The heart-shaped box actually contains the heart of the dead man. Anthony explains that Luigi wished his heart be buried at sea. Vinnie along with Dominique du Monaco burst into the room, both dressed as maids, Vinnie carrying a gun. He tells the group that he plans to start a new life in Europe with Dominique. Vinnie demands the diamonds. Rita hands him the heart-shaped box. Assuming the diamonds are still in the box, Vinnie and Dominique exit. Tony gives Annabel a cheque for $10,000. This is Luigi Gaudi's life savings. The cheque is made out to Luigi Gaudi's favourite charity, the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Tony gives Harry a gift of $500 and tells him that he still has the rest of the week prepaid and Luigi's infallible roulette system. Before Tony can talk to Rita, she backs Harry and Annabel into a closet. Rita apologises to Tony for everything. Rita and Tony forgive each other. They take the diamond-laden corpse, and depart. (Fancy Meeting You Here (Reprise))

Harry and Annabel are left alone, with Uncle's infallible system for roulette, an all-expense paid week in Monte Carlo, and each other. Harry locks the door. In a rare moment for both of them, we see Harry persuading Annabel to stay on for Uncle's all-expense paid week. Harry and Annabel kiss. The End (Finale Act II: Good to Be Alive)

Major characters

• Harry Witherspoon - a shy, English shoe salesman
• Annabel Glick - a representative of the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn
• Rita LaPorta - a hard-edged, legally blind woman
• Luigi Gaudi - a mysterious, boisterous Italian
• Vinnie Di Ruzzio - Rita La Porta's oppressed brother; an optometrist
• Dominique du Monaco - a French nightclub singer
• Landlady - of Harry's apartment house
• Boarder - a tenant in Harry's apartment house
• Monte Carlo Emcee
• The dead body of Anthony Hendon - Harry's newly-murdered uncle, fixed up so he looks alive

Musical numbers

Act I

• Something Funny's Going On
• Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night
• Rita's Confession
• Good To Be Alive
• Lucky
• Dogs Versus You
• Phone Call
• A Day Around Town (Dance)
• Monte Carlo
• Speaking French
• Times Like This
• Fancy Meeting You Here
• Finale Act One

Act II

• Something Funny's Going On (Reprise)
• Him, Them, It, Her
• Nice
• Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon (Harry's Nightmare)
• A Woman In My Bathroom
• Nice (Reprise)
• Confession #2
• Finale

References

• Lucky Stiff synopsis at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
• Profile of the show
• Extensive information, mtishows.com
• New Yorker. May 9, 1988, volume 64, no. 12, p.100
• Variety. May 25, 1988, volume 331, no.5, p.104
• Washington Times. May 8, 1989 p. E1 ("Musical is Lucky for theatergoers")
• Baltimore Sun. May 9, 1989. p. 3C. ("Olney's delightfully zany 'Lucky Stiff'")
• Libretto/Vocal Book, Lucky Stiff, MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL.

External links

• Internet Off-Broadway listing
• Program notes
• Review of the London production
• The New York Times review, April 27, 1988