Irma La Douce (musical)
| Irma La Douce | |
|---|---|
1959 production in Stockholm | |
| Music | Marguerite Monnot |
| Lyrics | Alexandre Breffort |
| Book | Alexandre Breffort |
| Productions | 1956 Paris 1958 West End 1960 Broadway 1962 Mexico City 2014 City Center Encores! |
Irma la douce ([iʁ.ma la dus], "Irma the Sweet") is a 1956 French musical with music by Marguerite Monnot and lyrics and book by Alexandre Breffort. The musical premiered in Paris in 1956, and was subsequently produced in the West End in 1958 and on Broadway, by David Merrick, in 1960. The English lyrics and book (1958) are by Julian More, David Heneker, and Monty Norman.
Productions
The musical premiered at the Théâtre Gramont in Paris on 12 November 1956, where it ran for four years. It was produced in the West End at the Lyric Theatre, opening on 17 July 1958, running for 1,512 performances, for three years.[1][2] The West End production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by John Heawood, and starred Keith Michell as Nestor, a student, Elizabeth Seal as Irma, and Clive Revill as the barman/narrator.[3]
Irma La Douce opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) on 29 September 1960, moved to the Alvin Theatre on 30 October 1961, and closed on 31 December 1961, after 524 performances. The production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by Onna White. Repeating their roles from the London production were Michell, Seal, and Revill. Stuart Damon and Fred Gwynne also were featured.
The story was adapted for a non-musical film of the same title in 1963, directed by Billy Wilder starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.
Plot
Irma La Douce is a successful prostitute in Paris. A poor law student, Nestor le Fripé, falls in love with her and is jealous of her clients. In order to keep her for himself, he assumes the disguise of a rich older man, "Oscar", and takes many jobs. Finally no longer able to sustain his exhausting life, he "kills" Oscar, is convicted of murder, and is transported to the Devil's Island penal colony. He escapes and returns to Paris, and proves that he is innocent. He and Irma reunite.
Songs (English version)
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Response
Life Magazine called the musical "a French fairy tale for wicked grown-ups who want to believe in love" and praised Seal. "Elizabeth Seal is an ideal Irma, tender, breezy, and totally implausible as a bad girl...the season's new favorite." "Another asset is Clive Revill...who provides the right clowning touch."[1]
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Elizabeth Seal | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Clive Revill | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Peter Brook | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | John Heawood | Nominated | ||
| Best Conductor and Musical Director | Stanley Lebowsky | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Rolf Gerard | Nominated | ||
References
- ^ a b "Sweet Irma in a Wicked World", Life Magazine, 14 November 1960.
- ^ Hischak, Thomas. The Oxford Companion To the American Musical (2008), Oxford University Press US, ISBN 0-19-533533-3, p. 368.
- ^ Helfer, Richard; Loney, Glenn Meredith; and Brook, Peter. Peter Brook: Oxford to Orghast (1998), Taylor & Francis, ISBN 90-5702-208-7, pp. 99-101.