My One and Onlyis a musical with a book byPeter Stoneand Timothy S. Mayer and music and lyrics byGeorgeandIra Gershwin.The musical ran onBroadwayand in theWest End.
| My One and Only | |
|---|---|
 Original Playbill | |
| Music | George Gershwin |
| Lyrics | Ira Gershwin |
| Book | Peter Stone Timothy S. Mayer |
| Productions | 1983Broadway 2002West End |
Plot overview
editWritten to incorporate classic Gershwin tunes fromFunny Faceand other popular shows into one evening of entertainment, the plot, set in 1927America,revolves around Capt. Billy Buck Chandler, abarnstormingaviator, and Edith Herbert, an ex-English Channelswimmer and the star of Prince Nicolai Erraclyovitch Tchatchavadze's International Aquacade. Billy's plan to be the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean is sidetracked by his determination to win Edith's hand, and he takes a crash course in sophistication at Mr. Magix' Tonsorial and Sartorial Emporial to help him achieve his goal. What follows is a series of escapades and misadventures that seems destined to keep the potential lovers apart forever.
Background
editJust prior to out of town tryouts in Boston, the original director,Peter Sellars,was fired, with the musical director and arranger, the book writer, Tim Mayer, and set designer, Adrianne Lobel, dismissed soon after. Tommy Tune "nominally took over the direction with his co-director and co-choreographer Thommie Walsh, andMike Nichols,Tony Waltonand...Michael Bennettwere brought in to help with the direction, choreography and set design. "[1]
Productions
editMy One and Onlyopened on Broadway at theSt. James Theatreon May 1, 1983 and closed on March 3, 1985 after 767 performances and 37 previews. The musical wasdirectedand choreographed byThommie WalshandTommy Tune.Musical and Vocal Direction was by Jack Lee. The cast included Tune,Twiggy,Bunny Briggs,Roscoe Lee Browne,Denny Dillon,Charles "Honi" Coles,andNana Visitor.Notable replacements during the run includedSandy Duncan,Don Correia,Jeff Calhoun,andGeorgia Engel.
The musical opened in the UK at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then opened in the West End at thePiccadilly Theatrein February 2002,[2]starringJanie Deeas Edythe Herbert andTim Flavinas Captain Billy Buck Chandler, with direction by Loveday Ingram and choreography byCraig Revel Horwood.[3]
Cabaretsinger and Gershwin historianMichael Feinsteinserved as the musical consultant for the project. An extensive review of the show's creation can be found in his bookNice Work If You Can Get Itin a chapter entitled "My One and Only Tommy Tune Fling." He noted inThe Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs"I kept trying to steer them away from what I perceived to be a mauling of George and Ira's work.... Finally the show's orchestrator told me...to get out of town. Eventually Ira threw up his hands and said 'Let them do their worst'. In fairness, I have to note that 'My One and Only' was a big hit."[4]
There were several tours, all with Tommy Tune. The first was in 1985 with Sandy Duncan which started at theKennedy Centerin March 1985 and included a six-week engagement in Japan.[5]Lucie Arnazreplaced Duncan in this tour.[6]Stephanie Zimbaliststarred in the US national tour in 1987.[7]
Songs
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Original Casts
edit| Character(s) | Broadway (1983) |
Tour 1985-86 |
Tour 1986-87 |
West End (2002) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Buck Chandler | Tommy Tune | Tim Flavin | ||
| Edythe Herbert | Twiggy | Sandy Duncan | Stephanie Zimbalist | Janie Dee |
| Mickey | Denny Dillon | Peggy O'Connell | Jenny Galloway | |
| Prince Nikki | Bruce McGill | Don Amendolia | Hilton McRae | |
| Rev. J.D. Montgomery | Roscoe Lee Browne | Tiger Haynes | Richard Calkin | |
| Mr Magix | Charles Coles | Richard Lloyd King | ||
Recording
editThe original Broadway cast album was released on the Atlantic label (7 80110-2-1) in 1983, running 55:15. William Ruhlmann wrote: "As heard here, then, the music is basically a Gershwin sampler, as performed largely by Tune (leaning heavily on his Texas accent) and Twiggy (singing in a rather mannered British croon), with added appearances by Charles" Honi "Coles and Roscoe Lee Browne. On-stage, 'My One and Only' is a dance-oriented show, and that can't be re-created on disc. But the singers give lively performances of some well-known Gershwin songs."[8]Produced byAhmet Ertegun,Wally Harperand Mike Bernaker.[9]Didier C. Deutsch produced the CD reissue in 1989.[8]
Critical response
editFrank Richreviewed forThe New York Times,and noted that "During this production's troubled gestation period, seemingly half of show business pitched in to offer anonymous help – no doubt the half that wasn't toiling on the screenplay ofTootsie.The result of the effort is not the brilliant musical the theater desperately craves, but nonetheless a slick one, brimming with high-hat confidence. "He went on to write" The second half of the handsome show at the St. James levitates with some of the most inspired choreography Broadway has seen in several seasons – all set to the celestial music of George Gershwin and danced to kill by a company glittering in Art Deco swank. Until then,My One and Onlyis a smart and happy, if less than electrifying, spin down memory lane. Yet even at its most innocuous, this show receives a considerable boost from its Gershwin songs: the entire score, stitched together by a pastiche period book, derives from the Broadway trove created by the composer and his brother, Ira, a half-century ago. "[10]Broadway wags dubbed the show "My Nine and Only," partly because of Tommy Tune's association with both this musical and "Nine," and partly because of the number of people who contributed to the writing, choreography and direction.
Awards and nominations
editOriginal Broadway production
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Peter Stoneand Timothy S. Mayer | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | Tommy Tune | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Twiggy | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical | Charles Coles | Won | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Denny Dillon | Nominated | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Thommie WalshandTommy Tune | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Rita Ryack | Nominated | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Twiggy | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Charles Coles | Won | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Thommie WalshandTommy Tune | Won | ||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Michael Gibson | Won | ||
| Outstanding Costume Design | Rita Ryack | Nominated | ||
Original London production
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Tim Flavin | Nominated |
| Best Actress in a Musical | Janie Dee | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Jenny Galloway | Nominated | ||
| Best Theatre Choreographer | Craig Revel Horwood | Nominated |
References
edit- ^Shewey, Don."How 'My One And Only' Came To Broadway".The New York Times,May 1, 1983, Section 2, p.1
- ^listing, West End, 2002ArchivedAugust 29, 2008, at theWayback Machine,ThisIsTheatre.Com. Retrieved May 19, 2009
- ^Loveridge, Lizzie."A Curtain Up London Review. 'My One and Only'",Curtain Up.Com,based on February 26, 2002 performance. Retrieved January 5, 2012
- ^Feinstein, Michael. "Chapter 1",The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs.Simon and Schuster, 2012,ISBN1451645333,pp. 45–46
- ^Richards, David. "Sandy Duncan, Up From Cute;Stepping Out in 'My One and Only,' Comfortable With Herself and Her Image".The Washington Post.March 7, 1985. Style, D1
- ^No author."'My One And Only' Taps Into Town With Tommy Tune, Lucie Arnaz".Chicago Tribune.November 17, 1985
- ^O'Connor, Thomas. "Towering Tommy is still 'My One and Only' star".The Orange County Register.October 23, 1987. p32
- ^abRuhlmann, William."'My One and Only' Recording"AllMusic. Retrieved December 25, 2015
- ^Carnovale, Norbert. "'My One and Only' (1983)",George Gershwin: A Bio-bibliography,Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000,ISBN0313260036,p. 164
- ^Rich, Frank. "Stage: 'My One And Only,' 'New' Gershwin Show".The New York Times,May 2, 1983, Section C, P. 13