''Half a Sixpence'' is a 1963 musical comedy based on the 1905 novel '' Kipps'' by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a

vehicle A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles ( motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles ( trains, trams ...

for British pop star

Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele re ...

Background

The show is based on H.G. Wells's 1905

novel A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

'' Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul''. Steele played Arthur Kipps, an orphan who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can't buy happiness. David Heneker (who had also worked on '' Irma La Douce'' and ''

Charlie Girl ''Charlie Girl'' is a musical comedy which premiered in the West End of London at the Adelphi Theatre on December 15, 1965 and became one of the most successful theatre shows of the day running for 2,202 performances. It closed on 27 March 1971. ...

'') wrote both

music Music is generally defined as the The arts, art of arranging sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Exact definition of music, definitions of mu ...

and

lyrics Lyrics are words that make up a song, usually consisting of verses and choruses. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist. The words to an extended musical composition such as an opera are, however, usually known as a "libretto" and their writer ...

. Steele's importance to the show was made evident by his appearance in twelve of the musical's fifteen songs. Much of this musical was tailored as a star vehicle for Steele's particular talents. This was especially evident in the musical number "Money to Burn": when Arthur Kipps realises that he is about to become wealthy, he decides that the first thing he will buy is a

banjo The banjo is a stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity to form a resonator. The membrane is typically circular, and usually made of plastic, or occasionally animal skin. Early forms of the instrument were fashi ...

. This is the cue for someone to hand Tommy Steele a banjo so that he can demonstrate his skill on the instrument. In the source material – Wells's novel – one of the first things that Arthur Kipps purchases with his newfound wealth is a banjo.

John Cleese John Marwood Cleese ( ; born 27 October 1939) is an English actor, comedian, screenwriter, and producer. Emerging from the Cambridge Footlights in the 1960s, he first achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and ...

Monty Python Monty Python (also collectively known as the Pythons) were a British comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show '' Monty Python's Flying Circus'', which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over fo ...

fame had a small role. While performing in the musical, Cleese met future Python member

Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam (; born 22 November 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, comedian, animator, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed 13 feature films, including '' Time Bandits'' (1981), '' ...

as well as American actress Connie Booth, whom he married on 20 February 1968.

Productions

London

''Half a Sixpence'' was first produced in London's West End at the Cambridge Theatre on 21 March 1963, with Marti Webb, in her first leading role, playing Ann. Anna Barry also appeared as Helen. The production was directed by

John Dexter John Dexter (2 August 1925 – 23 March 1990) was an English theatre, opera and film director. Theatre Born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, Dexter left school at the age of fourteen to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. F ...

, with choreography by Edmund Balin, and the set was designed by Loudon Sainthill. It ran for 677 performances.

Film version

A 1967 film adaptation starring Steele, along with Julia Foster and

Cyril Ritchard Cyril Joseph Trimnell-Ritchard (1 December 1898 – 18 December 1977), known professionally as Cyril Ritchard, was an Australian stage, screen and television actor, and director. He is best remembered today for his performance as Captain Hook in ...

, was directed by George Sidney and choreographed by

Gillian Lynne Dame Gillian Barbara Lynne (née Pyrke; 20 February 1926 – 1 July 2018) was an English ballerina, dancer, choreographer, actress, and theatre-television director, noted for her theatre choreography associated with two of the longest-runni ...

Lesley Judd Lesley Judd (born 20 December 1946) is an English former television presenter and dancer, best known as a long-serving host of the BBC children's programme ''Blue Peter'' (1972–1979). Background Born in London, the daughter of Leslie T. Judd ...

, a future presenter of the BBC children's TV series ''

Blue Peter ''Blue Peter'' is a British children's television entertainment programme created by John Hunter Blair. It is the longest-running children's TV show in the world, having been broadcast since October 1958. It was broadcast primarily from BBC Te ...

'', was one of the dancing chorus. Foster's singing voice was dubbed by Marti Webb.

2016 revised version

revised version The Revised Version (RV) or English Revised Version (ERV) of the Bible is a late 19th-century British revision of the King James Version. It was the first and remains the only officially authorised and recognised revision of the King James Versio ...

of the show opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre to rave reviews and standing ovations in July 2016, co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Reuniting Mackintosh's '' Mary Poppins'' collaborators, the show features a new book by

Julian Fellowes Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords. He is primarily known as the author of ...

and new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe alongside revisions of Heneker's originals. Following the success in Chichester, the production transferred to the

Noël Coward Theatre The Noël Coward Theatre, formerly known as the Albery Theatre, is a West End theatre in St. Martin's Lane in the City of Westminster, London. It opened on 12 March 1903 as the New Theatre and was built by Sir Charles Wyndham behind Wyndham's ...

in London's

West End West End most commonly refers to: * West End of London, an area of central London, England * West End theatre, a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London, England West End may also refer to: Pl ...

on 17 November 2016 with previews from 29 October 2016. It initially booked until 11 February 2017. Due to five-star reviews and audience acclaim, the show was extended until 22 April 2017. It was extended, once again, until 6 May 2017. It extended again until 2 September 2017, when it closed.

Songs

; Act I * "All in The Cause of Economy" – Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins and Pearce * "Half a Sixpence" – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Money to Burn" – Arthur Kipps, Laura and The Men * "A Proper Gentleman" – Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pearce and Shopgirls * "She's Too Far Above Me" – Arthur Kipps * "If The Rain's Got to Fall" – Arthur Kipps, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls, Singers and Dancers * "The Old Military Canal" – Singers ; Act II * "A Proper Gentleman" (Reprise) – Arthur Kipps, Mrs. Walsingham, Helen Walsingham, Mrs. Botting, Young Walsingham and Party Guests * "The One That's Run Away" – Chitterlow & Kipps * "Long Ago" – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Flash Bang Wallop" – Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Chitterlow, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls and Singers * "I Know What I Am" – Ann Pornick * "The Party's On the House" – Arthur Kipps, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Shopgirls, Singers and Dancers * "Half a Sixpence" (Reprise) – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "All in the Cause of Economy" (Reprise) – Flo, Pearce, Sid Pornick and Buggins * "Finale" – Entire Company

2016 West End Production

; Act I * "Half a Sixpence" – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Look Alive" – Company * "Money to Burn" – Arthur Kipps, Mr Shalford, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pierce and Flo * "Believe in Yourself" – Arthur Kipps and Helen Walsingham * "She's Too Far Above Me" – Arthur Kipps * "Money to Burn" (Reprise) – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "A Proper Gentleman" – Arthur Kipps, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Pearce and Flo * "Half a Sixpence" (Reprise) – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Long Ago" – Ann Pornick * "Back the Right Horse" – Chitterlow and Company * "Just a Few Little Things" – Helen Walsingham and Arthur Kipps * "A Little Touch of Happiness" – Ann Pornick and Flo * "If The Rain's Got to Fall" – Mrs Walsingham, Arthur Kipps, Foster, Helen Walsingham, Lady Punnet and Company ; Act II * "The One That's Run Away" – Chitterlow & Arthur Kipps * "Pick Out a Simple Tune" – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "You Never Get Anything Right / I Know Who I Am" – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "We'll Build a Palace / I Only Want a Little House" – Arthur Kipps, Helen Walsingham, Mrs Walsingham, James Walsingham * "In the Middle There's Me" – Arthur Kipps, Buggins, Sid Pornick and Pierce * "Long Ago" (Reprise) – Arthur Kipps and Ann Pornick * "Flash Bang Wallop" – Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company * "Flash Bang Wallop" (Reprise)- Chitterlow, Arthur Kipps, Ann Pornick, Mr. Shalford, Pearce, Sid Pornick, Buggins, Flo, Photographer and Company * "Finale" – Company

Awards and nominations

Broadway production

2016 West End revival

Recordings

* ''Half a Sixpence: An Original Cast Recording'' - Decca SLK4521 (1963) * ''Half a Sixpence: The Original Broadway Cast Recording'' - RCA Victor LOC1110 (1965) * ''Half a Sixpence: The Original 1962 Demo Recordings'' - Stage Door STAGE9052 (2017)

References

External links

*
Synopsis, musical numbers
at guidetomusicaltheatre.com {{Kipps 1963 musicals adaptations of works by H. G. Wells British musicals Broadway musicals films set in Brighton musicals based on novels