''Half a Sixpence'' is a 1963

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

based on the 1905 novel ''

Kipps ''Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul'' is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1905. It was reportedly Wells's own favourite among his works, and it has been adapted for stage, cinema and television productions, including the musical '' ...

'' 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 British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

pop star Tommy Steele.

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", itself ...

'' 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'') wrote both

music Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspe ...

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 fou ...

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 Connie Booth (born 2 December 1940) is an American-born actress and writer. She has appeared in several British television programmes and films, including her role as Polly Sherman on BBC Two's ''Fawlty Towers'', which she co-wrote with her the ...

, whom he married on 20 February 1968.

Productions

London

''Half a Sixpence'' was first produced in London's West End at the

Cambridge Theatre The Cambridge Theatre is a West End theatre, on a corner site in Earlham Street facing Seven Dials, in the London Borough of Camden, built in 1929–30 for Bertie Meyer on an "irregular triangular site". Design and construction It was de ...

on 21 March 1963, with

Marti Webb Marti Webb (born 13 December 1943) is an English actress and singer, who appeared on stage in '' Evita'', before starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman show ''Tell Me on a Sunday'' in 1980. This included her biggest hit single, "Take That ...

, 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 Loudon Sainthill (9 January 191810 June 1969) was an Australian artist and stage and costume designer. He worked predominantly in the United Kingdom, where he died. His early designs were described as 'opulent', 'sumptuous' and 'exuberantly spl ...

. 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 George Sidney (October 4, 1916May 5, 2002) was an American film director and producer who worked primarily at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His work includes cult classics '' Bye Bye Birdie'' (1963) and ''Viva Las Vegas'' (1964). With an extensive backgr ...

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-runnin ...

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 Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...

to rave reviews and standing ovations in July 2016, co-produced by

Cameron Mackintosh Sir Cameron Anthony Mackintosh (born 17 October 1946) is a British theatrical producer and theatre owner notable for his association with many commercially successful musicals. At the height of his success in 1990, he was described as being "th ...

. Reuniting Mackintosh's ''

Mary Poppins It may refer to: * ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fantasy novels that introduced the character. * Mary Poppins (character), the nanny with magical powers. * ''Mary Poppins'' (film), a 1964 Disney film star ...

'' collaborators, the show features a new book by Julian Fellowes and new songs by George Stiles and

Anthony Drewe Anthony Drewe is a British lyricist and book writer for Broadway and West End musicals. He is best known for his collaborations with George Stiles. Education He was educated at Maidstone Grammar School between 1974–1980. He read Zoology at ...

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 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