Irma La Douce (musical)
Encyclopedia
Irma La Douce is a musical
with music by Marguerite Monnot
and French lyrics and book by Alexandre Breffort. The English lyrics and book are by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman
. It was first produced in Paris in 1956.
at the Lyric Theatre opening on July 17, 1958, running for 1,512 performances, for 3 years. In London, the musical was directed by Peter Brook
with choreography by John Heawood, and starred Keith Michell
as Nestor, Elizabeth Seal
as Irma, and Clive Revill
.
Irma La Douce opened on Broadway
at the Plymouth Theatre, (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
) on September 29, 1960, moved to the Alvin Theatre on October 30, 1961, and closed on December 31, 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 made into a non-musical film in 1963 (Irma la Douce
), starring Jack Lemmon
and Shirley MacLaine
.
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon presented a staged concert of Irma La Douce from September 25 to October 12, 2008. Alison Ewing starred as Irma with Kyle Payne in the dual role of Nestor-Le-Fripé/Oscar and Bill Fahrner as Bob-Le-Hotu, the narrator. Greg MacKellan directed, and Linda Posner
choreographed.
. 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.
Act II
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music by Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot
Marguerite Monnot was a French songwriter and composer best known for having written many of the songs performed by Édith Piaf and for the music in the stage musical Irma La Douce....
and French lyrics and book by Alexandre Breffort. The English lyrics and book are by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman
Monty Norman
Monty Norman is a singer and film composer best known for being credited with composing the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
. It was first produced in Paris in 1956.
Productions
The musical premiered in Paris at the Théâtre Gramont on November 12, 1956 where it ran for 4 years. It was produced in the West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Lyric Theatre opening on July 17, 1958, running for 1,512 performances, for 3 years. In London, the musical was directed by Peter Brook
Peter Brook
Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH, CBE is an English theatre and film director and innovator, who has been based in France since the early 1970s.-Life:...
with choreography by John Heawood, and starred Keith Michell
Keith Michell
Keith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
as Nestor, Elizabeth Seal
Elizabeth Seal
Elizabeth Seal is a British actress. In 1961, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in the title role of Irma La Douce.-Career:...
as Irma, and Clive Revill
Clive Revill
Clive Selsby Revill is a New Zealand-born British character actor best known for his performances in musical theatre and on the London stage.-Early life and stage career:...
.
Irma La Douce opened on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Plymouth Theatre, (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 236 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan named for Gerald Schoenfeld....
) on September 29, 1960, moved to the Alvin Theatre on October 30, 1961, and closed on December 31, 1961 after 524 performances. The production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by Onna White
Onna White
Onna White was a Canadian choreographer and dancer nominated for eight Tony Awards.-Career:Born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, White began taking dance lessons at the age of twelve, and eventually her studies took her to the famed San Francisco Ballet Company, where she danced in the first full-length...
. Repeating their roles from the London production were Michell, Seal, and Revill. Stuart Damon
Stuart Damon
Stuart Damon is an American actor. He is known for thirty years of portraying the character Dr. Alan Quartermaine on the American soap opera General Hospital, for which he won an Emmy Award in 1999....
and Fred Gwynne
Fred Gwynne
Frederick Hubbard "Fred" Gwynne was an American actor. Gwynne was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, as well as his later roles: Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny...
also were featured.
The story was made into a non-musical film in 1963 (Irma la Douce
Irma la Douce
Irma la Douce/Irma la Dolce is a 1963 romantic comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, directed by Billy Wilder.It is based on the 1956 French musical Irma La Douce by Marguerite Monnot and Alexandre Breffort.-Plot:...
), starring Jack Lemmon
Jack Lemmon
John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III was an American actor and musician. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts , Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger John Uhler "Jack" Lemmon III (February 8, 1925June...
and Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine is an American film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author, well-known for her beliefs in new age spirituality and reincarnation. She has written a large number of autobiographical works, many dealing with her spiritual beliefs as well as her Hollywood career...
.
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon presented a staged concert of Irma La Douce from September 25 to October 12, 2008. Alison Ewing starred as Irma with Kyle Payne in the dual role of Nestor-Le-Fripé/Oscar and Bill Fahrner as Bob-Le-Hotu, the narrator. Greg MacKellan directed, and Linda Posner
Leland Palmer (actress)
Leland Palmer is an American actress, dancer, and singer who has appeared on stage, in motion pictures, and on television. She appeared on Broadway in Bajour, A Joyful Noise, Hello, Dolly!, Applause, and Pippin...
choreographed.
Plot
Irma La Douce is a successful prostitute, living in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. 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
Devil's Island
Devil's Island is the smallest and northernmost island of the three Îles du Salut located about 6 nautical miles off the coast of French Guiana . It has an area of 14 ha . It was a small part of the notorious French penal colony in French Guiana until 1952...
penal colony
Penal colony
A penal colony is a settlement used to exile prisoners and separate them from the general populace by placing them in a remote location, often an island or distant colonial territory...
. He escapes and returns to Paris, and proves that he is innocent. He and Irma reunite.
Songs
Act I- Valse Milieu --Bob-Le-Hotu
- Sons of France --The Mecs, Polyte-Le-Mou and Police Inspector
- The Bridge of Caulaincourt --Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
- Our Language of Love --Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
- She's Got The Lot --Police Inspector and Irma's Admirers
- Our Language of Love (Reprise) --Irma-La-Douce
- Dis-Donc --Irma-La-Douce
- Le Grisbi is le Root of le Evil in Man --Bob-Le-Hotu, Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
- Wreck of a Mec --Nestor-Le-Fripe
- That's a Crime --Bob-Le-Hotu, Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
Act II
- The Bridge of Caulaincourt (Reprise) --Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
- From a Prison Cell --Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
- Irma-la-Douce --Irma-La-Douce
- There Is Only One Paris for That -- Nestor-Le-Fripe, the Mecs and Prisoners
- The Freedom of the Seas --Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
- There Is Only One Paris for That (Reprise) --Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
- Our Language of Love (Reprise)--Irma-La-Douce
- But -- Nestor-Le-Fripe, Police Inspector, A Tax Inspector, M. Bougne and Polyte-Le-Mou
- Christmas Child --The Company
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."Awards and nominations
Tony AwardTony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
- Best Musical
- Best Actress in a Musical – Elizabeth Seal (winner)
- Best Featured Actor in a Musical – Clive Revill (nominee)
- Best Costume Design (Musical) (nominee)
- Best Choreography (nominee)
- Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
- Best Conductor and Musical Director – Stanley LebowskyStanley LebowskyStanley Lebowsky was a Hollywood and Broadway composer, lyricist, conductor and music director.-Biography:...
(nominee)