Pickwick (musical)
Encyclopedia
Pickwick is a musical
with a book by Wolf Mankowitz
, music by Cyril Ornadel
, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
. Based on The Pickwick Papers
by Charles Dickens
, it is set in and around London and Rochester in 1828.
Produced by Bernard Delfont
, Pickwick premiered in the West End
in 1963, with Harry Secombe
in the lead role and choreography by Gillian Lynne
.
On the previous Christmas Eve
, Pickwick introduced his friend Wardle, Wardle's daughters, Emily and Isabella, and their Aunt Rachael to Nathaniel Winkle, Augustus Snodgrass, and Tracy Tupman, three members of the Pickwick Club. They were soon joined by Alfred Jingle, who tricked Tupman into paying for his ticket to a ball that evening. Upon learning Rachael is an heiress, Jingle set out to win her hand and eventually succeeded.
Pickwick engages Sam Weller as his valet and, through a series of misunderstandings, he inadvertently leads his landlady, Mrs. Bardell, to believe he has proposed marriage to her. Pickwick is charged with breach of promise
and hauled into court, where he is found guilty as charged and sentenced to prison when he stubbornly refuses to pay her compensation.
prior to the West End premiere on 4 July 1963 at the Saville Theatre
and closed on 27 February 1965 following 694 performances. Peter Coe directed, choreography was by Leo Kharibian, scenic design was by Sean Kenny
and costumes were by Roger Furse.
The Broadway
premiere, produced by David Merrick
, was at the 46th Street Theatre on 4 October 1965. It closed on 18 November after 56 performances. The New York production was directed by Peter Coe
, choreographed by Lynne, and featured Harry Secombe
as Pickwick, Charlotte Rae
as Mrs. Bardell, Roy Castle
as Sam Weller, Nancy Haywood as Isabella, Michael Logan as Mr. Wardle, and Peter Bull
as Sgt. Buzfuz.
The cast for the first production in Manchester and London featured Harry Secombe as Pickwick, Jessie Evans as Mrs. Bardell and Teddy Green as Sam Weller. The Pickwickians Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass and Nathaniel Winkle were played by Gerald James, Julian Orchard and Oscar Quitak respectively. Anton Rodgers put in a fine performance as Mr. Jingle not to mention the amusing 'gruffly common' performance of Robin Wentworth as Tony Weller. Rachel, Isabella and Emily were played by Hilda Braid, Vivienne St.George and Jane Sconce respectively with Sam Weller's 'Girl' Mary performed superbly by Dilys Watling. The remaining cast and Company were equally impressive.
One of the better known songs from the score is "If I Ruled The World
".
Act 2
Act 2
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
, Roy Castle
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
, Charlotte Rae
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
, and Sean Kenny
was nominated for the Tony Award
for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.
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 a book by Wolf Mankowitz
Wolf Mankowitz
Cyril Wolf Mankowitz was an English writer, playwright and screenwriter of Russian Jewish descent.-Early life:...
, music by Cyril Ornadel
Cyril Ornadel
Cyril Ornadel was a British conductor, songwriter and composer chiefly in musical theatre.Cyril Ornadel was born in London. He studied at the Royal College of Music. During the 1950s he was famous for conducting the orchestra for the hit TV show The Sunday Night At The Palladium...
, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
. Based on The Pickwick Papers
The Pickwick Papers
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club is the first novel by Charles Dickens. After the publication, the widow of the illustrator Robert Seymour claimed that the idea for the novel was originally her husband's; however, in his preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens strenuously denied any...
by Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, it is set in and around London and Rochester in 1828.
Produced by Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont
Bernard Delfont, Baron Delfont , born Boris Winogradsky, was a leading Russian-born British theatrical impresario....
, Pickwick premiered in the West End
West 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...
in 1963, with Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
in the lead role and choreography by Gillian Lynne
Gillian Lynne
Gillian Barbara Lynne , CBE, born , is a British ballerina, dancer, actor, theatre director, television director and choreographer noted for her popular theatre choreography associated with the iconic musicals Cats and the current longest running show in Broadway history, The Phantom of the Opera.-...
.
Plot
Set in England in 1828, the story centres on wealthy Samuel Pickwick and his valet Sam Weller, who are in a debtors' prison where they recall the misadventures that led to their imprisonment.On the previous Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, Pickwick introduced his friend Wardle, Wardle's daughters, Emily and Isabella, and their Aunt Rachael to Nathaniel Winkle, Augustus Snodgrass, and Tracy Tupman, three members of the Pickwick Club. They were soon joined by Alfred Jingle, who tricked Tupman into paying for his ticket to a ball that evening. Upon learning Rachael is an heiress, Jingle set out to win her hand and eventually succeeded.
Pickwick engages Sam Weller as his valet and, through a series of misunderstandings, he inadvertently leads his landlady, Mrs. Bardell, to believe he has proposed marriage to her. Pickwick is charged with breach of promise
Breach of promise
Breach of promise is a former common law tort.From at least medieval times until the early 20th century, a man's promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract...
and hauled into court, where he is found guilty as charged and sentenced to prison when he stubbornly refuses to pay her compensation.
Productions
The musical opened on 3 June 1963 at the Palace Theatre, ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
prior to the West End premiere on 4 July 1963 at the Saville Theatre
Saville Theatre
The Saville Theatre is a former West End theatre at 135 Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. The theatre opened in 1931, and became a music venue during the 1960s, finally being converted to a cinema in 1970.-Theatre years:...
and closed on 27 February 1965 following 694 performances. Peter Coe directed, choreography was by Leo Kharibian, scenic design was by Sean Kenny
Seán Kenny
Seán Kenny is an Irish Labour Party politician, who is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North East constituency. Kenny was re-elected to the Dáil for Dublin North East at the 2011 general election, having previously served as a TD for the constituency from 1992 to 1997.A former executive officer in...
and costumes were by Roger Furse.
The 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...
premiere, produced by David Merrick
David Merrick
David Merrick was a prolific Tony Award-winning American theatrical producer.-Life and career:Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick graduated from Washington University, then studied law at the Jesuit-run Saint Louis University School of Law...
, was at the 46th Street Theatre on 4 October 1965. It closed on 18 November after 56 performances. The New York production was directed by Peter Coe
Peter Coe
Percy Newbold "Peter" Coe was the father and athletics coach to Sebastian Coe.-Early life:Coe was born Percy Newbold Coe in Kingston, Surrey, the eldest child of Violet and Percy Coe Sr...
, choreographed by Lynne, and featured Harry Secombe
Harry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
as Pickwick, Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae is a prolific American character actress of stage, comedienne, singer and dancer, who in her six decades of television is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life...
as Mrs. Bardell, Roy Castle
Roy Castle
Roy Castle OBE was an English dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. He attended Honley High School, where there is now a building in his name...
as Sam Weller, Nancy Haywood as Isabella, Michael Logan as Mr. Wardle, and Peter Bull
Peter Bull
Peter Cecil Bull, DSC was a British character actor.- Biography :He was the fourth and youngest son of Hammersmith MP Sir William James Bull, 1st Bt..Bull was educated at Winchester College...
as Sgt. Buzfuz.
The cast for the first production in Manchester and London featured Harry Secombe as Pickwick, Jessie Evans as Mrs. Bardell and Teddy Green as Sam Weller. The Pickwickians Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass and Nathaniel Winkle were played by Gerald James, Julian Orchard and Oscar Quitak respectively. Anton Rodgers put in a fine performance as Mr. Jingle not to mention the amusing 'gruffly common' performance of Robin Wentworth as Tony Weller. Rachel, Isabella and Emily were played by Hilda Braid, Vivienne St.George and Jane Sconce respectively with Sam Weller's 'Girl' Mary performed superbly by Dilys Watling. The remaining cast and Company were equally impressive.
One of the better known songs from the score is "If I Ruled The World
If I Ruled the World
"If I Ruled the World" is a popular song, composed by Leslie Bricusse and Cyril Ornadel, which was originally from the 1963 West End musical Pickwick...
".
Songs (London Production)
Act 1- Business is Booming - Hot Toddy Seller, Cold Drinks Seller and Turnkey
- Debtors Lament - Chorus
- Talk - Sam Weller and Chorus
- That's What I'd Like for Christmas - Pickwick and Company
- The Pickwickians - Pickwick, Augustus Snodgrass, Tracy Tupman and Nathaniel Winkle
- Bit of a Character - Mr. Jingle, Augustus Snodgrass, Nathaniel Winkle and Tracy Tupman
- Quadrille - The Company
- There's Something About You - Mr. Jingle, Rachel and Company
- Learn a Little Something - Sam Weller and Mary
- You Never Met a Feller Like Me - Pickwick and Sam Weller
- Look into Your Heart - Pickwick and Mrs. Bardell
- Winter Waltz - Chorus
Act 2
- A Hell of an Election - Chorus
- Very - Mr. Jingle, Pickwick and Mr. Wardle
- If I Ruled the WorldIf I Ruled the World"If I Ruled the World" is a popular song, composed by Leslie Bricusse and Cyril Ornadel, which was originally from the 1963 West End musical Pickwick...
- Pickwick and Company - The Trouble with Women - Tony Weller and Sam Weller
- That's the Law - Dodson and Fogg, Pickwick, Sam, The Pickwickians, The Clerks
- British Justice - Pickwick and The Company
- Do as you Would be Done By - Jingle, Pickwick, Sam, Mrs. Bardell and Chorus
- Good Old Pickwick - The Company
- If I Ruled the World (Reprise) - Pickwick and Company
Songs (Broadway Production)
Act 1- I Like the Company of Men - Pickwick, Augustus Snodgrass, Tracy Tupman and Nathaniel Winkle
- That's What I'd Like for Christmas - Pickwick and Company
- The Pickwickians - Pickwick, Augustus Snodgrass, Tracy Tupman and Nathaniel Winkle
- Bit of a Character - Mr. Jingle, Augustus Snodgrass, Nathaniel Winkle and Tracy Tupman
- There's Something About You - Mr. Jingle, Rachel and Company
- A Gentleman's Gentleman - Sam Weller and Mary
- You Never Met a Feller Like Me - Pickwick and Sam Weller
- I'll Never Be Lonely Again - Pickwick and Mrs. Bardell
Act 2
- Fizkin and Pickwick - Company
- Very - Mr. Jingle, Pickwick and Mr. Wardle
- If I Ruled the World - Pickwick and Company
- I'll Never Be Lonely Again (Reprise) - The Pickwickians
- Talk - Sam Weller and Company
- That's the Law - Pickwick, Dodson, Fogg and Company
- Damages -Pickwick and Mrs. Bardell
- If I Ruled the World (Reprise) - Pickwick and Company
Awards and nominations
Harry SecombeHarry Secombe
Sir Harry Donald Secombe CBE was a Welsh entertainer with a talent for comedy and a noted fine tenor singing voice. He is best known for playing Neddie Seagoon, the central character in the BBC radio comedy series The Goon Show...
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
, Roy Castle
Roy Castle
Roy Castle OBE was an English dancer, singer, comedian, actor, television presenter and musician. He attended Honley High School, where there is now a building in his name...
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been presented since 1947...
, Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae is a prolific American character actress of stage, comedienne, singer and dancer, who in her six decades of television is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life...
was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of the Tony Award for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. The award, introduced in 1950, was previously named as Best Performance by a Featured or Supporting Actress in a Musical until 1976....
, and Sean Kenny
Seán Kenny
Seán Kenny is an Irish Labour Party politician, who is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North East constituency. Kenny was re-elected to the Dáil for Dublin North East at the 2011 general election, having previously served as a TD for the constituency from 1992 to 1997.A former executive officer in...
was nominated for the Tony Award
Tony 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...
for Best Scenic Design of a Musical.