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 for British pop star Tommy Steele.
Background
The show is based on H. G. Wells's 1905 novel 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 realising that you just can't buy happiness.
David Heneker (who had also worked on Irma La Douce and Charlie Girl) wrote both music and lyrics. 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. 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 of later Monty Python fame had a small role in the initial cast as James Walshingham.
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, 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, was directed by George Sidney and choreographed by Gillian Lynne. Lesley Judd, a future presenter of the BBC children's TV series Blue Peter, was one of the dancing chorus. Foster's singing voice was dubbed by Marti Webb.
Following the success in Chichester, the production transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre 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.
Synopsis
The musical tells the tale of the changing fortunes of Arthur Kipps, an orphan and draper's assistant at Shalford's Bazaar in Folkestone, Kent at the turn of the twentieth century. Kipps is an easy-going working class lad, who is happiest with his banjo. He falls in love with Ann Pornick, who gives him the titular gift of half a sixpence as a token of their love. However, when he unexpectedly inherits a fortune from an estranged grandfather, he is suddenly propelled into high society. He catches the eye of Helen Walsingham and her money-grabbing family, who are desperate to restore their family fortune. When he loses his money (thanks to the fraudulent behavior of Helen's brother, James), Kipps is reminded of his roots and returns to marry Ann.
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
Source:
; 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 Evan's
- "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 Evans
- "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, Lady Punnet, Arthur Kipps, Helen Walsingham, James Walsingham and Ensemble
; Act II
- "The One That's Run Away" – Chitterlow & Arthur Kipps
- "Pick Out a Simple Tune" – Arthur Kipps, Lady Punnet and Ensemble
- "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, Lady Punnet
- "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
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award
! width="40%"| Category
! width="25%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="9" align="center"| 1965
| rowspan="9"| Tony Award
| colspan="2"| Best Musical
|
|-
| Best Producer
| Allen-Hodgdon, Stevens Productions Inc. and Harold Fielding
|
|-
| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
| Tommy Steele
|
|-
| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
| James Grout
|
|-
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
| Carrie Nye
|
|-
| Best Author
| Beverley Cross
|
|-
| Best Original Score
| David Heneker
|
|-
| Best Direction of a Musical
| Gene Saks
|
|-
| Best Choreography
| Onna White
|
|}
2016 West End revival
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="20%"| Award
! width="40%"| Category
! width="25%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="8" align="center"| 2017
| rowspan="8"| Whatsonstage.com Awards
| colspan="2"| Best New Musical
|
|-
| Best Actor in a Musical
| Charlie Stemp
|
|-
| Best Actress in a Musical
| Devon-Elise Johnson
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
| Ian Bartholomew
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
| Emma Williams
|
|-
| Best Direction
| Rachel Kavanaugh
|
|-
| Best Choreography
| Andrew Wright
|
|-
| Best Costume Design
| Paul Brown
|
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 2017
| rowspan="3"| Laurence Olivier Awards
| colspan="1"| Best Actor in a Musical
| colspan="1"| Charlie Stemp
|
|-
| Best Actor in Supporting Role in a Musical
| Ian Bartholomew
|
|-
| Best Actress in Supporting Role in a Musical
| Emma Williams
|
|}
Recordings
- Half a Sixpence: An Original Cast Recording – Decca SLK4521 (1963)