The musical premiered in Paris at the Théâtre Gramont in Paris on November 12, 1956, where it ran for four years. It was produced in the West End at the Lyric Theatre, opening on July 17, 1958, running for 1,512 performances, for three years.[1][2] The West End production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by John Heawood, and starred Keith Michell as Nestor, a student, Elizabeth Seal as Irma, and Clive Revill as the barman/narrator.[3]
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.
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon presented a staged concert 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.[5]
Plot
Irma La Douce is a successful prostitute, living in Paris. 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 Islandpenal colony. He escapes and returns to Paris, and proves that he is innocent. He and Irma reunite.
Songs (English version)
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."[1]
^ ab"Sweet Irma in a Wicked World", Life Magazine, November 14, 1960.
^Hischak, Thomas. The Oxford Companion To the American Musical (2008), Oxford University Press US, ISBN0-19-533533-3, p. 368.
^Helfer, Richard; Loney, Glenn Meredith; and Brook, Peter. Peter Brook: Oxford to Orghast (1998), Taylor & Francis, ISBN90-5702-208-7, pp. 99-101.
^Red Teatral. net: Irma La Douce (Mexican version)
^" 'Irma La Douce' listing 2010-01-30 at the Wayback Machine www.42ndstmoon.org, accessed February 3, 2010
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irma la Douce.
Internet Broadway Database
Plot and other information at guidetomusicaltheatre.com
January 28, 2023
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This article is about the stage musical For the film see Irma la Douce Irma la douce iʁ ma la dus Irma the Sweet is a 1956 French musical with music by Marguerite Monnot and lyrics and book by Alexandre Breffort The musical premiered in Paris in 1956 and was subsequently produced in the West End in 1958 and on Broadway by David Merrick in 1960 The English lyrics and book 1958 are by Julian More David Heneker and Monty Norman Irma La Douce1959 production in StockholmMusicMarguerite MonnotLyricsAlexandre BreffortBookAlexandre BreffortProductions1956 Paris1958 West End1960 Broadway1962 Mexico City 2014 City Center Encores Contents 1 Productions 2 Plot 3 Songs English version 4 Response 5 Awards and nominations 5 1 Original Broadway production 6 References 7 External linksProductions EditThe musical premiered in Paris at the Theatre Gramont in Paris on November 12 1956 where it ran for four years It was produced in the West End at the Lyric Theatre opening on July 17 1958 running for 1 512 performances for three years 1 2 The West End production was directed by Peter Brook with choreography by John Heawood and starred Keith Michell as Nestor a student Elizabeth Seal as Irma and Clive Revill as the barman narrator 3 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 A Mexican version was produced in 1962 starring Mexican cinema superstar Silvia Pinal and actor Julio Aleman The production was shown in the Teatro de los Insurgentes of Mexico City 4 The story was adapted for a non musical film of the same title in 1963 directed by Billy Wilder starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine San Francisco s 42nd Street Moon presented a staged concert from September 25 to October 12 2008 Alison Ewing starred as Irma with Kyle Payne in the dual role of Nestor Le Fripe Oscar and Bill Fahrner as Bob Le Hotu the narrator Greg MacKellan directed and Linda Posner choreographed 5 Plot EditIrma La Douce is a successful prostitute living in Paris A poor law student Nestor le Fripe 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 Songs English version EditAct 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 CompanyResponse EditLife 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 1 Awards and nominations EditOriginal Broadway production Edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1961 Tony Award Best Musical NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Elizabeth Seal WonBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Clive Revill NominatedBest Direction of a Musical Peter Brook NominatedBest Choreography John Heawood NominatedBest Conductor and Musical Director Stanley Lebowsky NominatedBest Costume Design Rolf Gerard NominatedReferences Edit a b Sweet Irma in a Wicked World Life Magazine November 14 1960 Hischak Thomas The Oxford Companion To the American Musical 2008 Oxford University Press US ISBN 0 19 533533 3 p 368 Helfer Richard Loney Glenn Meredith and Brook Peter Peter Brook Oxford to Orghast 1998 Taylor amp Francis ISBN 90 5702 208 7 pp 99 101 Red Teatral net Irma La Douce Mexican version Irma La Douce listing Archived 2010 01 30 at the Wayback Machine www 42ndstmoon org accessed February 3 2010External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irma la Douce Internet Broadway Database Plot and other information at guidetomusicaltheatre com Time Magazine review October 10 1960 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irma La Douce musical amp oldid 1034666255, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
