Based on an idea by John Flaxman, it was inspired by a true story set in the New York Draft Riots of 1863. The title character, an Irish woman providing asylum for orphaned children of refugee slaves, is on the verge of marrying a Union Armycolonel. Her vagabond husband Phineas Flynn (who abandoned her to pursue a theatrical career and whom she had presumed was dead) returns to the scene. The cast of characters includes Confederateinsurgents, prostitutes and drunks, bigotedsocialites, circus performers, and some African-American kids endangered by the draft riots.
Critics found the basic situation of Jones and the children threatened by political unrest to be too similar to The Sound of Music,[1] albeit told in an unrelentingly darker manner. They thought that efforts to equate the New York Draft Riots with contemporary protests against the Vietnam War were heavy-handed and counter-productive. "It is worth noting that two of the first night critics came up with the same line, calling Maggie Flynn the best Broadway musical since Her First Roman — thereby honoring a desperately lousy mishmash that opened three days earlier."[2]
During the American Civil War, Maggie Flynn, a young Irish woman living in New York City, marries Phineas, a charming scoundrel who leaves her to join the circus. Maggie runs an orphanage for black orphans, and soon is engaged to Colonel John Farraday, a steady and faithful beau. However, Phineas, now called "The Clown," returns to win back his wife. They become caught up in the New York Draft Riots of 1863, and the orphanage is burned down.
Open a New Window: The Broadway Musical in the 1960s by Ethan Mordden, Palgrave (2001), pages 213-15 (ISBN0-312-23952-1)
External linksedit
Internet Broadway Database listing
December 02, 2023
maggie, flynn, 1968, musical, with, book, morton, dacosta, music, lyrics, hugo, peretti, luigi, creatore, george, david, weiss, musichugo, peretti, luigi, creatore, george, david, weisslyricshugo, peretti, luigi, creatore, george, david, weissbookmorton, dacos. Maggie Flynn is a 1968 musical with a book by Morton DaCosta and music and lyrics by Hugo Peretti Luigi Creatore and George David Weiss Maggie FlynnMusicHugo Peretti Luigi Creatore George David WeissLyricsHugo Peretti Luigi Creatore George David WeissBookMorton DaCostaBasisThe New York Draft RiotsProductions1968 BroadwayBased on an idea by John Flaxman it was inspired by a true story set in the New York Draft Riots of 1863 The title character an Irish woman providing asylum for orphaned children of refugee slaves is on the verge of marrying a Union Army colonel Her vagabond husband Phineas Flynn who abandoned her to pursue a theatrical career and whom she had presumed was dead returns to the scene The cast of characters includes Confederate insurgents prostitutes and drunks bigoted socialites circus performers and some African American kids endangered by the draft riots Contents 1 Production 2 Plot 3 Songs 4 Award nomination 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksProduction editThe Broadway production directed by DaCosta and choreographed by Brian Macdonald opened on October 23 1968 at the ANTA Playhouse where it ran for 82 performances and 6 previews The cast included Shirley Jones and husband Jack Cassidy who was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and Robert Kaye as Col John Farraday Among the orphans were newcomers Irene Cara Giancarlo Esposito and Stephanie Mills Critics found the basic situation of Jones and the children threatened by political unrest to be too similar to The Sound of Music 1 albeit told in an unrelentingly darker manner They thought that efforts to equate the New York Draft Riots with contemporary protests against the Vietnam War were heavy handed and counter productive It is worth noting that two of the first night critics came up with the same line calling Maggie Flynn the best Broadway musical since Her First Roman thereby honoring a desperately lousy mishmash that opened three days earlier 2 An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor and re released on CD by DRG in 2009 2 Plot editDuring the American Civil War Maggie Flynn a young Irish woman living in New York City marries Phineas a charming scoundrel who leaves her to join the circus Maggie runs an orphanage for black orphans and soon is engaged to Colonel John Farraday a steady and faithful beau However Phineas now called The Clown returns to win back his wife They become caught up in the New York Draft Riots of 1863 and the orphanage is burned down Songs editAct INever Gonna Make Me Fight It s a Nice Cold Morning I Wouldn t Have You Any Other Way Learn How to Laugh Maggie Flynn The Thank You Song Look Around Your Little World Maggie Flynn Reprise I Won t Let It Happen Again How About a Ball Pitter Patter I Won t Let It Happen Again Reprise Act IINever Gonna Make Me Fight Reprise Why Can t I Walk Away The Game of War Mr Clown Pitter Patter Reprise The Riot Don t You Think It s Very Nice Mr Clown Reprise Maggie Flynn Reprise Award nomination edit1969 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical Jack CassidyNotes edit Devine Lawrence The Perils of Maggie New York Magazine October 14 1968 a b Suskin Steven On the Record Maggie Flynn and Solo Albums from Ann Hampton Callaway and Jill O Hara playbill com March 1 2009References edit Not Since Carrie Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum St Martin s Press 1991 pages 90 91 ISBN 0 312 06428 4 Open a New Window The Broadway Musical in the 1960s by Ethan Mordden Palgrave 2001 pages 213 15 ISBN 0 312 23952 1 External links editInternet Broadway Database listing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maggie Flynn amp oldid 1154048783, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
