Sail Away is a musical with a book, music and lyrics by Noël Coward. The show was the last musical for which Coward wrote both the book and music, although he wrote the music for one last "book" musical in 1963.
The story centres on brash, bold American divorcee Mimi Paragon, working as a hostess on a British cruise ship. The musical ran on Broadway (1961) and in the West End (1962) and has been revived since. Elaine Stritch was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the original production.
Elaine Stritch started in the show in a "relatively minor role and was only promoted over the title and given virtually all the best songs when it was reckoned that the leading lady...although excellent, was rather too operatic for a musical comedy."[1] During out-of-town tryouts in Boston, Coward was "unsure about the dramatic talents" of one of the leads, opera singer Jean Fenn. "They were, after all, engaged for their voices and...it is madness to expect two singers to play subtle 'Noel Coward' love scenes with the right values and sing at the same time." Joe Layton suggested "What would happen if ...we just eliminated [Fenn's] role and gave everything to Stritch? ...The show was very old-fashioned, and the thing that was working was Elaine Stritch...every time she went on stage [she] was a sensation. The reconstructed 'Sail Away'...opened in New York on 3 October."[2]
According to Ben Brantley, "Coward wrote in his diary that Ms. Stritch sang 'so movingly that I almost cried.' He went on to say about making her the show's star: 'There is no doubt about it. I made the right decision.'"[3]
SynopsisEdit
The setting for the show is aboard the British luxury cruise ship Coronia, bound for the Mediterranean in 1961. The plot involves a romantic love affair aboard a cruise ship, with all the classic wit and charm of Broadway’s golden era. Recent divorcée Mimi Paragon is stuck serving tourists as one of the ship’s hostesses when she is drawn to the much younger and strikingly handsome Johnny Van Mier. Complicating their relationship are several eccentric and hilarious cruise ship characters – from the cynical and quirky Sweeneys; to Johnny’s dominating and diva-like mother, Mrs. Van Mier; to the wacky novelist Spencer Bollard and her wide-eyed niece, Nancy.[4]
"Beatnik Love Affair" – Barnaby Slade, Nancy and the Passengers
"Later Than Spring" – John
"The Passenger’s Always Right" – Joe and Stewards
"Useless, Useful Phrases" – Mimi
"Go Slow, Johnny" – John
"You’re a Long, Long Way from America" – Mimi and Company
Act II
"The Customer’s Always Right" – Ali and the Arabs
"Something Very Strange" – Mimi
"The Little Ones’ ABC" – Mimi, Alvin Lush and the Children
"Don’t Turn Away from Love" – John
"When You Want Me" – Barnaby and Nancy
"Why Do the Wrong People Travel" – Mimi
"When You Want Me" (Reprise) – The Company
A song titled "The Bronxville Darby and Joan" was added for the London production.[7]
ProductionsEdit
Sail Away had out-of-town tryouts for three weeks each in Boston and Philadelphia. The show opened on Broadway 3 October 1961, at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed on 24 February 1962 after 167 performances. It was directed by Coward (the last of his works that he directed)[8] and choreographed by Joe Layton with scenic design by Oliver Smith, costumes by Helene Pons and Oliver Smith, and lighting by Peggy Clark.[9][10]
The show was then staged at the Savoy Theatre in the West End in 1962, where it opened on 21 June and ran for 252 performances, until 26 Jan 1963,[11] directed by Coward.[12][13] The musical was then produced, with Coward's personal directorial attention, in Melbourne in 1963, starring Maggie Fitzgibbon.[14]
Not only did Coward write the book, music and lyrics, and also direct the show, he even designed the show poster.[13] Some of its songs are well known, including "Why Do the Wrong People Travel?" "Useless, Useful Phrases", "The Customer's Always Right" and the title song. The song "Sail Away" was first used by Coward in his 1950 musical Ace of Clubs.
NotesEdit
^Morley, Sheridan (2005). "Pomp and Circumstance". Noël Coward: Autobiography. London: Haus Publishing. p. 126. ISBN1-904341-88-8. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^Hoare, Philip (22 May 1998). "Sail Away". Noel Coward: A Biography. University of Chicago Press. p. 472. ISBN978-0226345123. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ abBrantley, Ben (6 November 1999). "The Magic Takes Longer But the Wand Seems Intact". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^ ab. RowalndLee.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^Mander, Raymond; Joe Mitchenson (1957). Theatrical Companion to Coward. London: Rockliff. p. 481 and passim. OCLC 470106222.
^Taubman, Howard (4 October 1961). "Theatre: Noel Coward at the Helm; His 'Sail Away' Opens at the Broadhurst". The New York Times. p. 48. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^"1962 chronology". Guide To Musical Theatre. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
^"Sail Away: Original London Cast". CastAlbums.org. 1962. Retrieved 13 November 2014. Also see liner notes for the Fynsworth Alley label CD release (2003)
^ abPayn, Graham; Morley, Sheridan (1 October 1982). "Sail Away". The Noel Coward Diaries. Da Capo Press. p. 459. ISBN978-0306809606. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
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Sail Away is a musical with a book music and lyrics by Noel Coward The show was the last musical for which Coward wrote both the book and music although he wrote the music for one last book musical in 1963 Sail AwaySheet music cover MusicNoel CowardLyricsNoel CowardBookNoel CowardProductions1961 Broadway1962 West End1998 Woking England revivalThe story centres on brash bold American divorcee Mimi Paragon working as a hostess on a British cruise ship The musical ran on Broadway 1961 and in the West End 1962 and has been revived since Elaine Stritch was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in the original production Contents 1 Background 2 Synopsis 3 Original cast and characters 4 Songs 5 Productions 6 Notes 7 External linksBackground EditElaine Stritch started in the show in a relatively minor role and was only promoted over the title and given virtually all the best songs when it was reckoned that the leading lady although excellent was rather too operatic for a musical comedy 1 During out of town tryouts in Boston Coward was unsure about the dramatic talents of one of the leads opera singer Jean Fenn They were after all engaged for their voices and it is madness to expect two singers to play subtle Noel Coward love scenes with the right values and sing at the same time Joe Layton suggested What would happen if we just eliminated Fenn s role and gave everything to Stritch The show was very old fashioned and the thing that was working was Elaine Stritch every time she went on stage she was a sensation The reconstructed Sail Away opened in New York on 3 October 2 According to Ben Brantley Coward wrote in his diary that Ms Stritch sang so movingly that I almost cried He went on to say about making her the show s star There is no doubt about it I made the right decision 3 Synopsis EditThe setting for the show is aboard the British luxury cruise ship Coronia bound for the Mediterranean in 1961 The plot involves a romantic love affair aboard a cruise ship with all the classic wit and charm of Broadway s golden era Recent divorcee Mimi Paragon is stuck serving tourists as one of the ship s hostesses when she is drawn to the much younger and strikingly handsome Johnny Van Mier Complicating their relationship are several eccentric and hilarious cruise ship characters from the cynical and quirky Sweeneys to Johnny s dominating and diva like mother Mrs Van Mier to the wacky novelist Spencer Bollard and her wide eyed niece Nancy 4 Original cast and characters EditCharacter Broadway 1961 5 West End 1962 6 Mimi Paragon Elaine StritchJohn Van Mier James Hurst David HollidayMrs Van Mier Margalo Gillmore Mavis VilliersElinor Spencer Bollard Alice Pearce Dorothy ReynoldsNancy Foyle Patricia Harty Sheila ForbesBarnaby Slade Grover DaleJoe Ali Charles Braswell John HewerMrs Lush Evelyn Russell Margaret ChristensenAlvin Lush Paul O Keefe Stephen AshworthMaimie Candijack Betty Jane Watson Stella MorayMrs Sweeney Paula Bauersmith Edith DaySongs EditAct I Come to Me Mimi Paragon and Stewards Sail Away John Van Mier Where Shall I Find Him Nancy Foyle Beatnik Love Affair Barnaby Slade Nancy and the Passengers Later Than Spring John The Passenger s Always Right Joe and Stewards Useless Useful Phrases Mimi Go Slow Johnny John You re a Long Long Way from America Mimi and Company Act II The Customer s Always Right Ali and the Arabs Something Very Strange Mimi The Little Ones ABC Mimi Alvin Lush and the Children Don t Turn Away from Love John When You Want Me Barnaby and Nancy Why Do the Wrong People Travel Mimi When You Want Me Reprise The Company A song titled The Bronxville Darby and Joan was added for the London production 7 Productions EditSail Away had out of town tryouts for three weeks each in Boston and Philadelphia The show opened on Broadway 3 October 1961 at the Broadhurst Theatre and closed on 24 February 1962 after 167 performances It was directed by Coward the last of his works that he directed 8 and choreographed by Joe Layton with scenic design by Oliver Smith costumes by Helene Pons and Oliver Smith and lighting by Peggy Clark 9 10 The show was then staged at the Savoy Theatre in the West End in 1962 where it opened on 21 June and ran for 252 performances until 26 Jan 1963 11 directed by Coward 12 13 The musical was then produced with Coward s personal directorial attention in Melbourne in 1963 starring Maggie Fitzgibbon 14 It was revived at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre in Woking England in 1998 7 Gerald Gutierrez directed a November 1999 staged concert version in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall starring Stritch 3 A concert version played in July 2008 at Sadler s Wells Lilian Baylis Theatre directed by Ian Marshall Fisher in the Lost Musicals series starring Penny Fuller as Mimi Vivienne Martin as Mrs Van Mier and Rupert Young as John 15 Not only did Coward write the book music and lyrics and also direct the show he even designed the show poster 13 Some of its songs are well known including Why Do the Wrong People Travel Useless Useful Phrases The Customer s Always Right and the title song The song Sail Away was first used by Coward in his 1950 musical Ace of Clubs Notes Edit Morley Sheridan 2005 Pomp and Circumstance Noel Coward Autobiography London Haus Publishing p 126 ISBN 1 904341 88 8 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Hoare Philip 22 May 1998 Sail Away Noel Coward A Biography University of Chicago Press p 472 ISBN 978 0226345123 Retrieved 13 November 2014 a b Brantley Ben 6 November 1999 The Magic Takes Longer But the Wand Seems Intact The New York Times Retrieved 13 November 2014 Concord Theatricalsaccessed 07 16 2023 Playbill 1961 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 16 2023 Playbill 1962 Bio Cast Listaccessed 07 16 2023 a b Theatre Sail Away RowalndLee com Archived from the original on 26 November 2014 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Mander Raymond Joe Mitchenson 1957 Theatrical Companion to Coward London Rockliff p 481 and passim OCLC 470106222 Taubman Howard 4 October 1961 Theatre Noel Coward at the Helm His Sail Away Opens at the Broadhurst The New York Times p 48 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Sail Away Internet Broadway Database Retrieved 13 November 2014 1962 chronology Guide To Musical Theatre Retrieved 13 November 2014 Sail Away Original London Cast CastAlbums org 1962 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Also see liner notes for the Fynsworth Alley label CD release 2003 a b Payn Graham Morley Sheridan 1 October 1982 Sail Away The Noel Coward Diaries Da Capo Press p 459 ISBN 978 0306809606 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Sail Away to New York Gateways National Library of Australia February 2000 ISSN 1039 3498 Retrieved 13 November 2014 Shenton Mark 14 May 2008 Penny Fuller to Sail Away to London Playbill Archived from the original on 8 July 2008 Retrieved 13 November 2014 External links Edit Sail Away at the Internet Broadway Database Interview Theatre Arts Magazine September 1961 Sail Away at noelcowardmusic com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sail Away musical amp oldid 1166754633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
