The show, set against a circus backdrop, focuses on Littlechap from the moment of his birth until his death. Each time something unsatisfactory happens, he calls out 'Stop the world!' and addresses the audience. After being born, going through school, and finding work as a tea-boy, his first major step towards improving his lot is to marry his boss' daughter Evie after getting her pregnant out of wedlock. Saddled with the responsibilities of a family, he is given a job in his father-in-law's factory. He has two daughters, Susan and Jane, but truly longs for a son. He allows his growing dissatisfaction with his existence to lead him into the arms of various women in his business travels—Russian official Anya, German domestic Ilse, and American cabaret singer Ginnie—as he searches for something better than he has. He becomes rich and successful and is elected to public office. Only in his old age does he realize that what he always had, the love of his wife, was more than enough to sustain him. But Evie dies, and Littlechap comes to terms with his own selfishness while writing his memoirs. At the moment of his death, he watches his second daughter give birth to a son. When the boy nearly dies, Littlechap intervenes and allows Death to take him instead. He then mimes his own birth, beginning the cycle once again.
Production history
Opening first in Manchester, the original production transferred to the West End and opened on 20 July 1961 at the Queen's Theatre. Directed by Newley, it ran for 485 performances. Newley starred as Littlechap, with Anna Quayle playing the multiple roles of Evie and the other women in his life. Marti Webb made her West End debut as a member of the chorus. An original cast recording was released by Decca Records.[2]
Producer David Merrick, always impressed by a low-cost project requiring minimal sets, costumes, and a small cast, decided to stage the show in New York City. It was directed by Newley, and featured scenery and lighting design by Sean Kenny, musical supervision by Ian Fraser, musical direction by Milton Rosenstock, orchestrations by Ian Fraser. After one preview, the Broadway production opened on 3 October 1962 at the Shubert Theatre, eventually transferring to the Ambassador to complete its 555-performance run.[3] Newley and Quayle reprised their London roles. Newley later was replaced by Kenneth Nelson, then Joel Grey, and Joan Eastman assumed the roles of Evie et al.
A Broadway cast limited run recording was originally released by RCA Victor Records, however, the mainstream version was subsequently released by London Records.[4] On the national company tour, the show starred Grey and Julie Newmar.
A London revival, directed by Newley, opened at the Lyric Theatre on 19 October 1989, starring Newley and Rhonda Burchmore. It was updated slightly, but it retained the Nazi-ish Fräulein, the Bolshevik Russian girl, and the Judy-Holliday-ditzy American blonde—all much more distant than in 1961 and thus outside the experience of anyone under 40. It received poor reviews and closed after just 52 performances over five weeks. Newley was very disappointed and bitter about the reviews, as he told the audience after the final curtain.
Film adaptation
A 1966 Warner Bros. release was little more than a filmed version of a staged production. Directed by Philip Saville, it featured additional material by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, David Donable, and Al Ham. The cast included Tony Tanner and Millicent Martin. Neither a critical nor commercial success, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Music Scoring. The film deleted the German mistress sequence and substituted a Japanese mistress. It is not clear whether this was the Bergman contribution or if Newley and Bricusse created the new sequence. It is also unclear why this substitution was made. In the film version, the show ends with "What Kind of Fool Am I?" There is no birth of a grandson, nor of Littlechap choosing to die in his place and being reborn, as in the original musical play. With the exception of "Typische Deutsche", the original score is transferred complete.
Sammy Davis Jr. and Marian Mercer reprised their Broadway revival roles for Sammy Stops the World, a 1978 television adaptation[6]
In 1996, a TV movie version was produced starring Peter Scolari as Littlechap and Stephanie Zimbalist as Evie.[7] Made for the A&E Network,[8] it adhered closely to the format of the original stage production.
stop, world, want, other, uses, disambiguation, 1961, musical, with, book, music, lyrics, leslie, bricusse, anthony, newley, stop, world, want, offoriginal, 1961, london, cast, recordingmusicleslie, bricusse, anthony, newleylyricsleslie, bricusse, anthony, new. For other uses see Stop the World I Want to Get Off disambiguation Stop the World I Want to Get Off is a 1961 musical with a book music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley Stop the World I Want to Get OffOriginal 1961 London cast recordingMusicLeslie Bricusse Anthony NewleyLyricsLeslie Bricusse Anthony NewleyBookLeslie Bricusse Anthony NewleyProductions1961 West End 1962 Broadway 1966 Film 1978 Broadway revivalAccording to Oscar Levant the play s title was derived from a graffito 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Production history 3 Film adaptation 4 Songs 5 Cast 5 1 London replacements 5 2 Broadway replacements 5 3 Notable national tour replacements 6 Awards and nominations 6 1 Original Broadway production 7 References 8 External linksPlot EditThe show set against a circus backdrop focuses on Littlechap from the moment of his birth until his death Each time something unsatisfactory happens he calls out Stop the world and addresses the audience After being born going through school and finding work as a tea boy his first major step towards improving his lot is to marry his boss daughter Evie after getting her pregnant out of wedlock Saddled with the responsibilities of a family he is given a job in his father in law s factory He has two daughters Susan and Jane but truly longs for a son He allows his growing dissatisfaction with his existence to lead him into the arms of various women in his business travels Russian official Anya German domestic Ilse and American cabaret singer Ginnie as he searches for something better than he has He becomes rich and successful and is elected to public office Only in his old age does he realize that what he always had the love of his wife was more than enough to sustain him But Evie dies and Littlechap comes to terms with his own selfishness while writing his memoirs At the moment of his death he watches his second daughter give birth to a son When the boy nearly dies Littlechap intervenes and allows Death to take him instead He then mimes his own birth beginning the cycle once again Production history EditOpening first in Manchester the original production transferred to the West End and opened on 20 July 1961 at the Queen s Theatre Directed by Newley it ran for 485 performances Newley starred as Littlechap with Anna Quayle playing the multiple roles of Evie and the other women in his life Marti Webb made her West End debut as a member of the chorus An original cast recording was released by Decca Records 2 Producer David Merrick always impressed by a low cost project requiring minimal sets costumes and a small cast decided to stage the show in New York City It was directed by Newley and featured scenery and lighting design by Sean Kenny musical supervision by Ian Fraser musical direction by Milton Rosenstock orchestrations by Ian Fraser After one preview the Broadway production opened on 3 October 1962 at the Shubert Theatre eventually transferring to the Ambassador to complete its 555 performance run 3 Newley and Quayle reprised their London roles Newley later was replaced by Kenneth Nelson then Joel Grey and Joan Eastman assumed the roles of Evie et al A Broadway cast limited run recording was originally released by RCA Victor Records however the mainstream version was subsequently released by London Records 4 On the national company tour the show starred Grey and Julie Newmar A Broadway revival directed by Mel Shapiro opened on 3 August 1978 at the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center where it ran for 30 performances The cast included Sammy Davis Jr and Marian Mercer A revival cast recording was released by Warner Bros Records 5 A London revival directed by Newley opened at the Lyric Theatre on 19 October 1989 starring Newley and Rhonda Burchmore It was updated slightly but it retained the Nazi ish Fraulein the Bolshevik Russian girl and the Judy Holliday ditzy American blonde all much more distant than in 1961 and thus outside the experience of anyone under 40 It received poor reviews and closed after just 52 performances over five weeks Newley was very disappointed and bitter about the reviews as he told the audience after the final curtain Film adaptation EditA 1966 Warner Bros release was little more than a filmed version of a staged production Directed by Philip Saville it featured additional material by Alan and Marilyn Bergman David Donable and Al Ham The cast included Tony Tanner and Millicent Martin Neither a critical nor commercial success it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Music Scoring The film deleted the German mistress sequence and substituted a Japanese mistress It is not clear whether this was the Bergman contribution or if Newley and Bricusse created the new sequence It is also unclear why this substitution was made In the film version the show ends with What Kind of Fool Am I There is no birth of a grandson nor of Littlechap choosing to die in his place and being reborn as in the original musical play With the exception of Typische Deutsche the original score is transferred complete Sammy Davis Jr and Marian Mercer reprised their Broadway revival roles for Sammy Stops the World a 1978 television adaptation 6 In 1996 a TV movie version was produced starring Peter Scolari as Littlechap and Stephanie Zimbalist as Evie 7 Made for the A amp E Network 8 it adhered closely to the format of the original stage production Songs EditAct IThe A B C Song I Want to Be Rich Typically English A Special Announcement Lumbered Welcome to Sludgepool Gonna Build a Mountain Glorious Russian Meilinki Meilchick Family Fugue Typische Deutsche Nag Nag Nag Act IIAll American Once in a Lifetime Mumbo Jumbo Welcome to Sunvale Life Is A Woman Someone Nice Like You What Kind of Fool Am I Cast EditRole Original London production Original Broadway production 9 1963 US national tour 10 1978 Broadway revival 11 1989 London revivalLittlechap Anthony Newley Joel Grey Sammy Davis Jr Anthony NewleyEvie Anya Isle Ginnie Anna Quayle Julie Newmar Marian Mercer Rhonda BurchmoreJane Littlechap s Daughter Jennifer Baker Janet Allman Shelly BurchSusan Littlechap s Daughter Susan Baker Jennifer Allman Wendy EdmeadGreek Chorus Amanda Bayley Barbara Halliwell Gloria Johnson Carole Keith Virginia Mason Vivienne St George Marti Webb Robert O Leary Rawley Bates Bonnie Brody Diana Corto Jo Anne Leeds Karen Lynn Reed Sylvia Tysick Stephanie Winters Mark Hunter Paul Rufo Mark Month Michael Month Karen Hopper Karen Johnson Sherry Lambert Geri O Gorman Shelley Payton Audrey Saxon Beverlee Weir Brooke Winsten Dennis Daniels Karen Giombetti Patrick Kinser Lau Edwetta Little Donna Lowe Debora Materson Joyce Nolen Charles Willis Jr Fiona Alexandra Dollie Henry Julia Howson Samantha Hughes Kim Ismay Victoria Lynson Emma Priest Wendy Schoemann Martine Mccutcheon Denis Outen Chase Marks Melissa Farmery Laura Tristram Rowan LoganLondon replacements Edit Littlechap Tony TannerEvie Anya Isle Ginnie Millicent Martin Broadway replacements Edit Littlechap Joel Grey Kenneth Nelson Notable national tour replacements Edit Littlechap Kenneth NelsonAwards and nominations EditOriginal Broadway production Edit Year Award Category Nominee Result1963 Tony Award 12 Best Musical NominatedBest Author Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley NominatedBest Composer and Lyricist NominatedBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Anthony Newley NominatedBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Anna Quayle WonReferences Edit Levant Oscar 1969 The Unimportance of Being Oscar Pocket Books p 6 ISBN 0 671 77104 3 Stop the World I Want to Get Off Original London Cast Cast Album DB Playbill Vault s Today in Theatre History July 20 Playbill 20 July 2021 Retrieved 12 August 2022 Stop the World I Want to Get Off Original Broadway Cast Cast Album DB Stop the World I Want to Get Off Broadway Revival Cast Cast Album DB Sammy Stops the World 1979 IMDb Stop the World I Want to Get Off TV Movie 1996 IMDb Horowitz Lisa D 7 March 1996 Review Stop the World I Want to Get Off Variety Retrieved 12 August 2022 Stop the World I Want to Get Off Broadway Musical Original Internet Broadway Database Retrieved 4 January 2022 Stop the World I Want to Get Off Broadway musical Tour Internet Broadway Database Retrieved 4 January 2022 Stop the World I Want to Get Off Broadway Musical 1978 revival Internet Broadway Database Retrieved 4 January 2022 Nominations 1963 TonyAwards com Retrieved 12 August 2022 External links Edit Stop the World I Want to Get Off at the Internet Broadway Database Stop the World I Want to Get Off at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stop the World I Want to Get Off amp oldid 1149966125, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
