Fine and Dandy (musical)

Fine and Dandy is a musical comedy in two acts with a book by Donald Ogden Stewart, music by Kay Swift and lyrics by Paul James. It was produced on Broadway in 1930.

This article is about the musical. For the song, see Fine and Dandy.
Fine and Dandy
Sheet music
MusicKay Swift
LyricsPaul James
BookDonald Ogden Stewart

Production

After a try-out at the Colonial Theatre in Boston,[1] Fine and Dandy premiered on Broadway at Erlanger's Theatre on September 23, 1930, and closed on May 2, 1931, after 255 performances. It was produced by Morris Green and Lewis E. Gensler.[2] The production was directed by Green and the dialogue was directed by Frank McCoy, with choreography by Tom Nip and Dave Gould and orchestration by Hans Spialek. The routines for the Abbott Dancers were arranged by Merriel Abbott, and the dance for Mechanical Ballet was arranged by Eugene Von Grona. Scenic design was by Henry Dreyfuss, with costumes by Charles LeMaire.[2]

The cast starred Joe Cook as Joe Squibb and included Dave Chasen, Nell O'Day, Joe Wagstaff and an 18-year-old tap dancer named Eleanor Powell.[3]

Synopsis

"Joe Squibb, proud to be a working man if he does not have to work much, becomes general manager of the Fordyce Drop Forge and Tool factory when the widow who owns it falls captive to his brash charms."[4] "Squibb ... is engaged to lovely Nancy Ellis, and ultimately reveals himself to be married and the father of four children. Also as Joe Squibb he lights a bearded man's whiskers, impersonates four German acrobats, plays the saxophone and ukulele, turns handsprings, plays golf with a shovel, eats lunch from as lunchbox the size of an automobile crate, examines the insurance doctor come to examine him, creates a gadget that can puncture balloons while cracking nuts and another for inflating paper bags so that when punctured they can make a resounding noise."[5]

Songs
Act 1
  • “Rich or Poor”
  • “Fine and Dandy”
  • “Wheels of Steel”
  • “Mechanical Ballet”
  • “Starting at the Bottom”
  • “Can This Be Love”
  • “I'll Hit a New High”
  • “Fine and Dandy” (Reprise)
  • “Giddyup Back”
  • “Fordyce”
  • “Finaletto”
  • “Let's Go Eat Worms in the Garden”
Act 2
  • “Jig Hop”
  • “That Thing I Can't Seem to Forget”
  • “Starting at the Bottom” (Reprise)
  • “Can This be Love” (Reprise)
  • “Wedding Bells”
  • “Finale”

Reception

Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times wrote, "Next to Leonardo da Vinci, Joe Cook is the most versatile man known to recorded times."[6] The Brooklyn Citizen raved, "Fine and Dandy is one of the most side-splitting, amazingly funny musical comedies that has ever been produced on Broadway."[7]

Historical notes

Fine and Dandy became the first successful Broadway musical to feature a complete score by a female composer, running for over 250 performances.[8]

The Times Union (Brooklyn, New York) reported that among those in the audience for the opening night performance were George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Ted Lewis, Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, Marc Connelly, Judith Anderson, William Demarest, E. Ray Goetz, and Irving Caesar.[9]

References
  1. The Boston Globe, September 2, 1930, p. 17
  2. Fine and Dandy, Internet Broadway Database, accessed August 30, 2020
  3. The New York Times, September 24, 1930, p. 26
  4. Mantle, p. 418
  5. Ewen, pp. 368–369
  6. The New York Times, September 24, 1930, p. 26
  7. The Brooklyn Citizen (Brooklyn, New York), September 24, 1930, p. 12
  8. Tomorrow's Overture is Always Best: The Music of Kay Swift, Yale University Library, accessed August 30, 2020
  9. Times Union (Brooklyn, New York), September 24, 1930, p. 13

Sources
  • Mantle, Burns (ed.) The Best Plays of 1930–31, Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1931, pp. 417–418.
  • Ewen, David. Complete Book of the American Musical Theater, (2nd Ed.) Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1959, pp. 368–369.
  • Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York), September 24, 1930, p. 11.
  • The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, New York), September 24, 1930, p. 21.
  • Daily News (New York, New York), by Burns Mantle, September 24, 1930, p. 161.
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