The Good Companions (1974)

The Good Companions (1974)

Music by Andre Previn
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Book by Ronald Harwood
(From the Novel by J.B. Priestly)

Choreographer:Jayne Zaban
Vocal Director: Brandon Adams

Playbill Notes

The Good Companions West End Premiere: 11 July 1974, Her Majesty's Theatre, London. The cast included John Mills, Judi Dench, Christopher Gable, Marti Webb, Malcome Rennie, Hope Jackman and Ray C. Davis. Original Cast CD: DRG Records

When Andre Previn and Johnny Mercer's musical version of The Good Companions opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in London in July, 1974, it marked the latest in a long line of theatrical and film incarnations for J. B. Priestley's traveling "concert party."

The novel was originally published in England in 1929 (and in America later that year). Priestley's richly-characterized and episodic tale found modest success in the States but was quickly elevated to the status of "beloved national treasure" in the U.K. The first stage presentation, by Priestley himself, starred John Gielgud as Inigo Jollifant and had long runs in both London and New York. This version became a film starring Gielgud and highly-popular British musical star Jessie Matthews (playing Susie Dean) in 1933. 1956 brought a Cinemascope film remake with a nearly perfect cast including Celia Johnson (as Miss Trant) and Mona Washbourne, Hugh Griffith, Rachel Roberts and Eric Portman, who were unfortunately wasted in a story that seemed passe when updated to the 50s. Worse still, Ms. Johnson and company were saddled with a mediocre score that did little to enhance the story.

In 1973, Andre Previn approached Johnny Mercer with the idea of doing a stage musical of Little Women. Mercer, long a fan of Priestley's novel, suggested The Good Companions instead, and they set to work with noted British playwright Ronald Harwood (The Dresser) providing the book. Because of Previn's other musical commitments, the work was not completed until the late spring of 1974, when it went into rehearsal with a cast including John Mills (fresh from his Ryan's Daughter Oscar-win) as Jess Oakroyd, Judi Dench as Elizabeth Trant, Royal Ballet star Christopher Gable as Inigo Jollifant and Marti Webb as Susie Dean.

Following a long try-out in Manchester, the show opened in London just at the height of a series of IRA terrorist bombings. In spite of generally favorable reviews, the show (as well as many other West End shows at the time) could not survive against the fear which kept many people (notably tourists) out of theatres and other crowded venues that summer.

Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby tried to help out by recording "The Pleasure of Your Company" together and several of the other songs separately but the show ultimately closed after five months.

A well-recorded West End Cast Album and the growing international fame of Dame Judi Dench have kept interest in the musical alive during the last quarter-century, and a major London revival was announced four years ago. When the revival plans stalled, Ms. Jo Wyatt of Warner-Chappell London granted 42nd Street Moon the rights to present, at long last, the American premiere of Johnny Mercer's last public work.

We'll leave you with these words from Mr. Michael Nelson, secretary of the J.B. Priestley society in England: "It seems ironic that two Americans should have so successfully captured the essential Englishness of the novel but at the same time brought a touch of Broadway to it. I regard the score as infinitely superior to many musicals that have found their way onto the West End stage in recent years!"

As Jess Oakroyd would say, "Aye, that's summat, that there!"

--Greg MacKellan

Summary

The plot focuses on the trials and tribulations of a touring concert party known as the Dinky-Doos who are stranded in the English countryside when their manager absconds with the most recent box office revenue and the lady pianist. Jess Oakroyd, an amiable man who has abandoned his shrewish wife, endears himself to the company with his homespun advice, and they invite him to join them as a carpenter, baggage handler, and dogsbody. Elizabeth Trant comes to their rescue when she decides to use her inheritance to finance the troupe and escape from her boring life in the Cotswolds.

Because of his habit of playing the piano late at night, songwriter Inigo Jollifant has been fired from his position at the Washbury Manor School in East Anglia, and he replaces the concert party's recently departed pianist, bringing with him banjo player and illusionist Morton Mitcham. As Miss Trant slowly achieves managerial authority, she encourages the troupe - which includes comedienne Susie Dean and singer Jerry Jerningham - to change its name to The Good Companions.

They continue their tour and eventually arrive at the Sandybay Pavilion, where they play to a full house when a storm forces passersby to seek shelter in the theatre. Their success leads Inigo to contact a music publisher, who buys his songs and arranges for an impresario to see The Good Companions in Sandybay. The producer signs Susie and Jerry for his new revue, and he secures the remaining members of the company bookings in high class towns like Bournemouth.

In the end, Miss Trant marries her solicitor, Susie heads to the West End, Inigo makes a fortune with his music, and Jess Oakroyd departs for Ontario, Canada to visit his daughter.

(wikipedia)