Happy End: English Adaptation (1972)
Comedy with music, in three acts.
Original German book by Dorothy Lane, pseudonym for Elisabeth Hauptmann and Bertolt Brecht.
Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht.
English adaptation of book and lyrics by Michael Feingold.
Synopsis
Song List
Performance Information
Principal Productions
Recording
Part of poster for a production at the Banff Centre, Alberta, Canada, 1989.
Synopsis
Set in Chicago in 1919, the plot pits organized crime against the Salvation Army. Lieutenant Lilian Holiday makes a brave attempt to reform a group of gangsters led by Bill Cracker and the Lady in Grey. As she is making progress, she is thrown out of the Salvation Army because they fear she is too close to the gangsters. But since she is the most popular evangelist, they are forced to let her back into the fold. Meanwhile, the gang robs a bank on Christmas Eve, but the money disappears. It was recovered by the Lady in Grey, who returns and threatens to kill Bill for botching the robbery. At this point the Salvation Army intervenes, and a series of coincidences leads to the happy ending: Bill and Lilian are engaged, the Lady in Grey finds her long lost husband, and the money stays out of the hands of the police.
Song list
Prologue - Hosannah Rockefeller
The Bilbao Song
Lieutenants of the Lord (I)
March Ahead
The Sailors' Tango
Brother, Give Yourself a Shove
Song of the Big Shot
Don't Be Afraid
In Our Childhood's Bright Endeavor
The Liquor Dealer's Dream
The Mandalay Song
Surabaya Johnny
Ballad of the Lily of Hell
Finale: Lieutenants of the Lord (II)
Performance Information
Cast: Singing roles -- Bill Cracker (high baritone), Sam Wurlitzer (baritone), Captain Hannibal Jackson (tenor), Dr. Nakamura (baritone), Johnny Flint (baritone), Lieutenant Lilian Holiday (soprano), A Lady in Gray (mezzo-soprano), Sister Jane (mezzo); chorus, SATB.
Speaking roles -- Jimmy Dexter, Bob Marker, Miriam, Major Stone, Sister Mary, Brother Ben Owens.
Orchestra: alto sax (picc, fl, cl); ten. sax (bar. sax, cl); tpt, tbn; banjo (Hawaiian guitar or mandolin, bandoneon or accordion, bass guitar); perc (2nd tpt); piano (harmonium).
Duration: full evening, 40 minutes music
Published Editions: English text and lyrics, Samuel French, SF 10019
piano-vocal score (German-English, 1976), Universal Edition, UE 11685
study score (German-English, 1981), Universal Edition, UE 17243
Performance Rights and Rentals: USA, CAN: SF/EAMC
UK, BREV: FBE/EAMC
All other territories: FBE/UE
Guide to orchestration, territory abbreviations, and publishers' symbols.
Principal productions
- April 6, 1972, New Haven, Yale Repertory Theatre, Michael Posnick, dir., Thomas Fay, cond.
- May 1977, New York, Martin Beck Theatre, Robert Kalfin and Patricia Birch, dir., Roland Gagnon, cond.
- May 4, 1984, Washington, D.C., Arena Stage, Garland Wright, dir., Robert Fisher, cond.
- October 5, 1989, Lahti, Finland, Nancy Rhodes, dir., Tapio Louhensalo, cond.
- February 17, 1995, Baltimore, Center Stage, Irene Lewis, dir., Mark Bennett, cond.
Recordings
| Ghostlight CD 7915584418-2 |
Charlotte Cohn, Peter Macon, et al., Constantine Kitsopoulos, cond. (American Conservatory Theatre) |
Also see entry for Happy End, in the original German version.