Half a Sixpence


Half a Sixpence is a musical comedy based on the 1905 novel Kipps by H. G. Wells, with music and lyrics by David Heneker and a book by Beverley Cross. It was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele.

Background

The show is based on H.G. Wells's novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul. Steele played Arthur Kipps, an orphan who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, and climbs the social ladder before losing everything and realizing that you just can't buy happiness.
David Heneker wrote both music and lyrics. Steele's importance to the show was made evident by his appearance in twelve of the musical's fifteen songs. Much of this musical was tailored as a star vehicle for Steele's particular talents which was especially evident in the musical number "Money to Burn": when Arthur Kipps realises that he is about to become wealthy, he decides that the first thing he will buy is a banjo. This is the cue for someone to hand Tommy Steele a banjo so that he can demonstrate his skill on the instrument. However, in Wells's novel, one of the first things that Arthur Kipps purchases with his newfound wealth is, indeed, a banjo.

Productions

London

Half a Sixpence was first produced in London's West End at the Cambridge Theatre on 21 March 1963, with Marti Webb, in her first leading role, playing Ann. Anna Barry also appeared as Helen. The production was directed by John Dexter, with choreography by Edmund Balin, and the set was designed by Loudon Sainthill. It ran for 677 performances.

Broadway

The show opened on Broadway in 1965, playing at the Broadhurst Theatre for 511 performances, also starring Steele. John Cleese played a small role of Walsingham, the stockbroker from a respectable family who embezzles Kipps' fortune. Cleese has stated in several venues that he can not sing, and was asked to mime singing-with no sound-during numbers he appeared in. Half a Sixpence was the last West End show to transfer successfully to New York City before the late-1970s and early-1980s musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Film version

A 1967 film adaptation starring Steele, along with Julia Foster and Cyril Ritchard, was directed by George Sidney and choreographed by Gillian Lynne. Lesley Judd, a future presenter of the BBC children's TV series Blue Peter, was one of the dancing chorus. Foster's singing voice was dubbed by Marti Webb.
"I'm Not Talking To You", which had been excluded from the Broadway score, was subsequently reinstated for the film. Two new songs were also written: "Lady Botting's Boating Regatta Cup Racing Song " and "This Is My World".

2016 revised version

A revised version of the show opened at the Chichester Festival Theatre to rave reviews and standing ovations in July 2016, co-produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Reuniting Mackintosh's Mary Poppins collaborators, the show features a new book by Julian Fellowes and new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe alongside revisions of Heneker's originals. The cast included Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps, Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick and Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham.
Following the success in Chichester, the production transferred to the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End on 17 November 2016 with previews from 29 October 2016. It initially booked until 11 February 2017. Due to five-star reviews and audience acclaim, the show was extended until 22 April 2017.
It was extended, once again, until 6 May 2017. It extended again until 2 September 2017, when it closed.

2015 North Wales version

In 2015, a production created by the Llangollen Operatic Society was performed at Llangollen Town Hall.

2017 Independent UK version

A production created by Theatre in the Community was shown at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl from 9–12 August 2017, with matinees on the 10th and 12th. Ryan Thomas Ebbrell played the lead role of Arthur Kipps, earning rave reviews.
This production celebrates the 50th anniversary of the feature film of the same name and nearly 55 years since the original West End production in 1963.

Songs

; Act I
; Act II
; Act I
; Act II

Broadway production

2016 West End revival

Recordings