How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

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Musical dates
Title: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Original language: English
Music: Frank Loesser
Book: Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, Willie Gilbert
Lyrics: Frank Loesser
Premiere: October 14, 1961
Place of premiere: 46th Street Theater, New York
Place and time of the action: New York City, World Wide Wicket Company building; at the time the musical was made

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a Pulitzer Prize- winning musical with the music and lyrics by Frank Loesser . The book is by Abe Burrows and is based on Jack Weinstocks and Willie Gilbert's dramatic adaptation of a career guide of the same name (German title: How to make a career without exertion ) by Shepherd Mead. The show was produced by Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin in association with Frank Loesser's production company and directed by Abe Burrows. Bob Fosse was responsible for the choreography . It premiered on October 14, 1961 at the 46th Street Theater in New York . The musical had 1,417 performances.

Important performances

The opening in London's West End was on March 28, 1963 at the Shaftesbury Theater; the musical was performed there 520 times. The German-language premiere took place on December 21, 1965 in the Theater an der Wien in Vienna under the direction of Rolf Kutschera . The translation was by Robert Gilbert and Gerhard Bronner . Harald Juhnke and Theo Lingen played the main roles, the piece was performed 62 times.

The first Broadway Revival took place in 1995 at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York (former 46th Street Theater). It was performed 548 times. For its 50th anniversary, the show was re-staged and choreographed by Rob Ashford on March 27, 2011 at New York's Al Hirschfeld Theater . Until January 2012 Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette could be seen in the leading roles . Since January 24, 2012, the main role of J. Pierpont Fintch is played by Nick Jonas and the role of JB Biggley by Beau Bridges .

action

Place and time: World Wide Wicket Company building in New York City at the time the piece was written.

1st act

J. Pierrepont Finch should actually be busy cleaning the windows of the "World Wide Wicket Company" building, but he gets his hands on the career guide "How to become something in life without exerting yourself" ( How To Succeed ) . With this he goes boldly into the building and, in his search for the personnel office, runs into the company's President JB Biggley. The secretary Rosemary Pilkington sees the incident and bails Finch out. From now on, their sympathy gives him a friendly atmosphere in the anteroom of the executives and access to information about them.

With Rosemary's help and the clever mentioning of JB Biggley to HR manager Bert Bratt, Finch gets his first job in the company's mail room. One of his colleagues and competitors there is Bud Frump, Biggley's nephew, who is hoping for a promotion through family ties. In the mail room, Finch humbly listens to the speeches of the department head Mr. Twimble ( The Company Way ) and is soon proposed by him for his successor. Finch declines the offer, pointing out that Bud Frump would be more useful to the company in this position. Finch's altruism catches management's attention, and Milt Gatch, vice president, hires him as his assistant. Finch and Rosemary are interested in each other, but don't dare to approach each other about it. Smitty, Bratt's secretary, watches the two of them after work and wants to take them on a romantic dinner date ( Been a Long Day ).

Finch hears out Biggley's secretary Miss Jones about the boss, and uses this information to get Biggley's attention. He plays the able, fosters Biggley's assumption that he has attended the same elite university and pretends to have the same interests. That gives him his own office and Hedy La Rue, Biggley's lover, as secretary. Hedy is a very attractive woman who knows how to play with her charms. As a secretary, however, she is not particularly gifted. He intrigues against Gatch, who is known as a philanderer, by sending Hedy over to him - a little later Finch is on Gatch's post. Rosemary works for new advertising director Ovington, who is being given a reception. Bud Frump lures Finch into Biggley's office during the party, where Hedy is waiting for him to kiss him. He can free himself from her grasp, Rosemary sees this and tries to help him. Then Finch proposes to her ( Rosemary ). When Biggley comes into his office, he does not find Hedy with Finch, as Frump planned, but Rosemary and Finch. Since Ovington does not favor Biggley's American football team, but their arch rivals, he is fired immediately. Finch gets his job and Frump is empty again.

2nd act

Since Finch is now Rosemary's boss, she wants to quit. In her opinion, he would never want to marry her as his secretary. However, she can convince the other colleagues to stay. Finch's handbook advises him to have a brilliant idea to hold his own in the new post. To do this, he should go through the unrealized ideas of the predecessors and implement them under his name. Frump has an extraordinary suggestion that should harm Finch once again: a TV treasure hunt with a hiding place in the headquarters. Things go wrong, the building is stormed and demolished. Finch's career seems to be at an end, but Wally Womper, chairman of the supervisory board, to whom he has to present his resignation, started out as a window cleaner himself and therefore sympathizes with Finch ( Brotherhood of Man ). Womper would like to travel with Hedy La Rue, his new wife, for a longer period of time and therefore appoints Finch as his successor. With Rosemary's approval, he accepts the position. She says she makes no distinction between a window cleaner and a director.

Into the plot are interspersed scenes that satirize everyday life and clichés of 'big business' ( Coffee Break , A Secretary Is Not a Toy , I Believe In You ).

In the German version by Robert Gilbert and Gerhard Bronner , some of the characters have been renamed, e.g. E.g .: J. Pierrepont Finch (Hannibal Fink); Bud Frump (Fred Strunk); Miss Jones (Miss Meier); Mr. Twimble (Mr. Shotter). On the one hand, the names were translated into German, such as B. Miss Meier, because you might associate this name with a secretary. On the other hand, the names describe the character of the respective person or link the person directly to their profession. However, the name change is unnecessary.

occupation

roll

The roles for the premiere in 1961 were as follows:

people description Cast at UA conditions
J. Perrepont Finch Aspiring young man; first window cleaner Robert Morse Comedian, singer (tenor), dancer
Rosemary Pilkington A secretary; later friend of Finch Bonnie Scott Low soprano / mezzo-soprano
Bud frump Biggley employee and nephew; Finch's competitor Charles Nelson Reilly baritone
JB Biggley General Manager of the World WIde Wicket Company Rudy Vallee Singing actor (baritone)
Bert Bratt HR manager Paul Reed
Smitty Bratt's secretary Claudette Sutherland Mezzo-soprano
Hedy LaRue Lover of Biggley; later secretary to Finch Virginia Martin Mezzo-soprano
Miss Jones Biggley's secretary Ruth Kobart soprano
Mr. Twimble Head of Registry Sammy Smith baritone
Wally Womper Chairman of the Supervisory Board also Sammy Smith baritone
Voice of the reader Carl Princi

orchestra

Reed occupation :

  • Reed 1 (piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone)
  • Reed 2 (oboe, English horn, clarinet, alto saxophone)
  • Reed 3 (flute, piccolo, clarinet, tenor saxophone)
  • Reed 4 (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone)
  • Reed 5 (clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone)
  • 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, horn, timpani, drums, guitar, harp, strings, typewriters as stage music

Small line-up for 10 players: Reed 1 to 4 and 2 trumpets, trombone, percussion, piano, double bass

Music numbers

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying is divided into two acts and has 13 songs, some of which are repeated elsewhere ( recapitulation ).

act song occupation
1st act overture
How To Succeed J. Pierrepont Finch
Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm Rosemary Pilkington
Coffee break Smitty, Bud Frump, choir
Company Way Finch, Twimble
Company Way (reprise) Frump, Twimble, Everyone
A Secretary Is Not A Toy Bratt, Frump, Men (chorus)
Been a long day Smitty, Finch, Rosemary
Been A Long Day (reprise) Frump, Biggley, Hedy LaRue
Grand Old Ivy Finch, Biggley
Paris original Rosemary, Smitty, Miss Jones, Women (Choir)
Rosemary Finch, Rosemary
Finale act I. Finch, Rosemary Frump
2nd act Cinderella Darling Smitty, other secretaries
Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm (Reprise) Rosemary
Love From A Heart Of Gold Biggley, Hedy
I believe in you Finch, men (choir)
The Yo Ho Ho dancer
I Believe In You (Reprise) Rosemary
Brotherhood Of Man Finch, Wally Womper, Miss Jones, men (choir)
Company Way (Finale) All

Cinderella, Darling was replaced by How To Succeed (Reprise) in the 1995 Revival .

Each song has its own personality, highlights strengths and weaknesses of the characters and contributes to or continues the plot. In How To Succeed Finch introduces some chapters of the advisory and thus also of the musical. For example, it is about how to apply for a job, how to get out of the mail room or how best to dictate. Coffee Break is a song that didn't originate in Mead's book. It uses the general thinking that a lot of coffee is drunk in the office and that work cannot be continued if the coffee break is canceled or, worse, no more coffee is available. In Company Way , Twimble Finch tells that he has been with the company for a long time and that he always does exactly what is asked of him so as not to attract attention. In the recapitulation, Frump sings about the fact that for the same goal he only does what Biggley wants to see and hear in his opinion. A Secretary is Not a Toy appeals to secretaries to be taken seriously and to respect their work. This is done in a humorous way by using, among other things, not only typewriters, but also props such as writing pads, pens and shoes as “instruments”. The song Been a Long Day is a partly imaginary conversation between Finch and Rosemary, in which Smitty is the mediator. Rosemary and Finch like each other, but are too shy to speak directly to each other. Smitty 'moderates' the whole thing a little and announces what the two think or really say. Rosemary and Finch are both contemplating a date, but what they actually say to each other is trivialities and the mundane statement that it's been a long day. I Believe in You can be seen as the heart of the musical . The song is encouraging and motivating, which is why it can be played in different situations and contexts in different locations as well as on its own (outside of the musical). It is already used in the musical in two different contexts. For one, it is framed by the song Gotta Stop That Man , which the other men in the company sing. In it they sing about the fact that they want to stop Finch's further rise in the company. When he gets there, he starts with I Believe In You to show that he has everything a successful businessman needs. The song is a Love Ballad parody because Finch sings it to himself in the mirror. In the further course of the musical the song is heard again, but then sung by Rosemary for Finch, which makes it a real love ballad. Finch seems insecure and she wants to motivate and build him up with this song.

There are three musical categories into which the songs can be classified based on their nature (rhythm, tempo, melody, text):

  1. The songs in this category have a constant beat, an exact tempo, a continuous melody, direct optimism in the text and generate a desire to move in the listener. Example: Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm ; A Secretary is Not a Toy ; Grand Old Ivy .
  2. Here the songs are more jazz-inspired, have a syncopated rhythm, the flow of melodies is interrupted and they are also dance-oriented as constant bass patterns (ostinato) convey a driving feeling. Ex .: Been a Long Day ; Coffee break ; The Company Way ; Brotherhood of Man .
  3. In the third category, the texts deal largely with romantic topics, but they are also presented with exaggerated nostalgia. The melodies have a relaxed pace and the rhythm is less animated. Ex .: Rosemary ; Paris original ; Love from a Heart of Gold ; Cinderella, darling .

I Believe in You cannot be clearly classified into one category: the slow pace speaks best for the third category and the text, due to the optimism and romantic content, speaks for both the first and the third category.

Loesser uses some musical models in this musical. For example, Grand Old Ivy Marsch and Brotherhood of Man Gospel are represented.

Emergence

The musical was based on Shepherd Mead's guidebook "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". This book already contains some scenarios, roles, notes and dialogues that are useful for the adaptation into a musical. They just had to be arranged into a coherent story. The following points were taken from the book:

  • Names: Finch, Biggley, Bratt, Gatch, Womper, Frump
  • Biggley's alma mater: Old Ivy
  • Wickets Business
  • Situations in the job described in the chapters "How do I apply for a job?" and "How do I get out of the mail room?" can be found.

The economic references to history were also given by the book. For Abe Burrows, a colleague of Loesser's Guys and Dolls production , earlier contacts with business people were important and helpful for the creative process. In addition to the business world, a love story should also become part of the plot. For this reason the character of the secretary Rosemary came into play. The collaboration between Loesser and Burrows resulted in a musical with lots of humor, humor and satire. The story was perfect for the audience at the time. Mocking but not hurtful, it includes everything from nepotism ( The Company Way ) to college affiliations ( Grand Old Ivy ).

Comic

How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying has cartoon-like elements, which add to the comic effect:

  • exaggerated gestures
  • burlesque humor
  • stereotypical figures
  • comical scenes that are reminiscent of vaudeville and circus acts
  • a reference to a cartoon could also be Finch's job as a window cleaner (reminiscent of the silent film by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton )

Right from the start, the viewer develops sympathy for the clever, planning protagonist J. Pierrepont Finch, so that everyone is happy about the outcome and can only laugh at his audacity. In order to reinforce this effect, Bud Frump is confronted as a jealous, scheming opponent who only got into his position through family relationships. With Coffee Break , Loesser has created a song that works with absolute exaggeration and exaggeration. The actually uncomfortable topic of the coffee break, which is probably part of the daily routine in every office, triggers total chaos: There is no more coffee. This rather sad reason turns the robotic employees in the office into crazy people addicted to caffeine and thus causes the comedy of this song.

filming

The musical was filmed in 1967 under the title How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (German distribution title: How to be successful without trying hard) by David Swift. The songs Cinderella, Darling are missing in the film ; Heart of gold ; Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm ; Yo Ho Ho . Paris Original can only be heard as background music . Robert Morse took on the role of J. Pierrepont Finch and Rudy Vallee that of JB Biggley. Rosemary was played by Michele Lee , Bud Frump by Anthony Teague, Hedy LaRue by Maureen Arthur and Bert Bratt by John Myhers.

Awards

In 1962 the musical won 7 Tony Awards in the categories:

In 1962 the musical also won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, which had only been awarded four times to a musical. In this way, in addition to the musical, the literary level was appreciated.

Discography (selection)

  • Loesser, Frank: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying . (= 1961 original Broadway cast). CD, RCA Victor Broadway 2003.
  • Loesser, Frank: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying . (New Broady Cast). CD, RCA Victor Broadway 1995.
  • Loesser, Frank: How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying . (Broadway Revival Cast with Daniel Radcliffe and others). CD, Verve 2011.

Filmography

  • How to be successful without trying too hard . How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. R .: David Swift. USA: Twentieth Century Fox 2006. DVD.

literature

  • Axton, Charles B .; Zehnder, Otto: Reclam's musical guide . Stuttgart: Reclam 1999.
  • Riis, Thomas L .: Frank Loesser . New Haven, London: Yale University Press 2008.
  • Siedhoff, Thomas: Handbook of the musical. The most important titles from AZ . Mainz: Schott 2007.
  • Stamp, Larry: Showtime. A History of the Broadway Musical Theater . New York, London: WW Norton & Company 2010.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Siedhoff, Handbuch des Musicals, 270f
  2. ↑ Axton, Reclams Musical Guide, 268f
  3. ^ Axton, Reclams Musical Guide, 273
  4. ↑ Axton, Reclams Musical Guide, 273f
  5. ↑ Axton, Reclams Musical Guide, 267f
  6. ↑ [1]
  7. ^ Siedhoff, Handbuch des Musicals, 271
  8. ^ Siedhoff, Handbuch des Musicals, 270
  9. ↑ stamp, Showtime, 442
  10. ↑ Riis, Frank Loesser, 179
  11. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 185
  12. ↑ Riis, Frank Loesser, 180f
  13. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 181
  14. ↑ Riis, Frank Loesser, 167
  15. ↑ Riis, Frank Loesser, 171
  16. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 170
  17. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 178
  18. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 170
  19. ^ Siedhoff, Handbuch des Musicals, 272
  20. ↑ Riis, Frank Loesser, 168
  21. ^ Riis, Frank Loesser, 190
  22. ^ Siedhoff, Handbuch des Musicals, 272