Jennie

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Original cast recording

Jennie is a musical with a book by Arnold Schulman, lyrics by Howard Dietz, and music by Arthur Schwartz.

Its plot focuses on acting team and married couple Jennie Malone and James O'Connor, who tour the country in popular melodramas, and playwright Christopher Lawrence Cromwell, who offers Jennie work when she leaves her husband. Much of the action consists of elaborate spoofs of the type of entertainment offered to audiences in the early 20th century.

In the late 1950s, the project began as an account of the early life and career of actress Laurette Taylor, based on a biography written by her daughter Margaret Courtney. While it was still in its early stages, a non-musical adaptation of the book starring Judy Holliday closed after a week in New Haven. Undaunted, the creative team forged ahead, tailoring what was then called Blood and Thunder specifically for the talents of Mary Martin who, with her husband Richard Halliday, agreed to produce the show with Cheryl Crawford. S. N. Behrman used Taylor's son Dwight's biography as a source for his book, which centered on Taylor's husband Charles and the various women in his life, all portrayed by Martin. His book ultimately was abandoned, and Shulman was called in to write a new version, which fictionalized the story and its characters.

Jennie was plagued with problems from the start. In Boston, a major character was eliminated, and Carol Haney replaced Matt Mattox as choreographer. Schwartz sued Boston Globe critic Kevin Kelly, whose review suggested the composer had borrowed heavily from the works of others. In Detroit, the leading man was replaced, and animosity developed between Schwartz and Dietz and the Hallidays, who decided not to bring the show to New York City. When the composers threatened to sue the couple for the $1.35 million advance sale, they agreed to open as scheduled.

After four previews, the Broadway production, directed by Vincent J. Donehue, opened on October 17, 1963 at the Majestic Theatre, where it ran for only 82 performances, proving to be Martin's first flop. The cast included George D. Wallace as O'Connor and Robin Bailey as Cromwell, with Jeremiah Morris and Ethel Shutta in supporting roles.

The critics were delighted by Martin's slapstick antics and the score, but found little else to praise.

An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor.