Productions 1965 West End Composer David Heneker | Lyricist David Heneker Playwrights Ray Cooney, Hugh Williams | |
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Music David Heneker
John Taylor Lyrics David Heneker
John Taylor Book Hugh Williams
Margaret Vyner (Williams)
Ray Cooney Basis Story Conceived by Ross Taylor Similar Ray Cooney plays, Other plays | ||
Charlie Girl is a musical comedy production which premiered in the West End of London at the Adelphi Theatre on December 15, 1965 and became one of the most successful theatre shows of the day, playing for 2,202 performances, closing on March 27, 1971. Although successful in London, Charlie Girl has never been produced on Broadway.
Contents
Original
The original stars were Joe Brown (Joe Studholme), Christine Holmes (Charlie Hadwell), Anna Neagle (Lady Hadwell), Derek Nimmo (Nicholas Wainwright), Hy Hazell (Kay Connor), Jean Lloyd Grant Mostyn and Stuart Damon (Jack Connor). When Joe Brown left the show in 1968, he was replaced by Gerry Marsden (of Gerry & The Pacemakers).
Revival
The show was revived in London in 1986 starring Paul Nicholas (Joe), Lisa Hull (Charlie Hadwell), Cyd Charisse (Lady Hadwell), Nicholas Parsons (Nicholas Wainwright), Dora Bryan (Kay Connor) and Mark Wynter (Jack Connor), running for six months.
Additional Credits
Synopsis
Lady Hadwell, the widow of an aristocrat, is struggling to make ends meet by opening her home to the public. The youngest of her three daughters, Charlotte, known as "Charlie", is a tomboy. Their loyal assistant, Joe, is in love with Charlie. When he learns he has won a fortune on the football pools, he conceals the fact from his employers. In the meantime, her mother is hoping for an engagement between Charlie and an American millionaire. The most memorable and comic moment of the show is when in a Cinderella style takeoff, Charlie has to return her hired evening gown, and the rest of the guests at the ball also decide to cavort in their underwear.