Your Own Thing

Last updated
Your Own Thing
Your Own Thing.jpg
Original Off-Broadway poster
MusicHal Hester, Danny Apolinar
LyricsHal Hester, Danny Apolinar
Book Donald Driver
Basis Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Productions1968 Off-Broadway
1969 West End
1969 Australia

Your Own Thing is a rock-styled musical comedy loosely based on Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. It premiered off-Broadway in early 1968. The music and lyrics are by Hal Hester and Danny Apolinar [1] with the book adaptation by Donald Driver, who also directed the original production. [2] Dorothy Love was the show's producer. The show was a success, running for 937 performances Off-Broadway [3] and then touring and playing in London and Australia. [4]

Contents

Synopsis

The show is set in the present (late 1960s) in the land of Illyria, which looks very much like New York City. It is a tale of separated twins, mistaken identities, love triangles and "doing your own thing". It opens when a raging storm wrecks the ship on which a rock duet is traveling. They are "identical" twenty-year-old twins, Viola and Sebastian. Even in this life-threatening situation, they are bickering as usual (No One's Perfect Dear). In the confusion of the ship sinking, the twins are parted. Viola lands in Illyria where, being told Sebastian drowned, she expresses her loneliness in the strange city (The Flowers). A mysterious stranger gives her a business-card with a job offer. The all-male rock quartet "The Apocalypse" is short one member since Disease was drafted to fight in Vietnam. Famine, War and Death all hate the idea of being forced into such a role (I'm Not Afraid/I'm Me). Disguised as a guy, Charlie, Viola auditions to become "The Apocalypse’s” fourth member (Somethin's Happenin (Baby! Baby!)). She is successful and joins the group, thanks to winning over their 30-year-old manager, Orson.

Meanwhile, recovering in hospital from his shipwreck ordeal, Sebastian grieves his sister's death in the shipwreck (Come Away, Death). Realising he'll have to move forward on his own, he goes in search of a job and a mysterious stranger gives him a business-card with a job offer. He meets up with Orson, who mistakes Sebastian for his twin, Viola/Charlie and confirms his appointment as the new member of "The Apocalypse". Sebastian is too thrilled at getting a job to worry his new manager can't get his name right (I'm On My Way To the Top).

Orson is in love with Olivia, the 30-year-old owner of the nightclub where “The Apocalypse” is the star act. She doesn't want to see him so he asks "Charlie" to deliver a love letter to Olivia. Viola realises that she also is falling in love with Orson (She Never Told Her Love). Inspired by her own situation, Viola advises Orson on how he should win Olivia (Be Gentle). Unfortunately, Olivia falls for Orson's messenger(s), not realising the second “Charlie”, who likes her, isn't the first, who didn't.

While the mixed-up couples continue their ever-changing yet confusing relationships, "The Apocalypse" set about rehearsals with their newest member (The Apocalypse Fugue), Viola's confusion continues (What Do I Know) and friendships grow (The Now Generation). As the confusion builds, the younger Sebastian acknowledges his growing love for the more mature Olivia (The Middle Years). Separately, Olivia also realises that she is falling in love with the younger messenger (The Middle Years (Reprise)). Meanwhile, Orson realises that he has identified unexplainable feelings for "Charlie" (Young and In Love). The confusion builds (Hunca Munca) resulting in an argument between Sebastian and Olivia, which they eventually settle (Don't Leave Me). Finally, the mix-ups are resolved. The twins are reunited. Viola gets Orson and Sebastian gets Olivia (Your Own Thing).

Productions

Off-Broadway

The original production opened on January 13, 1968, at the Off-Broadway Orpheum Theater. It closed on April 5, 1970, after 933 performances [3] before touring across the US and Canada. The original cast included Leland Palmer (Viola), Marian Mercer (Olivia), Tom Ligon (Orson), and Danny Apolinar (Danny) (who had co-written the music and lyrics). [5] [6] Marcia Rodd replaced Marian Mercer as Olivia a week after opening night [3] and appears on the Original Cast Recording. [7] During its run other replacement cast members included Sandy Duncan (Viola), Raúl Juliá (Orson) [3] and Bonnie Franklin (Viola). [8] The musical was directed by Donald Driver, with costumes by Albert Wolsky.

London

The London production opened on February 6, 1969, at the Comedy Theatre. It ran for 42 performances. [9] The cast included Leland Palmer, Danny Apolinar and John Kuhner from the original cast and Marcia Rodd, all who appear on the original cast recording. [7]

Australia

The Australian production opened in March 1969 at the Phillip Theatre, Sydney, and at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne in June 1969. The cast included Bryan Davies, Lynn Rogers, Bunny Gibson and Lois Ramsay. [10]

San Francisco

A successful run during the summer of 1968 to critical acclaim.

Critical response

Peter Filichia noted that "The score's strength are its soft-rock ballads.... Some of the uptempo numbers are pretty good, too....one of Your Own Thing's great charms was its use of then-brand-new slide projections, coupled with voice-overs." [11]

The New York Times noted in its obituary for Hester: "A New York Times review by Clive Barnes called the musical 'cheerful, joyful and blissfully irreverent to Shakespeare and everything else....The humor of the show is light-fingered and lighthearted, and its vitality and charm are terrific. The music is always engaging.' " [1] [12]

Thomas S. Hischak (professor of theatre at the State University of New York College at Cortland and author) wrote that "As cockeyed as the adaption was, with Shakespeare's Illyria now a gleaming steel Manhattan, the unpretentious show was a delight from start to finish." [5]

Awards

Recordings

Related Research Articles

<i>Hello, Dolly!</i> (musical) 1964 Broadway musical

Hello, Dolly! is a 1964 musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955. The musical follows the story of Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker, as she travels to Yonkers, New York, to find a match for the miserly "well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder.

<i>Grease</i> (musical) 1971 musical

Grease is a musical with music, lyrics, and a book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, with additional songs by John Farrar. Named after the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as greasers, the musical is set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School and follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of peer pressure, politics, personal core values, and love.

<i>Youre a Good Man, Charlie Brown</i> Musical comedy based on Charles Schulzs Peanuts

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and Andrew Lippa. It is based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts. The musical has been a popular choice for amateur theatre productions because of its small cast and simple staging.

<i>Twelfth Night</i> Play by William Shakespeare

Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who in turn is in love with Countess Olivia. Upon meeting Viola, Countess Olivia falls in love with her thinking she is a man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Lapine</span> American stage director and librettist

James Elliot Lapine is an American stage director, playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. He has won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical three times, for Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Passion. He has frequently collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and William Finn.

<i>Dames at Sea</i> 1966 American musical parody

Dames at Sea is a 1966 musical with book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by Jim Wise.

<i>Shes the Man</i> 2006 romantic comedy sports film by Andy Fickman

She's the Man is a 2006 American romantic comedy teen sports film directed by Andy Fickman and starring Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey, Vinnie Jones, and David Cross. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, the film centers on teenager Viola Hastings, who enters her brother's new boarding school, Illyria Prep, in his place and pretends to be a boy in order to play on the boys' soccer team.

Leland Palmer is an American actress, dancer, and singer who has appeared on stage, in motion pictures, and on television. She appeared on Broadway in Bajour (1964), A Joyful Noise (1966) Hello, Dolly!, Applause, and Pippin (1972). Palmer received two Tony Award nominations: in 1967 for featured actress in a musical, and in 1973 for actress in a musical.

<i>The Magic Show</i>

The Magic Show is a one-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Bob Randall. It starred magician Doug Henning. Produced by Edgar Lansbury, Joseph Beruh, and Ivan Reitman, it opened on May 28, 1974 at the Cort Theatre in Manhattan, and ran for 1,920 performances, closing on December 31, 1978. Henning was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and director Grover Dale was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feste</span> Character in Twelfth Night

Feste is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. He is a fool attached to the household of the Countess Olivia. He has apparently been there for some time, as he was a "fool that the Lady Olivia's father took much delight in" (2.4). Although Olivia's father has died within the last year, it is possible that Feste approaches or has reached middle age, though he still has the wit to carry off good 'fooling' when he needs to, and the voice to sing lustily or mournfully as the occasion demands. He is referred to by name only once during the play, in answer to an inquiry by Orsino of who sang a song that he heard the previous evening. Curio responds "Feste, the jester, my lord; a fool that the lady Olivia's father took much delight in. He is about the house" (2.4). Throughout the rest of the play, he is addressed only as "Fool," while in the stage directions he is mentioned as "Clown."

<i>Two Gentlemen of Verona</i> (musical) 1971 Rock musical

Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name.

Elena Shaddow is an American singer and actress. She is originally from Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

<i>Twelfth Night</i> (1996 film) 1996 film by Trevor Nunn

Twelfth Night is a 1996 romantic comedy film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, directed by Trevor Nunn and featuring an all-star cast. Set in the late 19th century, it was filmed on location in Cornwall, including scenes shot at Padstow and at Lanhydrock House near Bodmin, with Orsino and his followers wearing uniforms that evoke the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Orsino (<i>Twelfth Night</i>) Character in Twelfth Night

Duke Orsino is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600-1602.

Viola (<i>Twelfth Night</i>) Character in Twelfth Night

Viola is the protagonist of the play Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare.

Music Is is a musical with a book by George Abbott, music by Richard Adler, and lyrics by Will Holt. It is the second musical adaptation of the William Shakespeare play Twelfth Night, following Your Own Thing in 1968.

Olivia (<i>Twelfth Night</i>) Character in Twelfth Night

Olivia is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601. She is at the centre of the various plots, both the comedic and the romantic. She has various suitors.

<i>Illyria</i> (musical)

Illyria is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Peter Mills, based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written in 2002. Illyria is a traditional adaption of Twelfth Night, but features a more contemporary score.

Sebastian (<i>Twelfth Night</i>) Character in Twelfth Night

Sebastian is one of the main characters from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Ligon</span>

Thomas Ligon is an actor of Cajun ancestry. He appeared in the films Paint Your Wagon, Jump, and Bang the Drum Slowly as well as the television series The Young and the Restless, and Oz.

References

  1. 1 2 Lambert, Bruce."Hal Hester, 63; Helped to Write A Rock Musical" New York Times, September 24, 1992
  2. Billboard obituary (Lifelines) 1995. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1995-04-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Your Own Thing lortel.org, accessed January 13, 2016
  4. Your Own Thing Productions" broadwayworld.com, accessed January 13, 2016
  5. 1 2 Hischak, Thomas S., "The 1960s", Off-Broadway Musicals Since 1919: From Greenwich Village Follies to The Toxic Avenger, p. 109. Scarecrow Press (2011), ISBN   0810877724, retrieved September 17, 2011.
  6. Your Own Thing tamswitmark.com, accessed January 13, 2016
  7. 1 2 3 "Your Own Thing Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording" MasterworksBroadway.com, accessed January 13, 2016
  8. "Bonnie Franklin Credits" ovrtur.com, accessed January 13, 2016
  9. Wright, Adrian. "1969" West End Broadway: The Golden Age of the American Musical in London, Boydell Press, 2012, ISBN   1843837919, p. 259
  10. "Danny Apolinar" ausstage.edu.au, accessed January 13, 2016
  11. Filichia, Peter. "STAGESTRUCK by Peter Filichia: Don't Forget 'Your Own Thing'" playbill.com, August 5, 1998
  12. Barnes, Clive. "Theater: A Rocking 'Twelfth Night': ' Your Own Thing' Is Blissfully Irreverent", The New York Times, January 15, 1968, p. 33, ISSN   0362-4331
  13. "Danny Apolinar, 61; Wrote Rock Musical", New York Times, March 27, 1995
  14. "Drama Desk Awards, 1968" awardsandwinners.com, accessed January 13, 2016
  15. "Donald Driver Awards" playbillvault.com, accessed January 13, 2016