The myth that the authors wanted it known as "A Musical Fable"
Posted by: AlanScott 03:09 pm EST 12/25/24
In reply to: re: Gypsy canceled again, do I lose my discount? - MockingbirdGirl 01:22 pm EST 12/25/24

At the risk of being repetitious, the authors never wanted it called a "a musical fable." That was there during the Phiadelphia tryout, but was gone from playbills and the souvenir program and advertising before opening night on Broadway. Instead, under the title, it said "a new musical." "A musical fable" was on the cast album because the jackets were printed or at least designed while the show was in Philly, and it was on the sheet music because that was almost surely printed before the first performance in Philly.

It wasn't in playbills for the first national tour. The second national tour, not produced by Merrick and Hayward (and it seems to have been a bit shabby), for some reason had "The Musical Fable."

The hardover Random House publication of the script in 1960 had, simply, "A Musical," as did the 1994 TCG publications of a somewhat revised script.

"A Musical Fable" was there for the Lansbury production, but has not been there for any of the later Broadway revivals, including, as far as I can tell, the current one.

The only reason it was ever there in the first place was because June Havoc made legal threats. Merrick, who was a lawyer, said that Havoc could do nothing if they changed the name of the character, which they did. In Philadelphia, June was Claire. And for extra measure, the show was "a musical fable." Once an agreement was reached with Havoc, June was June again, and "a musical fable" was gone.

I don't know why it was back for the Lansbury production. Perhaps Havoc made legal threats again, although that seems unlikely. It's a mystery.

But it seems quite clear that the authors didn't want it there. It is on a page on the Concord site, but my impression is that you could fit the collective theatrical knowledge of the people at Concord on p pain and still have room for an angel or two to dance.
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