The Most Happy Fella (2000 Studio Cast)
TodayThe Most Happy Fellamay not be as well known asGuys and DollsorHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, but with this lavishly imagined "musical musical"Frank Loesserleft us one of the finer nuggets from the golden age of 1950s musical theater. Its story line may not have dated so well, but the show's many-leveled examination of the nature of love and bonding is timeless. Tony is a rich, aging Italian vintner who dupes the object of his affections--the beautiful young Rosabella--into marrying him. And despite Tony's initial deceit, Rosabella eventually does fall in love with him, but not before a sudden romance with Tony's handsome worker Joe leaves her pregnant. As in Mozart'sMarriage of Figaro, complications are swept away through the healing power of forgiveness, and the musical ends in the truly classic sense of comedy.For this installment in itsOriginal Masterworks Editionsseries, JAY Records has pulled out all the stops. This CD presents the first complete recording ofMost Happy Fellaand includes not only an illustrated booklet with notes but a separate full libretto (also published for the first time): a completist's dream even if you already own the1956 OBC recordingor the fine1992 revival(economically scaled down for two pianos). There is a considerable amount of underscored dialogue, so listening to the three CDs here really is like a night out, encouraging you to produce the show in the theater of your mind; six bonus tracks make the picture even fuller.The Most Happy Fellais often described as on the "operatic" spectrum of musical comedy, and this applies as much to the lushly orchestrated, harmonically dense fabric of Loesser's score (intricately performed by London's National Symphony Orchestra) as to the big, juicy vibrato of its vocal style. Completed just before his sudden death, Louis Quilico's performance as the titular lead is warm and big-hearted, full of personality but able to blend in the show's wonderful assembly of ensemble numbers. Loesser's widowJo Sullivan Loesser(the original Rosabella) makes a special cameo appearance, while daughterEmily Loesserbrings to her own Rosabella enough fire and sexual chemistry withRichard Muenz's Joe to help counterbalance the character's sentimental passivity. Love of detail makes many of the smaller roles--such as Tony's sister Marie (played by Nancy Shade)--particularly vivid. It's a rich package for lovers of vintage musical theater.--Thomas May