Irma: She's Got The Lot!

Irma La Douce began life as a play, written by Marguerite Monnot and Alexandre Breffort...in Paris! Which is pretty appropriate, as it was set in that city's red light district, Pigalle. Prostitutes, love affairs with prostitutes, Paris, all perfect fodder for a musical. I guess the only reason Bob Fosse wasn't involved as it started in France, swam the channel to great success in London (where it played for over 2 years), BEFORE coming to Broadway (yes, thanks as usual for the time period, David Merrick). Some of the UK cast came with it, including Elisabeth (with an Z) Seal, Keith Michell (without a T), and Clive (soon-to-be Fagin) Revill.

 

It opened on Broadway on September 29, 1960.

American cast members included Fred Gywnne and Stuart Damon.

Keith Michell was an Australian actor, with most of his work accomplished in the UK: Shakespeare, British television and musicals, and just a bit of this-side-of-the-pond stuff.

Elizabeth Seal also worked primarily in the UK, making her professional debut, as a dancer, at the age of 17. Prior to Irma, she'd done The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, both in London. Merrick saw her playing Irma in the English production and he was wowed. Elizabeth won a Best Actress In A Musical Tony when she headlined state-side as Irma (yes, beating out Julie Andrews in Camelot, Carol Channing in Showgirl, and Nancy Walker in Do Re Mi!). She is presently 87 years old.

Can you imagine Clive Revill as an accountant? Of course you can...I mean "You've Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two", right? He originally trained in that career back in his New Zealand days, but the stage called and he picked up! He moved kit and kaboodle to London in 1950, where he studied at the Old Vic. Shakespeare was his game for many years, and then went on to Irma, Toad Of Toad Hall, Marat/Sade, Oliver! (and a Tony nod), Drood, and tons of voice overs. And he is alive and (pretty) well at the age of 90.

 

The show ran for just over a year.

Direction: Peter Brook.... Choreography: Onna White

Also in the cast, George S. Irving!

A Life Magazine review called the show

 "a French fairy tale for wicked grown-ups who want to believe in love" and that "Elizabeth Seal is an ideal Irma, tender, breezy, and totally implausible as a bad girl...the season's new favorite."