The Goodbye Girl (musical)
Music Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics David Zippel
Book Neil Simon
Basis The Goodbye Girl
film by Neil Simon
Productions 1993 Broadway
1997 West End
The Goodbye Girl is a musical with a book by Neil Simon, lyrics by David Zippel, and music by Marvin Hamlisch, based on Simon’s original screenplay for the 1977 film of the same name.
The Goodbye Girl opened in out-of-town tryouts at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago, from December 29, 1992 to January 30, 1993. The director, Gene Saks, was fired during the Chicago try outs and replaced by Michael Kidd. During the run, producers created a new opening song for Bernadette Peters as Paula and Tammy Minoff as her daughter Lucy. “An exuberant song about their hoped-for move to California from New York City, it’s meant to help Paula lighten up; in the first act, she has been perceived as a drip.” Ticket sales were “brisk” for the Chicago run and the musical had a $10 million advance for Broadway.
Broadway
The musical, directed by Michael Kidd and choreographed by Graciela Daniele, opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on March 4, 1993 and closed on August 15, 1993, after 188 performances and 23 previews. The opening cast included Bernadette Peters as Paula McFadden and Martin Short as Elliot Garfield, with Carol Woods as Mrs. Crosby, Susann Fletcher as Donna Douglas, Tammy Minoff as Lucy, Lisa Molina as Melanie and Erin Torpey as Cynthia. This musical marked Martin Short’s Broadway debut.
Plot
Egotistical actor Elliot Garfield sublets a friend’s Manhattan apartment only to discover it is still occupied by his friend’s ex-girlfriend Paula, a former dancer, and her precocious pre-teen daughter Lucy. Initially suspicious and antagonistic, Elliot and Paula arrive at an uneasy truce. Paula, fed up with being hurt by boyfriend-actors, rashly vows never to become involved again (“No More”), while Elliot sets down the rules for the living arrangements (“My Rules”). Paula decides to return to work as a dancer, but during dance class finds it difficult (“A Beat Behind”).
While attempting to cohabit as peacefully as possible, despite their differences of opinion and temperament, Elliot and Paula find themselves attracted to each other (“Paula (An Improvised Love Song)”). Although Elliot finds a job out-of-town, Paula realizes that this is the true love she has been seeking, and they reach a happy ending (“What a Guy”)
Recordings
Original cast recordings for both the Broadway and West End productions have been released. In his review of the London cast recording, Ken Mandelbaum noted that “The London Goodbye Girl is perhaps the sharpest example to date of an unnecessary revision. The skimpier new score isn’t bad, but in no way does it improve upon what was there (the loss of all three of Peters’ solos is particularly inexplicable).”[9]
Songs
Act I
This Is as Good as It Gets – Paula and Lucy
No More – Paula
A Beat Behind – Paula, Billy and Ensemble
This Is as Good as It Gets (Reprise)– Lucy, Melanie and Cynthia
My Rules – Elliot and Paula
Good News, Bad News – Elliot, Paula and Lucy
Footsteps – Paula and Lucy
How Can I Win? – Paula
Richard Interred – Elliot, Paula, Lucy, Mark, Mrs. Crosby, Donna and Ensemble
Act II
How Can I Win? (Reprise) – Paula
Good News, Bad News (Reprise) – Elliot
Too Good to Be Bad – Paula, Donna and Jenna
2 Good 2 Be Bad – Mrs. Crosby
Who Would’ve Thought? – Paula, Elliot, Lucy, Melanie and Cynthia
Paula (An Improvised Love Song) – Elliot and Paula
Who Would’ve Thought? (Reprise) – Lucy, Melanie and Cynthia
I Think I Can Play This Part – Elliot
Jump for Joy – Paula and Ensemble
What a Guy – Paula
Finale – Paula, Elliot and Lucy
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