‘Lucky Stiff’ comedy about inheriting millions

Man must take dead uncle on ‘final’ vacation

By: Sue Kramer
   NEW HOPE — "Lucky Stiff," this year’s New Hope-Solebury Middle School production, was written by Lynn Ahrens and Steven Flaherty.
   It was the first production for the two, who are noted for "Once on This Island," the musical hit "Ragtime" and the animated Disney feature "Anastasia."
   The musical comedy originally opened at the Playwright’s Horizons in New York April 26, 1988. It earned the Richard Rogers Production Award that year and went on to win the Helen Hayes Award for best musical in 1990.
   Based on the novel, "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" by Michael Butterworth, "Lucky Stiff" opens with the untimely death of Anthony Hendon, an American casino manager and mobster. His will is simple — he leaves his estate, $6 million in diamonds, to his nephew, a hapless, inept British shoe salesman named Harry Witherspoon.
   There’s only one condition: Harry must take Uncle Anthony’s body on one final vacation to Monte Carlo or the money will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn.
   With more than just a few misgivings, Harry takes Uncle Anthony, some tape-recorded "vacation" instructions and a mysterious heart-shaped box and sets off for Monte Carlo.
   The plot thickens when Rita LaPorta, Uncle Anthony’s girlfriend, and the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn learn of the will. Rita, who along with Uncle Anthony, embezzled $6 million from her husband, thinks the diamonds should rightfully be hers, and the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn, which will inherit everything if Harry fails, will stop at nothing to get its hands on the money.
   Rita, determined to get back the money she and Uncle Anthony embezzled, drags her optometrist brother, Vinnie, whom she has framed for the theft, off to Monte Carlo in pursuit of Harry and Uncle Anthony. Joining them is upright, dog-loving Annabelle Glick of the Universal Dog Home who joins them to make sure Harry lives up to all the stipulations of the will.
   As Harry tries to follow the instructions on the tape, which includes taking Uncle Anthony sky diving and snorkeling, the play moves toward an ending with more than just a twist.
   True to the comedic nature of the show, the "supporting cast" members of "Lucky Stiff" turn out to be a multitude of dancing and misbehaving "dogs" in every shape and size imaginable.
   The song lyrics and dialogue of the original play have been edited by the local directors for this middle school adaptation of "Lucky Stiff." One scene of the original play, which was also deemed not appropriate for middle school students, was cut entirely from the play, but nothing is lost in this hilarious production.
   "I really love the music in this show," English teacher and director Melanie Pittner said. "It’s sparkling and melodic. You have to live with a show like this for a long time. I never get tired of it."
   Eighth-grader Erica Templeton is the student director for "Lucky Stiff." This is the 14-year-old’s first directing job, one she says she thought "would just be fun — very fun."
   The rewards, she said, are "when it all comes together, and you see what a good job everyone’s done."
   "I think it’ll be a great show," she added. "Come and see it."
   Middle school Principal Joy Kurtz said, "It is so exciting to see the dedication and contagious enthusiasm of this talented group of students as they perform this hilarious new musical. We are thrilled to share this fun performance with our school district and the surrounding communities."