NO STRINGS A Musical in 2 Acts. Music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers, book by Samuel Taylor Directed and choreograhphed by Joe Layton. Settings and lighting by David Hays. Costumes by Fred Voelpel and Donald Brooks. Musical direction and dance arrangements, Peter Matz. Orchestrations by Ralph Burns. Associate choregrapher, Buddy Schwab. Production supervisor, Jerome Whyte. Assistant conductor, Milton Greene. Produced by Richard Rodgers in association with Samuel Taylor. Opened 15 March 1962 at the 54th Street Theatre, moved 1 October 1962 to the Broadhurst Theatre and closed 3 August 1963 (580 perfs) Her Majesty's Theatre, London - 30 December, 1963 SYNOPSIS No Strings is the bitter-sweet tale of Barbara, an American black model living in Paris. She meets and fails in love with a white American, David, a former Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who has had a bad case of writer's block ever since he came to live in France. She tries to restore his confidence in his writing ability, but the easy living he earns in Paris proves too much of a distraction. Realising that he can only work if he returns home to Maine, he asks her to go with him, but they discover that it would never work out . . . and they part with no strings attached. Songs include "The Sweetest Sounds", "No Strings" and "Nobody Told Me". STORY David is a successful, one-novel author bumming around Europe in search of material for his second work - or so he tells himself. At a friend's photography studio in Paris he meets fellow American Barbara, a top fashion model. They become attracted to each other. As they stroll to Barbara's apartment, they are like young university students discovering a new philosophy of life. In an abrupt turn, Barbara cautions David not to see her again and bids him goodbye. The reason is Louis de Pourtal, her wealthy patron who awaits inside. Louis outlines the evening's gaiety as Barbara dresses. She hears little as her thoughts keep returning to David. In the meantime, David has been drawn to Nice by Mike Robinson and his hard-living travelling companion, Comfort O'Connell. He is relieved by the diversion, but later back in Paris is upset to discover Barbara with Louis. He manages to get Barbara alone, confesses his love, and demands she stop seeing Louis. He has no right to make such demands, and she lets him know it. David flees in anger and disappointment. Later that evening David goes to Barbara's apartment and finds her alone. Their inner feelings concur and they are inseparable. They travel to Honfleur where Barbara hopes to inspire David to begin work on his next book. The romance flourishes, but progress on the novel is nil. David's thoughts are of the parties in Deauville. When Barbara pushes the issue he takes off to join friends. Barbara returns to Louis in Paris. During his fling at Deauville, David realises the rut his life is in. He returns to Paris, finds Barbara, and pleads for another try. She persuades him to return to the US and write. He wants her to return with him, but her life is in Paris. As they part, David promises to make good on her hopes for him and return to her with reason to be accepted.
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