WALKING HAPPY A Musical in 2 acts, 17 scenes: Book by Roger O. Hirson and Ketti Frings, based on the play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse; Music by James Van Heusen, Lyrics by Sammy Cahn Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - 26 November, 1966 (161 perfs) THE STORY The curtain rises on Moonraker's, a pub in the thriving industrial town of Salford, England, in the middle of Lancashire. The men of Salford gather at Moonraker's, merchants as well as mill workers. One of those merchants is Henry Hobson, who runs the town's most successful boot shop. The widowed Hobson has three daughters, two of them - Alice and Vickie - ready for the altar. Hobson is perfectly willing for his oldest daughter Maggie to remain unmarried, because she runs his business so well. The friendly hubbub in Moonraker's is shattered with the arrival of George Beenstock, doyen of the local temperance league. He encourages the men to abstain, but Hobson turns Beenstock's plea into a celebration of the bottle. Ironically, Hobson's two younger daughters are in love with Beenstock's two sons, Albert and Freddie. Back at the shop, the young couples flirt until the sensible Maggie arrives and scares young Freddie Beenstock into buying a new pair of boots. After they leave, Hobson arrives and makes noises about getting Alice and Vickie married. He cruelly tells Maggie that her chances, more or less, have passed her by. When he leaves her alone, Maggie wonders why this has to be. One of the shop's leading customers, Mrs. Hepworth, enters the shop demanding to know who made the boots she recently bought. Up from the floor, through a trapdoor to the shop in the cellar, pops the head of Will Mossop. Instead of rebuking him, Mrs. Hepworth compliments his work and insists that, from now on, he make all her boots. Maggie instantly sees an answer to her lovesick question: with her mind and Will's gifted hands, how could a match between them fail? She summons him and informs him that he's her man. Reeling from this news, Will seeks out his partner in the workshop, Tubby Wadlow, and asks for some advice on how to go about courting Maggie. In the midst of a raucous evening at Moonraker's, Hobson is appalled to learn that his daughters want to marry Beenstock's sons. Someone reminds him that Beenstock owns the large local grain warehouse, and Hobson suddenly becomes a philosopher - principle, he says, must never stand in the way of profit. He makes a deal with Beenstock, who is pleased to learn that the shoe merchant is at least considering sobriety. Their children will marry. Will and Maggie talk about their relationship in a nearby park. Will doesn't understand how Maggie could marry him since he doesn't love her. There's also the matter of his engagement to a working-class featherbrain named Ada Figgins, whose mother is determined to see the marriage happen. When Maggie tries to force the issue, the Figginses and their neighbours force Will to participate in a traditional premarital dance. Maggie breaks up the ritual, though, and insists that Will must marry her. Back at the shop, Will tries to understand this whole crazy situation. Hobson is livid when he learns the terms of the dowry he's expected to provide for Alice and Vickie. The girls are terrified now and, as usual, seek advice and solace from Maggie. Will arrives, and Maggie insists that he inform Hobson of his intentions ... though Maggie, of course, will do most of the talking. The already angry merchant is enraged by Will's gall and begins to beat him. But Will stands up to him, shocking everyone by telling him that not only will he marry Maggie but they will open their own shop. When everyone leaves him and Maggie alone in the panic that follows, he passes out at her feet. As Act II begins, Will and Maggie have gone to Mrs. Hepworth's to ask for a loan to set up their business. Mrs. Hepworth is unsure about their plan until Maggie explains it. What seals it is Maggie's assurance that she'll put some fire into Will. They rent a little shop and prepare to go into business. Maggie still worries
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