I went to see Daniel Radcliffe in his final days at How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! For those of you who don't know what it is about, here's the story:
It's 1961, and America is full of optimism and ambition, exploring New Frontiers, and reaching for the stars. We discover our hero dangling from window washer's ropes outside the headquarters of the World Wide Wicket Company, the largest single producer of wickets in the world. Our young hero's name? It's Finch! F-I-N-C-H. Young Finch is determined to rise quickly to the top of the corporate ladder armed with little more than his wits, a healthy dose of pluck, and that dandy guidebook to corporate climbing, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
"Dear Reader..." exhorts our narrator from the pages of the book. "I can!" exclaims Finch, and so his journey begins amidst the swirling executives and secretaries of World Wide Wickets ("How to Succeed").
Finch, now stripped of his window washer's coveralls and dressed nattily in a seersucker suit, bumps (literally) into bombastic blowhard and President of World Wide Wickets, J.B. Biggley. "Damn damn coalburning dithering ding ding ding, " shouts Biggley, taking no heed of our job-seeking hero. But Finch is not discouraged ; he is prepared for exactly this sort of thing. Off he goes to find Bert Bratt, Director of Personnel. Based on Finch's carefully truthful yet uncomplete retelling of his encounter with Biggley, Bratt offers Finch a starting position in the World Wide Wicket mailroom.
Bratt's secretary, Smitty, is suspicious of Finch's bold ambition, but her friend and fellow secretary Rosemary Pilkington sees only his noble courage and deep-down helplessness. Plus, he is a perfect fit for her own plan! ("Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm")
"Coffee Break!" Bud Frump, spoiled brat nephew to J.B. Biggley and Finch's soon-to-be nemesis, nanages to get the very last cup from the office coffee machine. Smitty and the other office workers desperately attempt to wrestle it from him.
Meanwhile our hero, J.Pierrepont Finch- call him Ponty- has traded in his seersucker suit for a mailroom apron. He seems to have an inborn gift for mail-roomery. He catches the eye of Mr.Twimble, head of the mailroom, who shares with Finch his secret to long employment ("The Company Way"). In fact, today is the day that Twimble is being promoted to the Shipping Department, and he selects Finch as his successor. But Finch declines and turns the job over to Bud. Bud reassures Twimble that he, too, will play it "The Company Way- Reprise".
Finch's generosity, thoughtfulness and ethical behavior pay off and he is promoted to junior executive under Mr.Gatch, Head of Plans and Systems, Interdepartmental Evaluation, Pre-promotional Promotion, Post- Administrative Research, and Multiple Development on a Mutli-level Level. Rosemary is thrilled at Finch's quick climb up the corporate ladder, and even though Finch reneges on their planned lunch date, she confirms that Finch is the right man for her plan ("Rosemary's Philosophy").
Meanwhile J.B. has prevailed upon Mr.Bratt to hire Miss Hedy La Rue. She used to be head cigarette girl at the Copa, but then Mr.Biggley got her interested in Wickets and, well, here she is! ("Entrance of Hedy La Rue"). Every executive begs to have Miss La Rue assigned to hyim but Mr. Bratt reminds them that "A Secretary is Not a Toy".
5 p.m. and everyone is heading home. Finch finds himself sharing an increaslingly crowded elevator with Rosemary and Smitty ("Been a Long Day"). While waiting for the elevator with Biggley, Hedy exprexxes frustration with her new job. Bud, overhearing the conversation, realizes that he's found the perfect way to get a promotion: blackmail! ("Been a Long Day- Reprise")
By this point, the eager and fast-rising Finch has even charmed Miss Jones, Mr.Biggley's notoriously steely secretary. Their little talks have proven valuable.
The next morning, Biggley enters to find Finch fast asleep on a desk. It appears that Finch was there working all night. And what is Finch humming? Is it the Old Ivy fight song? Did Finch go there? Is he a Groundhog, too? Never mind... today's the big game and the Groundhogs are playing their arch-rivals, the Chipmunks. Biggley leads Finch in the school song, replete with a reverie of football days of yore ("Grand Old Ivy"). Finch then pulls out knitting needles and Biggley is dumbstruck: Finch knits? "I knit too!" exclaims Biggley.
Biggley sees to it that Finch gets his own office. A secretary has been ordered to be assigned to him...none other than the stenographically-challenged Hedy La Rue.
Finch asks Hedy to deliver a letter to Mr.Gatch. Personally. Gatch is reather taken with Hedy's assets and as a result finds himself transferred to one of World Wide Wickets' out of town offices... Venezuela. And Finch? Why, he's running Plans and Systems now!
There's a new Vice President of Advertising by the name of Ovington. They're giving him a reception tonight and inviting some of the executive secretaries to act as hostesses. Ponty will be there, too, and Rosemary has the answer to how to succeed with Finch: a new dress ("Paris Original").
It seems Hedy's had one martini too many at the party, so Biggley asks Bud to escort her home. Instead she convinces Bud to allow her to go to Biggley's office--he has a private shower. Bud seizes his chance! He sends her off to the shower, then, under false pretenses, sends Finch off to Biggley's office in hopes of catching Finch and Hedy together.
Alone in Biggley's office, Hedy indeed has her eye on Finch. He's going places! With irrefutible logic, she tells Finch, "If you don't kiss me, I'll tell J.B. you did". He complies and as soon as their lips meet, Finch hears the most beautiful sound he's ever heard: "Rosemary". Finch is in love!
Rosemary has overheard at the party that Finch and Hedy are alone together and she runs in, expecting the worst. Instead, Finch proposes to her and she hears music ,too. But when the freshly-showered Hedy emerges, dressed only in a towel, Rosemary becomes angry and confused.
Biggley enters in a dither with a near-triumphant Frump to find Finch in a clinch... with Rosemary. Where's Hedy? Now, Bud is confused. Biggley is apologetic but still insists un regard to the kiss, "I don't approve of that sort of thing between executives and their secretaries." "But Miss Pilkington is not my secretary," retorts Finch. "Good point!" exclaims a relieved Biggley.
Bratt and Ovington enter. Finch lets on that Ovington is ,in fact, a Chipmunk. Biggley demands Ovington's resignation and subsequently offers the position to Finch. "Me, a Vice President!" exalts Finch. Frump faints.
That means that Rosemary is now Finch's secretary, so kissing is striclty forbidden. After all, when a man wants to rise in the world of business, an emotional involvement can only lead to..... becoming involved emotionally. Therefore, Finch's attention turns to more pressing matters, such as having his name painted on his office door. The curtain falls with Finch dreaming. Frump scheming and Rosemary trying to make sense of it all. ("Act One Finale")
Act Two: Big Meeting today. Hopefully Ponty will have come up with something for his advertising presentation. But Rosemary is leaving. She left a letter of resignation on Finch's desk. She's humiliated, ignored, upset; Finch hasn't said ten words to her all week! Still , Smitty and the secretaries appeal to her to stay and give him one more chance ("Cinderella, Darling")
So Finch is now Vice PResident in full charge of Advertising. He has a presentation in a few littlw while-- I mean, it's soon-- and he needs a brilliant idea. Enter that no-good, back-biting fink, Bud Frump. Bud offers Ponty an idea for a TV give-away show: The World Wide Wicket Treasure Hunt.
Rosemary returns, and Finch reassures her that she will in fact be Mrs.Finch. Now, they can discuss more serious matters, such as the Treasure Hunt. What shall they give away? They'll give away the company-- I don't mean the whole company-- I mean stock in the company. What a prize! Finch rushes off to tell Biggley, and Rosemary basks in Ponty's glow, her plan intact ("Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm- Reprise")
Hedy enters Biggley's office to tender her resignation. She's leaving for Los Angeles. She's been offered a very suitable position in a big cosmetic firm out there. Biggley implores her to be patient ("Love From a Heart of Gold"). She agrees to give him 24 hours, and then it's Goodbye Wickets, Hello Dermoblast!
There sure is a lot of whispering going on around here. That's the sound of the executives gathering in the executive washroom to plot Finch's downfall. But Finch is already there--it's a close shave-- and he's singing a hymn of adoration and encouragement to the person who needs it most: himself ("I Believe In You")
Biggley and the executives assemble on the Boardroom to hear Finch's new approach to Wicket advertising. It's a television show that will give penetration and peak reaction. But what's the idea for the show? A Treasure Hunt! And there's a new twist: the World Wide Wicket Treasure Girl, who is none other that our very own Miss La Rue herself. "I like it!" exclaims Biggley, "I like it!" exclaims Bratt . "We like it!"exclaim the executives.
The World Wide Wicket Treasure Hunt: coming yo you on live television , and starting with a traditional "Pirate Dance". Next, Hedy will present the first clue. Will she swear on a Bible that she doesn't know where the treasure is hidden? Not to worry, only Finch and J.B. know where it's hidden. Right J.B.....? But Hedy will not swear false witness to perjury. She does know where the treasure is hidden. J.B. told her last night. There's treasure hidden in all the World Wide Wicket Buildings right now!
Diaster. Ten buildings wrecked. Their stock is down five point. They're the laughing stock of the industry. Someone's head has to roll. Rosemary finds Ponty among the wreckage of the World Wide Wicket headquartes and expresses her faith in him ("I Believe in You- Reprise ").
In the Boardroom, Biggley and the executives are explaining to Wally Womper. The Chairman of the Board, where the responsibility for the whole thing lies. Finch agrees to take the blame for what's happened and go back to what he was before he came gere: a window washer. "No kiddin'", says Womper, "I started as a window washer myself." Wally and Ponty become fast friends. Nonetheless, Wally is intent on figuring out where the real blame for this mess lies and starts looking for somebody to pin it on. The ever-resourceful Finch comes to the defense of his fellows, and everyone, even dour Miss Jones, is swept up as Finch leads a jubilant celebration of the "Brotherhood of Man"
Now World Wide Wickets is stronger then ever, and credit should go to a certain bright and very loyal young man: Finch. Bratt is now Vice President in charge of Employee Morale aand Psychological Adjustment. Biggley is still President, but it seems that Wally Womper is retiring as Chairmen of the Board to take a long honeymoon trip around the world with his new wife-- the former Miss Hedy La Rue. Who's going to be the new Chairmen of the Board? Finch will have to consult with Mrs.Finch before he accepts. Rosemary enters and tells him "Darling, I don't care if you're head of the mailroom or you're Chairmen of the Board or you're President of the United States, I love you." The ever-ambitious Finch smiles : "Say that again." "I love you." "No, before that." Biggley turns to his secretary: "Miss Jones, take a wire to the White House: Watch out!"
Everyone celebrates ("Finale- The Company Way") as the curtain falls-- oh, and isn't that Bud Frump up there dangling from window washer's ropes...?
In this musical, Daniel Radcliffe did a surprisingly good job playing J. Pierrepont Finch. His acting was spot on with the carmingly funny main character. His singing was enjoyable to listen too. He was not so great that he could go out and release a solo album or anything, but he was good. He dancing was good when he was alone or when he was with one other person, but when he was in a group of twenty other professonal dancers, his dancing was pathetic. Until the last number, Brotherhood of Man, he pulled out all of the stops, dancing his heart out, making the entire audience stand up and cheer. The surrporting cast was also incredibly talented. John Larroquette, who played J.B. Biggley, was amazing and he stole every scene he was in. In her Broadway debut, Rose Hemingway, who played Rosemary, did wonderfully with her beautiflul voice she captured her character perfectly. Overall this musical is a great addition to Broadway, and I encourage all of our readers to goo see Darren Criss who is in the show until January 22, and Nick Jonas who starts the show on January 24.
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