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*The Penny Friend*
The Penny Friend
Music	William Roy
Lyrics	William Roy
Book	William Roy
Basis	J.M. Barrie's A Kiss for Cinderella
Productions	1966 Off Broadway

The Penny Friend is a musical with music, lyrics, and book by William Roy based on a play by J. M. Barrie, A Kiss for Cinderella. It featured Bernadette Peters in her first Off-Broadway role. William Roy later worked with Peters as a writer, arranger and conductor for her nightclub act.^[1]

Production history

The Penny Friend opened off-Broadway at Stage 73 on December 26, 1966, and closed on January 22, 1967, after 32 performances. The director was Benno D. Frank, and musical numbers were staged by Lou Kristofer. The producer was Thomas Hammond (Bernadette Peters' manager).^[2]

Plot summary

The story involves a girl who thinks that she is Cinderella, and whose friends go along with her story. After talking about attending a ball, she actually appears to be at the ball. However, it is soon evident that her story is all fantasy. In reality Cinderella is lying unconscious in a snow bank. She is brought to a hospital where she dies.^[2]

Characters and cast

Cinderella -- Bernadette Peters
Mrs. Maloney—Georgia Creighton
Mr. McGill—Bill Drew
Kate Bodie—Charlotte Fairchild
Maudie—Terry Forman
George—Dewey Golkin
Lady—Sherill Price
Invite—Jimmy Rivers
Policeman -- Jamie Ross
Mr. Jennings—John Senger
Charles Bodie -- Michael Wager

References

^ Jones, Kenneth."William Roy, Songwriter and Pianist Who Collaborated With Julie Wilson, Dead at 75", playbill.com, September 4, 2003
^ ^a ^b Sullivan, Dan (December 27, 1966). "Theater: 'Penny Friend'". The New York Times. p. 46.