The Long Life of Daddy Long Legs
The letters of a spirited orphan to her mysterious benefactor are sung in this endearing musical version of Jean Webster’s novel.
In 2017, millions of people will express themselves through writing, whether it’s just a tweet, Facebook post, or other social media message. But a hundred years ago, writing actual letters was a mainstay of communication.
The story in Daddy Long Legs is told through letters written by Miss Jerusha Abbott, but the thoughts, feelings, and discoveries usually conveyed by pen and paper are sung in this charming musical.
Although the time period of Daddy Long Legs is 1908 – 1912, what you’ll hear are beautifully simple, affecting contemporary melodies arranged for guitar, cello, and piano. The show’s music director (and also its pianist) is the gifted F. Wade Russo, conductor of many Public Theater musicals, including Guys & Dolls, My Fair Lady, and 1776.
We meet spirited Jerusha when she’s 18 and the oldest resident of a New England orphanage. Her future looks bleak until a wealthy benefactor, Jervis Pendleton, decides to send Jerusha to college. While Jervis’ one request is that she write him a monthly letter, he wishes to remain anonymous. She is told his name is John Smith, and that she should never expect a response to her letters.
Jerusha catches only a glimpse of him as he walks away from the orphanage. Since he appears to be tall and thin, she starts to think of this aged philanthropist as Daddy Long Legs. But the audience knows something that Jerusha doesn’t: Jervis is a young and handsome man.
Sung by both characters – as she’s composing and he’s reading her letters – the libretto and score detail the orphan’s awakening. Jerusha makes friends, and also becomes acquainted with snooty Julia Rutledge Pendleton, who turns out to be Jervis’ niece. Through Julia, Daddy Long Legs secretly enters Jerusha’s world. An attraction sparks between the budding college girl and her classmate’s uncle.
As her education progresses, Jerusha begins to imagine the woman she could become. She learns about literature, starts writing a novel, attends a cotillion, sees Manhattan for the first time, and visits a farm. Her coming of age also leads to independent ideas about religion, the social issues of the day, and politics. She passionately believes that women should have the right to vote.
The musical Daddy Long Legs is based on a book by the same name, published in 1912. Its author is Jean Webster, whose life was as dramatic as any fictional character.
Webster was the grand-niece of Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. Her father, Charles L. Webster, partnered with Twain to publish his brilliant work, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But the company’s success didn’t last and Charles became depressed and ill. He died at age 39 while his daughter was still a teenager.
Jean was raised by a strong matriarchy: her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were all activists working for causes such as racial equality and women’s suffrage. Jean attended Vassar College, class of 1901, where she continued the family’s commitment to social issues. Her special passion was helping delinquent and destitute children.
Jean also flourished as a novelist, with Daddy Long Legs becoming the most acclaimed of her eight books. Popular from the start, she also adapted the novel for the stage. It ran for almost a year at the Gaiety Theatre on Broadway, starring Ruth Chatterton, and toured throughout the United States. Daddy Long Legs dolls were sold at these performances with the proceeds benefitting adoption and orphanage reform.
Jean’s romantic life did not go as smoothly as her career. For years she was in love with a married man whose wife had mental problems. When a divorce was finally obtained, he and Jean married and shortly after she became pregnant. Tragically, she died of complications from childbirth at age 39.
Her beloved Daddy Long Legs, however, continued to resonate with artists and audiences. In 1919 Mary Pickford starred in a silent film version, and Janet Gaynor was featured in a 1931 “talkie.” It was also the basis on the 1935 Shirley Temple movie, Curly Top. In 1952 it was turned into a British musical called Love from Judy. Perhaps most familiar is the the 1955 movie musical comedy, Daddy Long Legs, starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. The hit film is loosely based on Webster’s work. International adaptations have also been done in Japan, Korea, and India, among other countries.
With its wit and warmth, Daddy Long Legs has been touching hearts for more than 100 years. Ted Pappas’ new production is guaranteed to continue the tradition.