Daddy Long Legs
Off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre

Poor Jerusha Abbott (Megan McGinnis) is the oldest orphan in the  Grier Home and has no idea that her life is about to change forever when a mysterious long legged visitor (Paul Alexander Nolan) appears in this 2 character charming musical. The mystery man sees a promising future  for Jerusha and has decided to underwrite a first rate education for her with all expenses paid.  The generous gift comes with some conditions.  She must write, but he will never write back.  She must never ask questions, and should refer to him as Mr. John Smith. 

Jerusha starts school and holding up her side of the bargain begins writing letters to Mr. Smith, who she eventually starts referring to as Daddy Long Legs from the recollection of seeing his shadowy image the day he came to the home.  Jerusha writes of her academic life, and her dorm mates, sweet Sally McBride and snobby Julia Pendleton.  The letters continue but frustration builds in  never getting a response. She conjures up an image of Mr. Smith of that of an old man, bald perhaps.  What Jerusha does not know is that her benefactors true identity is actually Jarvis Pendleton, the handsome, young, somewhat eccentric uncle of her dorm mate Julia Pendleton.

Jarvis starts to feel emotions of guilt, and a growing attraction to this fascinating young lady from her colorful and compelling letters. He  plans a visit to the school under the guise of visiting his niece, but manages a lengthy encounter with Jerusha. Over the next several years he tries very hard to control Jersusha’s life with letters written by a made up secretary, but her social life keeps getting in the way.  The story becomes very complex as Jervis continues to visit and never reveals his true identity, even when obvious feelings have developed between them.   When Jervis and not Mr. Smith show up at her graduation Jerusha is devastated, but Jarvis still cannot reveal the secret.  

After Graduation,  Jarvis  appears again, but this time with a proposal of marriage.  Jersusha rejects him out of fear that a man of his affluence would surely reject her  once he learned of her poor upbringing.   She has no idea she has actually been writing to Jervis all along, and he knows everything…in fact, too much to untangle this daddy long legs from this web he has spun.

In addition to their impeccable acting, both  McGuinness and Nolan have strong and beautiful voices that bring this melodious and inspired score to life.   The set design (David Farley) along with Lighting Design (Paul Toben) make for a stunning series of bookcased walls with a hidden area within the bookshelves for projecting written words.  Old trunks move about the the stage to transform from seating areas, to bed to dresser and if you follow the bookcases to the top, you will find the musicians tucked atop the rows of literature.

This is a delightful musical that will warm your heart on a chilly fall evening.  The story is based on the novel The Secret of Happiness by Jean Webster.  Jean died in childbirth at the early age of 39, but her message is one worth repeating and that is  ‘the true secret to happiness is to live in the now.  Not to be forever regretting the past or anticipating the future, but to get the most that you can out of this very instant. Amen to that. This is an open run.  Run time is 2 hours with 1 intermission.  For tickets and more information visit http://www.daddylonglegsmusical.com/ and check my page for discounts here –ThisbroadSway 9/26/15