How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

by Frank Loesser (Composer)

(Vocal Selections). 7 songs from the Broadway standard, including: Brotherhood of Man * Grand Old Ivy * Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm * How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying * I Believe in You * Love from a Heart of Gold * Paris Original.

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Drama, Musicals, Music

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Frank Henry Loesser (June 29, 1910 – July 28, 1969) was an American songwriter who wrote music and lyrics for the Broadway musical Guys and Dolls.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading any play leaves one with an incomplete impression, musicals are especially poorly served by paper and ink. There’s nothing thrilling about seeing the same chorus repeated ad nauseum.

So it is with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I’m glad I read the book that it inspired it first, as I think it allowed me to better appreciate the musical. The stage adaptation, like the novel, is well-done satire. I can see why the musical continues to enjoy revivals.

Given the half-finished nature of reading the musical, I checked out the 1967 film adaptation. They made a lot of changes, many of which were unnecessary. It has entertaining moments, but I also think, in this age of reboots and remakes, there’s a place for a film version of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying that hews closer to the original stage version. Recommended.