On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Name	On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Music	Burton Lane
Lyrics	Alan Jay Lerner
Book	Alan Jay Lerner
Productions	1965 Broadway

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Burton Lane. The story blends contemporary New York City romance with themes of reincarnation and parapsychology, centering on a young woman whose extraordinary psychic abilities are discovered during hypnotherapy. The original Broadway production, directed by Robert Lewis and starring Barbara Harris and John Cullum, opened in 1965, featuring a lush, melodic score that has become a staple of the American musical theatre canon.

Plot summary

The narrative follows Daisy Gamble, a seemingly ordinary New York University student with peculiar abilities, such as making flowers grow rapidly and predicting phone calls. She seeks help from psychiatrist Dr. Mark Bruckner to quit smoking through hypnosis. Under trance, she reveals a past life as Melinda Wells, a sophisticated 18th-century Englishwoman. Bruckner becomes increasingly fascinated, and professionally entangled, with the vibrant Melinda, straining his relationship with his colleague, Dr. Conrad Bruckner, and causing confusion for Daisy's fiancé, Warren Smith. The plot explores identity and love across time as Bruckner must reconcile his feelings for the two personas inhabiting one woman.

Production history

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on October 17, 1965, following previews at the Shubert Theatre in Boston. Directed by Robert Lewis with choreography by Herbert Ross, it starred Barbara Harris as Daisy/Melinda and John Cullum as Dr. Bruckner. The production faced significant challenges during its tryout period, including extensive rewrites. It ran for 280 performances, a modest run attributed to its complex, cerebral subject matter. A major West End production opened in 1966 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane starring Michele Lee and Daniel Massey.

Musical numbers

The score by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner is celebrated for its sophisticated melodies and witty lyrics. Notable songs include the optimistic title ballad, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," the charming "Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here," the introspective "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?," and the comedic "Wait 'Til We're Sixty-Five." Other key numbers are "She Wasn't You," "Come Back to Me," and the ensemble piece "The S.S. Bernard Cohn." The overture and orchestrations were crafted by veteran arranger Robert Russell Bennett.

Critical reception

Initial reviews were mixed, with praise directed at the luminous performance of Barbara Harris and the elegant score, but criticism aimed at the convoluted book. Walter Kerr of the New York Times found the premise intriguing but the execution uneven, while Howard Taubman, also of the Times, commended Burton Lane's music. Over time, critical reassessment has highlighted the show's ambition and its beautiful songs, securing its place as a cult favorite despite its initial commercial shortcomings. The performance of John Cullum earned him a Tony Award nomination.

Adaptations

The property was adapted into a MGM film in 1970, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Barbra Streisand as Daisy and Yves Montand as Dr. Bruckner. The film significantly altered the plot, changing Daisy's profession to a nightclub singer and eliminating the character of Warren. A revised stage version, with a new book by Peter Parnell, premiered in 2011 at the St. James Theatre starring Harry Connick Jr. and Jessie Mueller, which reversed the protagonists' genders. This production was nominated for several Drama Desk Awards.

Legacy and cultural impact

Despite its initial run, the musical's score has endured powerfully. The title song, "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever," has become a jazz standard and popular show tune, recorded by iconic artists like Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra, and Johnny Mathis. The show is frequently revived by regional theatre companies and musical theatre schools, appreciated for its challenging vocal material and unique premise. It remains a notable, if flawed, entry in the canon of Alan Jay Lerner, representing a late-career collaboration with Burton Lane following their earlier success with *Finian's Rainbow*.

Category:American musicals