I love Lucy. Need I say more? And since we are talkin’ Broadway, that can only mean one thing: “Wildcat.” “Wildcat” is a musical comedy about Wildcat Jackson (Ball) and her sister who come to oil country to strike it rich. She runs into the prowess of Joe Dynamite, and a battle of the sexes and the oil tycoons ensues. “Wildcat” wasn’t written with the 48 year-old queen of comedy in mind, however, so when she showed interest, the script – by N. Richard Nash (“The Rainmaker”) – had to be radically re-written. At the start of the 1960’s Ball’s career was taking a new direction. She was leaving her TV personae Lucy Ricardo (as well as her real-life husband Desi Arnaz) behind for newer horizons. It was their company Desilu that would produce “Wildcat” with Lucy having say over who would be cast as her co-star. After several of her first choices proved not available (including Clint Eastwood), she settled on Keith Andes. Although Ball was not known for her singing (a fact she traded on in “I Love Lucy”) or her dancing (which she was far better at), she had the determination of Wildcat Jackson to attempt it eight times a week. Director and choreographer Michael Kidd – known for his athletic dances – would put Ball through her paces. The score was by Cy Coleman with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, giving Ball the rousing anthem “Hey, Look Me Over!” and the tuneful “What Takes My Fancy.” This was to be Ball’s Broadway debut, although she nearly went to the Rialto in a play that started at New Jersey’s McCarter Theatre in 1937. Unfortunately, her leading man got seriously ill and the production was canceled. As for “Wildcat,” The out-of-town critics were mixed, but obviously adored the red-headed star. The show was headed up the New Jersey Turnpike in trucks headed for Broadway when a serious blizzard stranded the caravan, causing the opening night to be delayed. With just two previews under their belt, the show opened at the Alvin Theatre on this date in 1960. Box office was buoyed by audiences expecting to see Lucy Ricardo, not Lucille Ball as Wildy Jackson, so eventually Ball interpolated more and more of her trademark comic inflections into the character. Then, in an eerie similarity to her first stage show in Princeton, Ball took ill. She left the show for a bit with the idea to return and continue the run. But upon her return she collapsed on stage. Producers decided to close the show for as long as it took her to recover and resume when her strength and health had returned. But the musicians union insisted upon payment during the hiatus, which made the wait financially unfeasible. All in all, “Wildcat” lasted 171 performances. It wasn’t Ball’s only musical, however, in 1974 she took on the title role in the film of “Mame.” In added irony, she broke her leg in a skiing accident just before filming began! But it never showed. Once again cast older than the part was written and handling a score written for a musical theatre star, Lucy persevered. No wonder people who respect performers love Lucy.
Papermoon Loves Lucy 
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