(P2) About This Orbit: From Ballet to Broadway and Back

About This Orbit: From Ballet to Broadway and Back

House of Flowers (1954)

Synopsis

Set in the West Indies, “House of Flowers” is a musical about two bordellos and a love story that ensues between one of the brothel’s girls and a poor boy named Royal. Ottille, who lives in Madame Fleur’s brothel Maison des Fleur’s, quickly falls in love with Royal after an encounter. Disapproving of Royal’s humble background, Madame Fleur decides to get rid of Royal by trapping him in a barrel and throwing it into the ocean. To the surprise of everyone, Royal survives by taking refuge on the back of a turtle and is reunited with Ottille at the finale. According to theater critic Brooks Atkinson, captivating dances, costumes, and sets are used to create a visually stunning show. One memorable act includes indigenous ballet to represent sea monsters, accompanied by a “haunting” steel band.

“House of Flowers” had a total of 165 performances, from December 30, 1954, to May 21, 1955. The musical is based on Truman Capote’s short story by the same name, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by Arlen and Capote. Directed by Peter Brook, choreographed by Herbert Ross, and produced by Saint Subber, “House of Flowers” was staged at the Alvin Theater in New York City.

Cast (Dancers)

Carmen de Lavallade…………………………………………………Carmen

Geoffrey Holder………………………………………………………The Champion

Louis Johnson…………………………………………………………Townsperson

Arthur Mitchell…………………………………………………………Townsperson

Glory Van Scott…………………………………………………………Mamselle Cigarette

Production

Peter Brook………………………………………………………………Director

Herbert Ross…………………………………………………………….Dances and Musical Numbers

Oliver Messel…………………………………………………………….Costumes and Sets

Jean Rosenthal………………………………………………………….Lighting

Jerry Arlen………………………………………………………………..Musical Director

Ted Royal…………………………………………………………………..Orchestrations

Other Artists (Non-Ballet)

Diahann Carroll

A critically acclaimed television and stage actress and singer, Diahann Carroll played Ottille in “House of Flowers”. Carroll was born on July 17, 1935, in the Bronx, New York. She attended the Music and Art High School for dance and music, and later went on to study sociology at New York University. After performing at nightclubs and cafes, Carroll made her film debut in Carmen Jones, playing a supporting role alongside Dorothy Dandridge and Pearl Bailey. After shooting Carmen Jones, Carroll received a call from her manager informing her that the producers of “House of Flowers” wanted to see her. She immediately received the role of Ottille. After “House of Flowers”, Carroll went on to star in various other television shows and films, becoming the first African American woman to win a Tony. Diahann Carroll died on October 4, 2019, after a long and critically acclaimed entertainment career.

Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey starred as Madame Fleur in “House of Flowers”, the main antagonist of the musical. Bailey was born in Southampton County, Virginia, and grew up in Newport News, Virginia. Beginning her acting and singing career at the age of 15, Bailey made her debut performance at an amateur contest at Philadephia’s Pearl Theatre. She performed at various Black clubs in Philadelphia until she moved to New York at the end of World War II. In 1946, Bailey made her Broadway debut in “St. Louis Woman” and then in 1952, her recording “Takes Two to Tango” was one of the top songs of the year. Her film debut came two years later, serving as a supporting actress in Carmen Jones, which previously was a Broadway production in 1943 and showcased various prominent Black dancers such as Betty Nichols and Valerie Black. Bailey did not return to Broadway after “House of Flowers” until 1967, when she was cast in an all-Black edition of “Hello, Dolly!” Bailey last appeared on Broadway in the 1975 revival of the show and passed away on August 17, 1990.

Juanita Hall

Juanita Hall portrayed Madame Tango in “House of Flowers”, who runs the rival brothel to Maison des Fleur. Born on November 6, 1901, in Keyport, New Jersey, Juanita Hall started her career in her teens by making her Broadway debut in “Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds”. As a singer in this production, Hall starred alongside famous Black dancers, like Hazel Spence and Dorothy Jones Williams. Her last appearance on stage was in “Mardigrass”, which played at Jones Beach, Long Island, in 1965. Juanita Hall is best remembered for her role as “Bloody Mary” in “South Pacific.” Hall passed away on February 29, 1968.