Diahann Carroll sings "Sleeping Bee" Harold Arlen

House of Flowers is a musical by Harold Arlen (music and lyrics) and Truman Capote (lyrics and book), based on his own novella. This was Capote's only musical.

After a Philadelphia tryout, the show opened on Broadway on December 30, 1954 at the Alvin Theatre and played for 165 performances. The director was Peter Brook. The cast included Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Juanita Hall, Ray Walston, and Geoffrey Holder. Although the show received generally poor reviews, the dance-rhythm infused score has been praised for its mix of blues and calypso. Most of the original orchestral score for Flowers has been lost, but the piano score survives.[1] Oliver Messel won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design, the show's only nomination.

The story concerns two neighboring bordellos that battle for business in an idealized West Indies setting. One of the prostitutes, Ottilie, turns down a rich lord to marry a poor mountain boy named Royal. Her madam plots to keep her by having Royal sealed in a barrel and tossed into the ocean. Royal escapes the watery death by taking refuge on the back of a turtle. The lovers are eventually married and live happily ever after.

There was an unsuccessful Off-Broadway revival in 1968 at Theater de Lys. In 2003, there was an Encores! production, starring Tonya Pinkins and Armelia McQueen as the battling bordello madams and Maurice Hines as Captain Jonas, the smuggler. The virginal Ottilie was played by Nikki M. James, and the mountain boy, Royal, was played by Brandon Victor Dixon. Roscoe Lee Browne played the voodoo priest, Houngan.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• diahann
• caroll
• capote
• arlen
• house
• of
• flowers
• broadway

[Doumbeck]

We only see what we are capable of seeing in life.. Being a stupid racist isnt really that much fun..If you dont know that now, you will find out by how ugly your own life will become

[MRDEREVKO]

This is lovely, as is Barbra S version,

but my absolute favorite version is by the incomparable Dame Julie Andrews.

Thank you for the upload.

[RImusclebear1]

I was foutunate enough to see the play"House of Flowers" off- broadway with Ms. Carroll in the title role. I never thought a play about prostitutes could be so beautiful and grand! In the play Ms Carroll stopped the show with this number. I will never forget her! Such a talent.

[Misssweetlemon1]

@chipdaniel2 wow are you really a director. thats exactly what i would like to be when i am an adult. ( coz i am 15 right now)

[tisha812]

She's so beautiful...even now!!!!!!

[pudgeuncle]

Someday an adjective will be invented to capture Ms. Carroll's beauty. I had the great pleasure to see her several times and a few years back at the tiny club room at the Colony Hotel. I told my friend that I could go home if she just sang When The Sun Comes Out, a number I'd seen her belt at Carnegie Hall. She opened with WTSCO and I was melting with joy. What a gift.

[chipdaniel2]

I just directed a PBS concert special to air in August, which stars Diahann Carroll live in Palm Springs in her one-woman show, backed by the Pat Rizzo Orchestra. She is just a s beautiful as ever and an absolute delight to work with. Chip Miller/Director

[boxer301977]

I only see a person who use racism as an excusee for everything.

[boxer301977]

No its not. This women is a dired up old prun. You should shut up and pray to a higher power for brains.

[Doumbeck]

The "BABOON" word is racist ... you should shut up and wish you had 1% of this person's music talent!