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

[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.

[WCaron23001]

Exquisite

[MauiLevi]

I was born in 1960 and as I grew it was like "there's an (the offensive N word) singing beautifully and we like it" COVER YOUR EYES, COVER YOUR EARS, THIS IS WRONG. RUN AWAY! ESCHEW 'THEM' AT ALL COST!

There was a freakish vilification of so many stellar performers I thank the maker Ms Carroll, one of the few who endured this hateful time in our history managed to endure.

[rickyretire]

Chip: I watched it on Netflix. Wonderful show!!! Please give Miss Carroll our deepest appreciation.

[TreasureOne]

Maybe you're just an illiterate creep who's taken too many knocks to the brain, "boxer."

[shanaperezlol]

i dont like your attitude if you dont like her why did you come on this video you need some sense

[shanaperezlol]

dont you dare call diahann carroll that she is my cousin on my grandfather side of the family and our family never lets other people talk like that ok so back off

[Chip Miller]

Yes, and if you want to see more of my work, but more music videos for MTV and MTV2 and VH-1, click on Chip Miller Videos or Chip Miller Music Videos. And good luck pursuing your dream to direct some day. I wanted to direct since I was 12.

[stagesurvivor5]

Great Harold Arlen ( Hyman Arluck) piece. 

[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.

[Charlotte Smith]

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)