Musicals: Y

The Yearling

Book by Herbert Martin and Lore Noto. Based on The Yearling by Marjorie Kennan Rawlings. Music by Michael Leonard. Lyrics by Herbert Martin. The original Broadway production opened on 10 December 1965 and was directed by Lloyd Richards, with choreography by Ralph Beaumont. The production closed on 11 December 1965, running for a total of 3 performances. For posts on Musical Cyberspace about The Yearling, follow this link.

Synopsis and Musical Numbers

It is just after the Civil War. In Northern Florida, Jody, a twelve-year old lives with his struggling family. His mother, Ora, is upset because a bear has just killed her favorite sow and it will mean even more hardships this winter. Her husband, Penny, tries to cheer her up (SPRING IS A NEW BEGINNING). Jody longs for a pet deer, something to care for. He discovers deer tracks and sees many animals as he walks through the forest (THE FLUTTERMILL SONG).

When Jody and his dad go to the neighbours for trading, Jody finds a friend, Fodder-Wing (BOY THOUGHTS). Fodder-Wing tells Jody he wants to fly (SOME DAY I’M GONNA FLY). Jody and his father get embroiled in a fight and Jody’s grandmother cleans them up (YOU’RE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD I LOVE). When Jody’s father gets bitten by a snake, Jody, terribly frightened, runs for help (MY PA). Jody’s father survives and Jody claims it was the doe’s liver that pulled out the poison and saved him. He begs to go find the now motherless fawn and raise it; surprisingly, his father agrees (WHAT A HAPPY DAY).

Jody is thinking of Twink Weatherby and and calls her out to sing her song for him (I’M ALL SMILES). Jody goes to Fodder-Wing for help in naming the fawn. He learns his friend has died while saving the fawn, Flag. Jody thanks the family and leaves (BOY THOUGHTS – REPRISE). Ora is angered by Jody’s attachment to the fawn, but Penny calms her by offering to take the family to town. Ora wonders why Penny married her (WHY DID I CHOOSE YOU?). When Jody’s Grandma’s house burns, she leaves for Boston, urging Jody to be brave (GROWING UP IS LEARNING TO SAY GOODBYE).

Penny and Ora plant their crops (PLANTING FEVER). But when Jody’s fawn, grown to a yearling, devours the family’s crops, Jody is told to kill the deer. He begs not to, but Ora shoots the deer, wounding it. Jody finishes the job. He runs away and nearly dies of starvation, but Fodder-Wing’s parents save him. He returns home (SPRING IS A NEW BEGINNING – FINALE).

PREVIOUS: Index | NEXT: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown