Ben Does Paree....at the Historical Museum Sunday Afternoon

Image: A 1960s program from the original production with the  "Music Man" in the lead role.

It's a work of musical theatre, with a book and lyrics by Sidney Michaels, and music by Mark Sandrich, Jr. with two songs contributed by Jerry Herman. And it achieve considerable success with a run of more than 200 performances in 1964 and 1965 in New York.

As part of Ben Franklin Month, the Franklin Historical Museum shares a full color video of a revival of Ben's Paris shenanigans and singing on Sunday, starting at 1 pm at the museum, 80 West Central Street. The event is free but donations are always welcome.  The fully staged production was previously performed in the Greater Boston Area.

The performance includes:

The contemporary New York Times Reviewer had some reservations about the work but observed:

"The basic idea of the new musical abounds in possibilities...Faced with the task of doing the impossible, Franklin proceeds to use the power of romance to achieve his aims.

It seems that Louis XVI's favorite is an old flame of the American envoy. In musical‐comedy fashion, he once again lays siege to her heart. If nothing else will get results, he'll marry her. Love at Versailles is as important as Ice on the Delaware.

Mr. Michaels appreciates the earthy wisdom that was Franklin's. and a trick Ills hook employs over and over again is to have the lively old boy deride his own maxims. "