"Finian's Rainbow" is a musical that first premiered in 1947, featuring a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. Produced by Lee Sabinson, this production introduced audiences to a unique blend of fantasy, social commentary, and memorable songs. The musical is set in the fictional Rainbow Valley, Missitucky, a blend of Mississippi and Kentucky, and explores themes of racial prejudice, economic inequality,
and the pursuit of dreams through its engaging narrative.
The story centers around an elderly Irishman named Finian McLonergan and his daughter Sharon, who arrive in Rainbow Valley. Finian has absconded with a crock of gold stolen from a leprechaun named Og, believing that burying it near Fort Knox will cause it to multiply due to the area's supposed magical properties. Their arrival intertwines with the lives of the local sharecroppers, a community of both Black and White tobacco farmers facing eviction by the bigoted Senator Billboard Rawkins. The musical uses this fantastical premise to address serious social issues, making it a significant work in American theater.
A Plot Woven with Social Commentary and Fantasy
The narrative of "Finian's Rainbow" begins with the threat of eviction hanging over the sharecroppers of Rainbow Valley. The local sheriff and Buzz Collins, representing Senator Rawkins, demand taxes, threatening to auction off their land. The sharecroppers hope for their union leader, Woody Mahoney, to bring the necessary funds. Woody's mute sister, Susan, communicates through dance, interpreted by a boy named Henry, that Woody will indeed provide the money. However, when Woody returns without enough, Finian steps in to pay the remaining interest on the taxes, earning him and Sharon a warm welcome into the community.
Finian's peculiar belief that American millionaires bury their wealth near Fort Knox, and that the soil itself makes the U.S. rich, drives his decision to bury the stolen leprechaun gold. Sharon, meanwhile, expresses her longing for their Irish home but also shares her father's philosophy of pursuing one's dreams, encapsulated in the song "Look to the Rainbow." The plot thickens when Og, the leprechaun, appears, slowly becoming mortal without his gold and desperately seeking its return. He encounters Sharon and Woody, who are drawn to each other under the moonlight, leading to the romantic song "Old Devil Moon."
Magical Transformations and Moral Lessons
Senator Rawkins, initially unaware of the gold, plans to buy up land to fight progressive developers. However, after geologists detect gold in Rainbow Valley, he becomes determined to drive Finian and the sharecroppers out. Og, meanwhile, confesses his feelings for Sharon, though she is in love with Woody. Finian subtly encourages Woody to stay by making him suspect another man is pursuing Sharon, leading to the sharecroppers celebrating the unofficial betrothal of Sharon and Woody with the song "If This Isn't Love."
Og warns Finian about the gold's magic: after three wishes, it will vanish forever. He enlists local children to help find his gold, promising them anything from a magical catalog. A pivotal moment occurs when Maude, a sharecropper leader, explains the unfairness of life. Senator Rawkins arrives, attempting to evict Finian and the sharecroppers for living with Black people. Outraged, Sharon unknowingly stands over the gold and wishes Rawkins were Black. He is instantly transformed and chased off by the sheriff, who is oblivious to the change. Woody then brings news of gold on their land and an offer of free credit from the Shears-Robust shipping company. Woody and Finian advocate for using credit over digging for gold, leading to the celebration of "That Great Come-and-get-it Day." The musical thus uses its fantastical elements to deliver powerful messages about equality and justice.
The Unfinished Animated Adaptation
Beyond its stage success, "Finian's Rainbow" also saw an attempt at an animated feature film adaptation in 1954. This project, however, remained incomplete. Directed by John Hubley, the crew included notable artists like Art Babbit, Bill Tytla, and Paul Julian. The cast was set to feature an impressive lineup of talent, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Louis Armstrong, Barry Fitzgerald, Jim Backus, David Burns, and even David Wayne and Ella Logan from the original Broadway production. Unfortunately, the film ran into difficulties when Hubley and Harburg refused to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, leading to the abandonment of the project. Despite its unfinished state, some recordings and several sketches from this ambitious animated adaptation still survive, offering a glimpse into what might have been.
