Good to be Alive – Lucky Stiff







Music by: Stephen Flaherty
Directed by: Thommie Walsh

Book & Lyrics by: Lynn Ahrens
Based on Michael Butterworth’s
The Man Who Broke The Bank at Monte Carlo




Shy shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon feels life is passing him by until he gets a will from his millionaire Uncle Anthony, who he’s never met. It seems that Anthony is dead, and Harry is entitled to six million dollars on one condition: that he take the corpse on a vacation to Monte Carlo. If he fails, the inheritance will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. Read the complete synopsis to find out what happens!

For a more thorough look at the way things unfold, browse through the lyrics to the show.



Lynn Ahrens picked up a copy of Michael Butterworth’s 1983 novel at a second hand book sale in the New York Public Library, and this show is the result of that. The novel features an English schoolmaster who must take his uncle’s corpse on an excursion to the Cote d’Azur to inherit his fortune, while being pursued by gangsters from Chicago. Read more about the book, or about the development of the musical.


There’s only one recording available from this show so far, of the original cast. Read my review of the CD, or listen to a clip from one of my favourite songs.

I had never even really heard of a production of this show happening anywhere near me, until I took a trip to Vienna to see another musical, and this one happened to be playing there as well. So Reinhard and I went! And although I certainly didn’t understand everything that went on, I still had a really good time. Read more about that experience.


This is a fun show, with some very interesting characters – here’s a bit more on a few of the performers who have taken on some of them.

Once you’re done looking around here, check out some of the other Lucky Stiff sites that are out there.

Back to Stacy’s Musical Village