Directed by Thommie Walsh, the show starred Stephen Stout as Harry, Julie White as Annabel, Stuart Zagnit as Vinnie and Mary Testa as Rita.
[2] A 1994 studio cast recording included Pappas as Harry, Judy Blazer as Annabel, Testa as Rita, Jason Graae as Vinnie, Debbie Shapiro Gravitte as Dominique, Paul Kandel as Luigi and Patrick Quinn as the Monte Carlo Emcee/Ensemble.
In 1994, the musical had its British debut at the Theatre Royal in Lincoln in the English midlands, and in 1997 it had a West End production, directed by Steven Dexter and starring Frances Ruffelle, Paul Baker and Tracie Bennett.
It was revived for five performances as part of York Theatre's Musicals in Mufti staged concert series in October 2003, starring Zagnit, Testa, and several of the other original Playwrights Horizons cast members, as well as Malcolm Gets as Harry and Janet Metz as Annabel.
Arriving at his shabby apartment, run by a mean-spirited landlady, he receives a telegram summoning him to a solicitor's office ("Mr. Witherspoon's Friday Night").
However, to receive the estate, Harry must take the corpse of his Uncle Anthony on an all-expenses paid "vacation" to Monte Carlo.
He travels to Monte Carlo with the cassette tape that contains his instructions, a mysterious heart-shaped box, and his uncle's corpse in the wheelchair.
Meanwhile, in Atlantic City, optometrist Vinnie DiRuzzio is suddenly visited by his distressed, legally blind sister Rita LaPorta.
She shows him a news article: "English shoe salesman has inherited six million dollars from his casino manager uncle."
On the train to Monte Carlo, Harry meets Luigi Gaudi, a flashy Italian, who offers to be his tour guide.
Harry notices that a mysterious young woman is glaring at him and diligently taking notes ("Good to Be Alive").
Annabel notes that Harry must finish every task required by the will and that she is recording his every move to make sure that he executes flawlessly all of the conditions.
Vinnie informs her that he will not be home for dinner because he has been forced to travel to Monte Carlo to save his life; she angrily hangs up ("The Phone Call").
That night Harry, Annabel and Luigi go to a glamorous nightclub where the glitzy Emcee declares Monte Carlo a place for "lovers in love".
After begging his forgiveness and declaring her continued love for him, she kisses his cold hand and discovers that he is dead ("Fancy Meeting You Here").
The cast as a Greek Chorus briefly reminds the audience of where they left off ("Something Funny's Going On" (reprise)) Annabel and Harry, with Uncle Anthony in tow, escape from Rita.
Harry's dead uncle gets out of his wheelchair and tap dances while everyone else forms a ghastly kickline ("Welcome Back, Mr. Witherspoon").
She is now wearing her glasses and realizes that the corpse is not her lover Tony, but a dead stranger; she then demands the heart-shaped box from Harry and Annabel.
He explains that his best friend (the dead man in the chair and the real Luigi Gaudi) was murdered by Rita and that he sent Harry to Monte Carlo in order to give his dead friend one last chance to experience Monte Carlo, in accordance with Luigi's dying wishes ("Confession #2" (reprise)).
Tony gives Annabel Luigi's life savings in the form of a $10,000 cheque made out to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn.
Harry locks the door of the hotel room to protect them from any more unwelcome intruders and persuades her to stay with him in Monte Carlo.
It stars Dominic Marsh as Harry and features Don Amendolia as uncle Tony, Nikki M. James as Annabel, Jason Alexander as Vinnie, Mary Birdsong as the saucy French maid, and Dennis Farina as Luigi.