The musical book by Benjamin Bernard Zavin is based on Leo Rosten's stories of the fictional character Hyman Kaplan.
The book changed the setting from 1930s Chicago to 1919 New York, which enabled the writers to incorporate the Palmer Raids of that period.
The director was George Abbott who cast Tom Bosley in the lead - the two men had successfully worked together on Fiorello!
It was directed by George Abbott and the cast included Tom Bosley as Hyman Kaplan, Susan Camber as Sarah Moskowitz, Dorothy Emmerson as Eileen Higby, Nathaniel Frey as Sam Pinsky, David Gold as Reben Plonsky, Donna McKechnie as Kathy McKenna, Barbara Minkus as Rose Mitnick, Dick Latessa as Giovanni Pastora, Hal Linden as Yissel Fishbein, Maggie Task as Fanny Gidwitz, Beryl Towbin as Marie Vitale, Rufus Smith as Judge Mahon, Mimi Sloan as Mrs. Mitnick, Honey Sanders as Mrs. Moskowitz, Gary Krawford as Mr. Parkhill, Wallace Engelhardt as Officer Callahan, and Stephen Bolster as Jimmy.
This prompted Brand to write a letter to the Times asking that his musical be judged fairly even though the score was more traditional.
But the reviews were not strong enough..."[6] The musical was revived Off-Broadway at the American Jewish Theatre, opening in April 1989.