The show is described in some detail in one of my favorite books, Not Since Carrie: 40 Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum. Apparently, star Nicol Williamson (later immortalized as Merlin in Excalibur) tyrannized the cast and crew and was universally disliked. Plus, the story itself did not prove to be very appealing to audiences, focusing as it did on Henry's troubled marriages and political struggles. But I believe Mandelbaum agrees with you that the score and lyrics are the best (indeed, perhaps the only salvageable) elements of the show.
I do have _Not Since Carrie_ on my shelf. I've avoided doing too much research beyond the facts of shows, because I wanted these thumbnails to be my own opinions, untainted by what other critics said.
But now that you remind me, I can't resist taking that book down off the shelf.
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But now that you remind me, I can't resist taking that book down off the shelf.
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