The Most Happy Fella

The Most Happy Fella is a 1956 musical by Frank Loesser, based on Sidney Howard's play They Knew What They Wanted. Set on a California farm, it follows Tony Esposito, an older Italian-American vintner who begins a correspondence with a young waitress, Rosabella, and asks her to marry him before they have met in person. When the couple finally come together, the musical explores the strain of expectation, deception and the possibility of real affection taking root.