Seven or eight years ago, while scouring the internet for something to spark his creativity, British writer and composer Jack Godfrey, came across the preposterous yet delightful true story of a truck driver named Larry Walters.
Failing a pilot’s license test because of his poor eyesight wasn’t going to keep the 33-year-old from flying solo. Attaching 42 balloons he purchased from a military supply store to a lawn chair, Walters soared 16,000 feet above Los Angeles without permission from the Federal Aviation Administration on July 2, 1982, and returned to Earth 45 minutes later—even though, on the way up, he accidentally dropped the BB gun he had packed to pop some of the balloons to facilitate a gradual descent.
“I immediately connected with Larry’s quest on an emotional level,� says Godfrey “A guy pursuing his dream, against all odds � he was just like me. My family doubted me after I told them of my dream to go for a career in theatre.�
That career now includes the musical 42 Balloons, based on Walters� audacious flight on a chair mostly associated with backyard barbecues. The show, which premiered last year at The Lowry in Manchester, England, now makes its North American debut at Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s The Yard on Navy Pier, running though June 29.
Dubbed “Lawnchair Larry�, Walters was a dork to some and a loser in the eyes of his girlfriend’s mother (his dance moves in this musical are on a par with those of Seinfeld’s Elaine Benes). But there was something endearing about a man who shot for the figurative stars and sought close encounters with actual clouds.
Walters appeared on Late Night with David Letterman days after his stunt, became a mini-celebrity, and hit the motivational speaker circuit. “It was something I had to do,� he told the Los Angeles Times. “I had this dream for 20 years, and if I hadn’t done it, I would have ended up in the funny farm.�
The musical’s Tony-winning co-producer, Kevin McCollum (In the Heights, Avenue, Q, Rent) is no stranger to Chicago or CST, having spent his teen years in suburban Deerfield and brought SIX, Ride the Cyclone, and The Notebook to Navy Pier. “I’ve found Chicago audiences to be deeply sophisticated with an appreciation for great theater and entertainment,� he states. “Simply put, it’s a wonderful city where new work is celebrated by audiences and the press alike.�
42 Balloons is helmed by Ellie Coote, a London-based director with a penchant for new musicals who directed the show’s premiere at London’s Vaudeville Theatre. “For those who are into frenetic energy and unique storytelling, see this show,� she says. “It’s a genuinely open-hearted crowd-pleaser. There are dark moments, too, but audiences will leave feeling hopeful because of the show’s messages: go after what you want; don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do anything; and remember, any dream takes a village, underscoring the importance of community.�
Larry’s community was a small but staunch one, consisting of his girlfriend Carol (reluctant at first about her beau’s quest), friends, and neighbors. “Since I was 13 years old, I’ve dreamed of going up in the clear blue sky in a weather balloon,� Walters told the New York Times. “By the grace of God, I fulfilled my dream. But I wouldn’t do this again for anything.�
Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Ed Hall attended 42 Balloons in Manchester last year. It so moved him that he telephoned McCollum immediately afterward from a seat in a cab. “I told Kevin, ‘We’ve got to do this at Chicago Shakespeare,’� Hall recalls. “I found it inspiring and electric. It’s about assuring people that it’s okay to be a misfit, that being different can be fun. But it’s romantic, too. It’s a love story when you follow your dreams and your passions. Ellie does such a wonderful job unlocking the story and characterizations.�
Godfrey’s score is inspired by 1980s music. He grew up in a household with parents who adored ABBA (Mom) and Queen (Dad). “I was forced to listen to it,� Godfrey says, “but I became a fan of that kind of music—rock-y guitar, drums, big synth. It had a massive influence on me.�
So did America. Godfrey attended Boston College for a year, when he was 21, studying for his master’s in musical theater and since then, had always wanted to write, “an inspiring ‘American Dream� story from an outsider’s perspective.
“Larry Walters,� he suggests, “is an ‘American Dream� story. His quest featured ordinary people coming together and working together to achieve something extraordinary. That plan he devised, with the BB gun? Simple yet ingenious. I love American culture. 42 Balloons is essentially my love letter to American culture.�
Larry Walters broke a power line on his return to terra firma, causing a 20-minute blackout. He landed unharmed, not far from a slack-jawed boy named Jerry, who suddenly had a brand-new hero. Larry walked up to Jerry and gave him his lawn chair. Twenty years later, gave Larry’s lawn chair to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
“Larry fulfilling his dream impacted a lot of people,� Godfrey says. “Think about that boy who witnessed Larry’s landing.� And any kid who was seen as different, but thanks to Larry, learned to celebrate that difference and aim high.
