As origin stories go, the transformation of “Days of Wine and Roses” from a movie into a musical is a straight shot, with a twist. They talked through their coordinating vision for evolving “Wine and Roses,” the midcentury classic of a romance ruined by addiction. She already had a co-star in mind: Brian d’Arcy James, debonair and wry, like Jack Lemmon was in the 1962 movie, opposite the O’Hara look-alike Lee Remick. The film memorably traced the stuttery arc of alcoholism and recovery, a trajectory now familiar — onscreen and off — but rarely put to song. The production takes pains to show the love that propels their characters’ relationship — however misguided it turns out to be.

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Persons: Kelli O’Hara, Adam Guettel, Tony, ” Guettel, ’ ” O’Hara, Brian d’Arcy James, debonair, Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Guettel, Craig Lucas, O’Hara, James, gorgeously Organizations: Broadway, ” Locations: Piazza