The original Broadway production opened to positive reviews; in "The New York Times", Herman J. Mankiewicz pronounced it "full of much vigorous merriment and many agreeable tunes," and "a highly meritorious paradigm of its kind." It acknowledged that the plot was slight but praised the score, noting that "I Want to be Happy" and "Tea for Two" were already hit tunes (having premiered in the Chicago production the previous year). Robert C. Benchley in "Life" magazine admitted "We had a preconceived notion that "No, No, Nanette!" was a pretty dull show, probably because it had been running so long before it came to New York..."No, No, Nanette!" is really very amusing." Charles Winninger, in the role of Jimmy Smith, received particular praise for his comedic abilities. The "New York Times" proclaimed "Winninger gave the greatest performance of his career...it was a more than hardened theatre-goer who was not moved to near hysterics by his every appearance." Benchley stated that "Winninger and Wellington Cross, with that ease and facile kidding which comes to comedians after a long run, are a highly comic pair."