The Belle of Mayfair
A musical comedy in 2 acts by Basil Hood and Charles H. E. Brookfield (later billed as Cosmo Hamilton and C. H. E. Brookfield). Music by Leslie Stuart. Originally based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Vaudeville Theatre, London - Opened 11th April, 1906. Revised. 8th February, 1907; closed 13 April, 1907 (416 perfs).
Daly's Theatre, New York - Opened 3rd December, 1906. Closed 30th March, 1907 (140 perfs)
Synopsis
(from Plays Pictorial)
Like Shakespeare's exquisite love idyll of Romeo and Juliet, The Belle of Mayfair concerns itself with the love affair of two young people belonging to rival houses. The Montagus become the Mount-Highgates and the Capulets the Chaldicotts, but, unlike Shakespeare, Mr. Charles H. E. Brookfield and Mr. Cosmo Hamilton have been more merciful to the young lovers, and the play ends to the merry strains of "There's going to be a wedding in Hanover Square."
The first act takes place at a bazaar in a private park; a group of seductive stall-holders are preparing for action. Among the distinguished visitors present are the Duchess of Dunmow, otherwise Miss Camille Clifford, looking as only Miss Camille Clifford can look, and H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehrenbreitstein, a charming English girl, married to a German Prince, and played most delightfully by Miss Louie Pounds. Amid a scene of some excitement, we have a sham auction with Mr. Mervyn Dene as the energetic auctioneer, and this gives Miss Edna May an opportunity to make her bow to the audience.
Raymond and Julia are soon busy exchanging vows of undying fidelity, much to the alarm of Sir John Chaldicott, Bart., M.P., Julia's father, who has determined that never, never shall his daughter wed a son of the hated house of Mount-Highgate. Everything seems to conspire against the lovers. Princess Carl, though in sympathy with their cause, promises to use her influence to get Raymond a diplomatic appointment abroad; her brother, Hugh Meredith, who is a gay bachelor and a friend of Raymond's, advises the young man to give up all thoughts of marriage and have a good time instead; and, finally, Sir John decides to end the attachment by announcing his daughter's engagement to the Comte de Perrier, an impecunious alien, who turns up at an opportune moment. The foreign gentleman, who professionally acts as the conductor of a band which has been engaged to play at Lady Chaldicott's house, is employed at the rate of £2 per day and expenses to act as official suitor to Julia. No self-respecting Britisher could, of course, consent to have his best girl appropriated by a Count of uncertain nationality, so Raymond immediately threatens to punch his rival's head and elope with Julia on a motor-car to Brighton.
In the second act the scene is laid in the drawingroom of Sir John Chaldicott's house. Sir John and his lady are at the opera, and Julia is being presented at Court by the Princess. A member of the orchestra arrives with a bag containing the leader of the band's costume. Shortly afterwards Sir John and Lady Chaldicott return from the opera. A number of guests have been invited to meet Julia after her presentation. Soon Julia enters radiant and beautiful in her Court dress, and ere long Raymond turns up to plan the elopement. Julia rather alarms her lover by telling him she can't elope without Pincott, but, as it turns out, Pincott is merely her maid. It is arranged that Raymond shall ask Doctor Marmaduke Lawrence, the Bishop of Brighton, to officiate. Interrupted in their scheming, Raymond, on Julia's inspiration, dons the costume of the missing bandmaster, and confers with her father as to the programme of music. Sir John rather fancies chop and suet, in reality Chopin's Suite, and is ultimately terrified at the pseudo-bandmaster's change of manner, one moment soft-purring, cat-like, and the next wildly declamatory and tigerish.
Just when everything is arranged, Princess Carl appeals to Julia not to run away with Raymond, as the shock might injure her father's health, and Julia, like a dutiful daughter, consents to wait. Parents are traditionally inconsiderate, and Sir John demands that his daughter shall give up Raymond entirely and unconditionally Julia makes a tender and impassioned appeal that her heart may not be broken, and in the end Sir John gives way. Lord Mount-Highgate and his wife, who arrive to assist in frustrating the elopement, hear Julia declare her love for Raymond, and her father give his consent to the marriage. A general reconciliation takes place, and everything ends happily.
Cast
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Musical Numbers (Original)
- Bells in the Morning -- The Belle of Mayfair
- Eight Little Debutantes Are We -- Debutantes
- I'm a Duchess -- Duchess of Dunmow
- In Gay Mayfair -- Julia
- Welcome to Princess -- Chorus
- Said I to Myself -- H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein
- Where You Go Will I Go -- Julia
- Come to St. George's -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl, Honorable Raymond Finchley and Hugh Meredith
- Finale -- Chorus
- My Lady Fair -- Stall-holder and Chorus
- My Little Girl is a Shy Little Girl -- The Belle of Mayfair and Comte de Perrier
- Hello, Come Along Girls -- Hugh Meredith, Debutantes and Little Buds
- We've Come from Court -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl, Lady Chaldicott, Comte de Perrier, Sir George Cheatham, K.C. and Guests
- And the Weeping Willow Wept -- H.S.H. Princess Carl
- The Little Girl at the Sweet Shop -- Julia
- What Makes the Woman? -- Honorable Raymond Finchley
- Why Do They Call Me a Gibson Girl -- Duchess of Dunmow, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Debutantes
- I Know a Girl -- Hon. Raymond Finchley, Hugh Meredith, Comte de Perrier, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Sir John Chaldicott, Bart, M.P.
- Come to St. George's (Finale) -- Chorus
Musical Numbers (Revised)
- Opening Chorus (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
- (Song) Bells in the Morning (Lyrics by William Caine.)
- (Song) I'm a Miltary Man (Lyrics by William Caine.) - Earl of Mount Highgate
- (Song—Concerted Number) (Lyrics by William Caine.) Eight Little Debutantes Are We - Debutantes
- (Song) I'm a Duchess (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Duchess of Dunmow
- (Song) In Gay Mayfair (Lyrics by William Caine.) - Julia
- (Chorus) Welcome to Princess (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
- (Song) Said I to Myself (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) Princess Carl
- (Song) Where You Go Will I Go (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Julia
- Come to St. George's (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) Julia, Princess Carl, Raymond, Hugh
- Finale Act I -
(Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
- Opening Chorus Act II (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
- (Song) My Lady Fair - Debutante, Chorus
- (Duet) My Little Girl is a Shy Little Girl (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Sir John, Comte de Perrier
- (Song) Hello, Come Along Girls (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) - Hugh, Debutantes, Little Buds
- (Quintette) We've Come from Court (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Julia, Princess Carl, Lady Chaldicott, Comte de Perrier, JSir George, Guests
- (Song) And the Weeping Willow Wept (Lyrics by George Arthurs.) - Princess Carl
- The Little Girl at the Sweet Shop - Julia
- (Song) What Makes the Woman? (Lyrics by George Arthurs.) Raymond
- Doll Dance - Sir John
- (Song) Why Do They Call Me a Gibson Girl? (Lyrics by Leslie Stiles.) Duchess of Dunmow, Earl of Mount Highgate, Debutantes
- (Song) I Know a Girl (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) Raymond, Hugh, Comte de Perrier, Earl of Mount Highgate, Sir John
- Come to St. George's (Finale)
Scenes and Settings
- Act 1: A Bazaar in a private park
- Act 2: Drawing-room in Sir John Caldicott's house.