Programme CoverThe 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

  • Earl of Mount Highgate
  • Hon. Raymond Finchley
  • Sir John Chaldicott
  • Hugh Meredith
  • Comte de Perrier
  • Dr Marmaduke Lawrence
  • Captain Theobald
  • Captain Goodyer
  • Bandmaster
  • Simpson
  • Gregory/Perkins
  • François
  • Bramley
  • Bagstock H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehrenbreitstein
  • Countess of Mount Highgate
  • Lady Chaldicott
  • Lady Rosaline Rockesley
  • Lady Violet Gussow
  • Lady Jay
  • Lady Paquin
  • Lady Louise
  • Lady Lucille
  • Lady Peter Robinson
  • Lady Hayward
  • Lady Swan
  • Lady Edgar Duchess of Dunmow
  • Pincott
  • Sophie
  • Miss Corrie Fay
  • Julia Chaldicott
  • Gentleman Jack
  • Marianne
  • Bobbie

Musical Numbers (Original)

  1. Bells in the Morning -- The Belle of Mayfair
  2. Eight Little Debutantes Are We -- Debutantes
  3. I'm a Duchess -- Duchess of Dunmow
  4. In Gay Mayfair -- Julia
  5. Welcome to Princess -- Chorus
  6. Said I to Myself -- H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein
  7. Where You Go Will I Go -- Julia
  8. Come to St. George's -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl, Honorable Raymond Finchley and Hugh Meredith
  9. Finale -- Chorus
  10. My Lady Fair -- Stall-holder and Chorus
  11. My Little Girl is a Shy Little Girl -- The Belle of Mayfair and Comte de Perrier
  12. Hello, Come Along Girls -- Hugh Meredith, Debutantes and Little Buds
  13. We've Come from Court -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl, Lady Chaldicott, Comte de Perrier, Sir George Cheatham, K.C. and Guests
  14. And the Weeping Willow Wept -- H.S.H. Princess Carl
  15. The Little Girl at the Sweet Shop -- Julia
  16. What Makes the Woman? -- Honorable Raymond Finchley
  17. Why Do They Call Me a Gibson Girl -- Duchess of Dunmow, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Debutantes
  18. I Know a Girl -- Hon. Raymond Finchley, Hugh Meredith, Comte de Perrier, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Sir John Chaldicott, Bart, M.P.
  19. Come to St. George's (Finale) -- Chorus

Musical Numbers (Revised)

  1. Opening Chorus (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
  2. (Song) Bells in the Morning (Lyrics by William Caine.)
  3. (Song) I'm a Miltary Man (Lyrics by William Caine.) - Earl of Mount Highgate
  4. (Song—Concerted Number) (Lyrics by William Caine.) Eight Little Debutantes Are We - Debutantes
  5. (Song) I'm a Duchess (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Duchess of Dunmow
  6. (Song) In Gay Mayfair (Lyrics by William Caine.) - Julia
  7. (Chorus) Welcome to Princess (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
  8. (Song) Said I to Myself (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) Princess Carl
  9. (Song) Where You Go Will I Go (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Julia
  10. Come to St. George's (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) Julia, Princess Carl, Raymond, Hugh
  11. Finale Act I - (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
  12. Opening Chorus Act II (Lyrics by Basil Hood.)
  13. (Song) My Lady Fair - Debutante, Chorus
  14. (Duet) My Little Girl is a Shy Little Girl (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Sir John, Comte de Perrier
  15. (Song) Hello, Come Along Girls (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) - Hugh, Debutantes, Little Buds
  16. (Quintette) We've Come from Court (Lyrics by Basil Hood.) - Julia, Princess Carl, Lady Chaldicott, Comte de Perrier, JSir George, Guests
  17. (Song) And the Weeping Willow Wept (Lyrics by George Arthurs.) - Princess Carl
  18. The Little Girl at the Sweet Shop - Julia
  19. (Song) What Makes the Woman? (Lyrics by George Arthurs.) Raymond
  20. Doll Dance - Sir John
  21. (Song) Why Do They Call Me a Gibson Girl? (Lyrics by Leslie Stiles.) Duchess of Dunmow, Earl of Mount Highgate, Debutantes
  22. (Song) I Know a Girl (Lyrics by Leslie Stuart.) Raymond, Hugh, Comte de Perrier, Earl of Mount Highgate, Sir John
  23. Come to St. George's (Finale)

Scenes and Settings