 Careless Rapture
Music and Lyrics by Ivor Novello
Book by Christopher Hassall
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London - 11 September, 1936 (295 perfs)
Michael is the illegitimate brother of Sir Rodney Alderney. They are in
love with the same woman, musical comedy star Penelope Lee. In his pursuit
of love, Michael follows Penelope from a beauty parlour run by Phyllida
Frame to a singing lesson with Mme Simonette, to the home of his rival
to the the stage of the Drury Lane Theatre where she is performing in
a musical, The Rose Girl with Tony. Michael whisks her away to
the bank holiday fair on Hampstead Heath.
However, Rodney is posted to China and takes Penelope with him. There
she uses her theatrical experience to help out the Fu-Chin Amateur
Operatic Society, the leading players being Mrs Winton and Captain
Mellish.
Michael follows Rodney and Penelope but is caught up in an earthquake.
To escape the effects of the earthquake the flees to the mountains where
he is captured by bandits. He manages to escape just in time to whisk
Penelope away from his brother.
Cast:
The show requires a large cast, there are 25 named principals (13
male, 12 female) plus a large chorus
Lady Triplex
Dodo Forest
Jimmy Torrence
Phyllida Frame
Mrs Ripple
Penelope Lee/Peggy
Michael
Mme Simonetti
Sir Rodney Alderney
Butler
Bill Fraser/Li Hiang
Lo-Siung
Sir Malcolm Denby/Ah Chin
Miss Bradley
Jack
Tony
Prince Meilung
Judy
Lord Twirp
Molly
Lady Twirp
Miss Crane
Lao-Lin
Mrs Winton
Captain Mellish
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