The Runaways
A musical comedy in 2 acts. Book and lyrics by Addison Burkhardt, Music by Raymond Hubball
Casino Theatre, New York - 11 May, 1903, closed 17 October, 1903 (167 perfs)
Synopsis
The dyspeptic General Hardtack wins a jackpot amount on a horse called The Runaway. With his winnings he transports all his friends and acquaintances to the Island of Table d'Hôte somewhere in the South Pacific. There he is promptly made king only to discover that he must marry his predecessor's widow - or die!. The American Navy however, comes to the rescue and all ends as it should in musical comedy.
Scenes and Settings
- Act 1: The Club House and race track at Saratoga
- Act 2: (Salad Glen in) the Isle of Table d'Hote
Cast
- Gen. Hardtack, U.S.A.
- Dave (his Son, a tout)
- Bob Gray
- Fleeceum (A Patent Medicine Fakir)
- Blutch (his Confederate)
- Beef (Lord High Chancellor, Isle of Table D'Hote)
- Josie May (a Prima Donna)
- Dorothy Maynard (The General's Ward)
- Princess Angel Cake
- Beatrice Wheeler, Mary Ann Garland (Two Society Reporters)
Musical Numbers:
- Overture
- Opening Chorus - "With our captivating graces we are flocking to the races, and our costumes quite expensive to the public we'll display..."
- Trio - Wheeler, Garland and Bob Gray - "Quite often I've pondered of things I would be, if I were a bright little star..."
- Song - Josie May and Chorus - "One object in life we think sweet, and one we find hardest to stem, is to mingle among the elite..."
- Duet - Josie May and Bob Gray - "Tell me, sir, I pray, will you tell me, you who are so wise and know it all, an animated information bureau..."
- Song - Wheeler, Garland, Fleeceum and Blutch - "A demure country maiden felt dissatisfied, as demure country maids should feel..."
- Song - Dave - "Well, I'm just a plain tout, and I'm not heard about, but I'm there you can bet with the heart..."
- Entrance of General Hardtack, and Song - "He's here at hand, the leader of our band; how grand his haughty bearing..."
- Song - Fleeceum and Blutch, with chorus - "A youth fell in love with a maid very coy; from the start he proposed matrimony..."
- Song - Dorothy and Chorus - "When you take your dainty, dimpled little darling a-strolling on the sea-shore for the air..."
- Finale Act I - "There's something in the air. Your jockey isn't there, and I for one believe there's danger lurking..."
- Scene - Princess, Lord Chancellor and Chorus - "Youth of the East land, for thee I'm sighing. Oh, to embrace thee when no eye is spying..."
- Song - Dave and Chorus - "There's a dainty little maiden, and she's cute as she can be; lives in a town of small renown..."
- Quintet - Josie May, Wheeler, Fleeceum, Garland and Blutch - "Come, listen to my sage remarks of Cupid and his bow, Is it love? ..."
- Song - Dorothy - "Love is an ailment no tonic can cure, the ill Cupid sends us we all must endure..."
- Duo - Bob Gray and Princess - "Oh, my heart's true mate, won't you fly with me? For I would be your Romeo and you my Juliet..."
- Dixieland Song - Josie May - "When I gaze at night, up to the twinkling stars shining bright, then a vision divine comes to me..."
- Widows' Song - "Six lovely love-sick widows we, lovely as widows six can be. Oh, for a man to cheer us; Oh, just to have him near us..."
- Song - Blutch and Widows - "When on Sunday night, as the fair moonlight radiates Love's arrow in its flight, and your charmer fair heaves a sigh..."
- Finale Act II - Bob Gray, Princess and Chorus - "There is a land across the sea, land I love, ruled by the hand of liberty..."