FLORODORA A Musical Comedy in 2 Acts, 2 scenes. Book by OWEN HALL: Lyrics by ERNEST BOYD-JONES and PAUL RUBENS: Music BY LESLIE STUART. Lyric Theatre, London - 11 November, 1899 (455 perfs) Casino Theatre, New York - 12 November, 12 November, 1900 (505 perfs) SYNOPSIS Act one opens in Florodora, a small island in the Philippines. Here is manufactured the popular fragrance "Florodora," made from the essence of the Florodora flower. The perfume factory, along with the island itself, is owned by Cyrus W. Gilfain, an American who, upon the death of the original owner, finagled the business away from the family and is now the island’s reigning sovereign. In his employ are the clerks Tennyson Sims, Ernest Pym, Max Aepfelbaum, Reginald Langdale, Paul Crogan, and John Scott). Dolores is the daughter of the previous owner of Florodora. But, although she is now forced to work for Gilfain, she is ever optimistic Frank Abercoed, who is really Lord Abercoed and travelling incognito, has arrived on the island to act as Gilfain's manager. He meets, and is immediately smitten with, Dolores. A ship has docked at the Florodora harbour. First we meet Leandro, overseer of farms on the island, and Valleda, head of one of the Florodorean farms. Next we are introduced to Lady Holyrood, a lady of title and little else. Penniless, she has come to Florodora at Gilfain's suggestion, to find a husband - specifically, our hero Frank. She is accompanied by Gilfain's daughter Angela who is betrothed to Captain Arthur Donegal of the 4th Royal Life Guards, the brother of Lady Holyrood. Also aboard the ship is Anthony Tweedlepunch, a detective who is searching for the girl who rightfully owns the perfume business. He comes to the island disguised as a travelling showman, phrenologist, hypnotist, and palmist. And finally, we are introduced to the villain, Cyrus W. Gilfain, as the entire company joins voices to welcome him. Angela has invited six of her dearest friends to accompany her: Miss Daisy Chain, Miss Mamie Rowe, Miss Lucy Ling, Miss Cynthia Belmont, Miss Lottie Chalmers, and Miss Clare Fitzclarence (the famous Florodora Girls). Gilfain's clerks are beside themselves to meet such cultured beauties, and they agree to show the girls around their island. Lady Holyrood has also created quite a stir around the island. Privately, she invites us to experience the effect she had on the populous of London; Dolores, hopelessly in love with Frank, sings to the famed Florodora flower; and Angela and Captain Arthur Donegal, very much in love, have a very proper discourse on the subject. Gilfain discovers that Frank and Dolores have fallen in love. In an effort to thwart Dolores' rightful claim to the Florodora fortune, Gilfain plans to marry her himself. He hires Tweedlepunch, who he thinks is an actor, to break up the love affair between Dolores and Frank, thereby making Frank available to marry Lady Holyrood. Here, the trio, Gilfain, Tweedlepunch, and Lady Holyrood, discuss her marital possibilities. Angela tells us the tale of a young girl who knew what she wanted in a husband, and how her perseverance paid off. Tweedlepunch, a detective in disguise pursuing the girl who really owns the Florodora business, explains the precise science of phrenology to Gilfain, Valleda, and Leandro. (Phrenology is the study of the bumps on your head and how they relate to certain personality traits.) The four characters discuss the possibility of finding a mate through the use of phrenology.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=