THE SUNSHINE GIRL A musical play in 2 Acts. Book by Paul A Rubens and Cecil Raleigh; Lyrics by Paul A Rubens and Arthur Wimperis; Music by Paul A Rubens. Gaiety Theatre, London - 24 February, 1912 (336 perfs) Knickerbocker Theatre, New York - 3 February, 1913 (181 perfs) SYNOPSIS Delia Dale is a worker in the "Sunshine" Soap Factory at Port Sunshine and is in love with Vernon Blundell, one of her workmates. But Vernon is really the heir to the whole place who, by terms of his inheritence, has to go five years without getting engaged or married. He wants to be loved for himself, not his position, so he gets his friend Lord Bicester to pose as head of the establishment which he continues as a humble workman. Bicester, however, is recognised by his finacée, Lady Rosabelle and by ex-cabby Floot and his wife, Brenda. The complications that follow provide fine opportunities for comedy STORY The hero, Vernon Blundell, has inherited the great “Sunshine” Soap Factory at Port Sunshine, but in the will his uncle inserted a clause that Vernon must not be engaged or married before the expiration of five years; otherwise the whole property will be vested in the various heads of departments on a co-operative basis. Vernon, however, had for some months been working in the factory as an ordinary “hand”, and in that period of time had fallen in love with pretty Delia Dale, an assistant in the perfumery department. He wants her to love him for himself, rather than for his position, and accordingly he arranges for his stockbroker friend, Lord Bicester, commonly known as “Bingo”, to personate him and pose as head of the establishment. After some demur, “Bingo” agrees to the proposition and trusts to chance that his identity will not be discovered. Unfortunately, he quickly finds himself in a tangle of complications. He is recognised by his fiancée, Lady Rosabelle Meridew, and by Floot, an ex-cabman, who once drove him from a Covent Garden Fancy Dress Ball after a night of more than ordinary exhilaration. Floot arrives at Port Sunshine on his way from Land’s End to John o’ Groats, his purpose being to win a £50 prize for walking offered by an enterprising newspaper to whomsoever shall accomplish the journey without begging, borrowing or stealing. Floot immediately sees that he has a good thing on, and Bingo must purchase his silence by making him the general manager of the soap works. Floot is married to Brenda Blacker, who was Bingo’s travelling companion on his journey home from the ball. She is now engaged as a cook in the household of the Lady Rosabelle and is also carrying on a flirtation with a longshoreman, known as Commodore Parker. At the end, it is declared that no law can stop a man from marrying the woman he loves, and so the terms of the will are over-ridden, and Vernon and Delia prepare to “live happily ever after” CAST and Original performers: Lord Bicester (Known as "Bingo", a young stockbroker) - George Grossmith Jr Vernon Blundell - Basil Foster Commodore Barker (known as "Nosey", Commodore of the Blundell Line of Boats) - George Barrett Hodson (Chief manager of the Works) - Tom Walls Stepnyak (Manager of the Foreign Department) - Robert Nainby Dever Willie Stephens/W. Jackson
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