THE VACKEES Music by Carl Davis, book and lyrics by Hiawyn Oram SYNOPSIS Set at the outbreak of the Second World War, this is the funny, moving story of the "invasion" of a Somerset village by the Vackees, child evacuees from London, and their scrapes and adventures with the (at first) hostile native children. The musical centres around a young London lad, Kip, and follows his first experiences of love and war. With a memorable, tuneful score by famous TV and film composer Carl Davis, this evocative musical, with many big production numbers, offers great scope for a large cast. PRINCIPALS: - 14 female, 22 male (can be expanded) CAST OF CHARACTERS • 2 BBC Radio Announcers • Kip – An East End Evacuee • Kip’s Mother • Duncan Constance – A London School teacher • Chuck, Mack, Eric & Arthur – Kip’s schoolfriends and fellow evacuees • Eileen & Kath, Nan, Elsie and Molly – Small evacuee sisters • Buzz – Leader of the Darchett (Somerset) Gang • Lance, Stan, George, Flo, Dot, May & Alice – Members of the Darchett Gang • Aunt Luce – Lucia Braithwaite, the woman with whom Kip is billeted • Ellen – Her niece and ward • Mrs Crabtree – Aunt Luce’s cook/housekeeper • Grace – The 14-year-old maid at Aunt Luce’s • Laura Maybee – Village Schoolmistress • Mr Jack – Man of the woods • Lady Holdmore – A Darchett landowner • The Vicar • The Billeting Officer • German Pilot • Land Girls • ‘Ginger’ - a film star • Gangsters – Film Gangsters • Starlets/Film Characters • London Mothers • Somerset Mothers • Prologue Characters – Seaside Landlady Dancing Couple Two London Schoolboys Health & Education Ministry Official His Stenographer INSTRUMENTATION: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, percussion, drum kit, piano db. synthesiser, 2 violins, cello, bass
MUSICAL NUMBERS Act One 1. Wireless Music 1 (Instrumental) 2. London Kids (Darchett Children) 3. Sending You To Safety (London Mothers) 4. Moving On (London Mothers, Vackees) 5. Please Someone Choose Me (Darchett Adults, Vackees) 5a. Instrumental Choose Me (Eileen, Kath) 5b. Constance & Maybee’s Choose Me (Constance, Maybee) 6. When This War Is Over (Kip, Company) 7. Morning Prayers (Kip, Aunt Luce, Crabtree, Ellen, Grace) 8. The Country’s The Country (Kip, Children) 9. Looking To See (Kip, Mn. Jack) 10. Our Rules (Vicar, Lady Holdmore, Children) Act Two 11. Wireless Music 2 (Instrumenta() 12. Letter FromThe Front Line (Kip’s Mother, London Mothers) 13. 1Winning Through (Ellen, Aunt Luce, Lady Holdmore, Miss Maybee, Vicar, Kip, Chuck, Ellen, Mack, Buzz, George, Land Gir(s) 14. Warning: Man In Uniform (Miss Maybee, Land Girls) 15. Pictures/Glamour (Kip, Ellen, Chuck, Mack, Eric, Usherette, Ginger, Children, Gangsters, Stars, Starlets) 16. Pictures/Glamour [Reprise] 16a. Ellen’s Sulu. Pictures/Glamour Tag (Ellen) 17. Battle Of Darchett Hill (Mr. Jack, Children) 18. Just For A Moment (Ellen, Grace) 19. Somewhere Behind • (German Pilot) 20. Winds Of Change In Darchett (Grace, Out, May, Children) 21. Reprise - Moving On (Kip, Ellen, Company)
THE VAGABOND KING Book and Lyrics by W.H. Post and Brian Hooker from Justin Huntly McCarthy's romance If I Were King. Music by Rudolf Friml Casino Theatre, Broadway - 21 September, 1925 (511 perfs) Produced at the Winter Garden Theatre, London, 19 April, 1927 (480 perfs) SYNOPSIS Cut-throat and drunkard, pickpocket and braggart - François Villon is all of these. But he is also a poet and a Romantic, and he is adored by the rabble of Louis XI's Paris, which is ringed by the armies of the rebellious Burgundians. Katherine de Vaucelles has received romantic poems from Villon, not knowing his identity. She has rejected the advances of Louis, and has gone to an inn to discover, if she can, more about her unknown admirer. Villon boasts what he would do if he were king, not knowing that Louis is also there spying on Katherine. To revenge himself on Katherine the King brings Villon to Court and offers him twenty-four hours in which to prove himself. By the following dawn he must have won the hand of Katherine, or the hangman's noose will be round his neck. Huguette, a harlot who habitually dresses as a man, and Guy Taberie, a fat fool, are among those who join in Villon's subsequent adventures. Both are to offer their lives in his place, and one of them is to die before Burgundy is routed, and Villon reprieved on the very steps of the gallows. For the Chorus From verminous rabble to exquisite courtiers and back again, this musical is an unrivalled training ground for principals of the future, for everyone on stage must act. The score, solid and effectively harmonized, brilliantly mirrors the story's varying moods and locations. The work was originally designed on a spectacularly massive scale and the script plots every move for 36 girls, 24 men and 9 girl dancers in addition to the 15 major principals. The chorus appear as assorted riff-raff of the Paris underworld, and as members of the King's Court. Singing Principals • Katherine • Huguette • Lady Mary, a courtier • Villon • Taberie • Nodl, a Court popinjay • Oliver, Keeper of the Royal Bath • Captain of the Scotch Archers • Rene, a rogue • The Herald of Burgundy. Straight Roles • Fat Margot, keeper of a tavern-brothel • King Louis • Tristan, his trusted adviser • Thibaut, his traitorous Grand Marshal. Smaller Roles • Isabeau and Jehanneton, harlots • The Queen. • Casin, Rogati and Jelian, thieves. • An astrologer. MUSICAL NUMBERS 1. Overture 2. Opening Chorus - Ensemble - "Life is like a bubblein our glasses" 3. Love for Sale - Huguette and Chorus - "Here's your dream of happiness"
4. Drinking Song - Tabarie and Male Chorus - "Lay me to snooze in the mud and the ooze" 4a Entrance of Villon 5. Song of the Vagabonds - Villon and Chorus - "Come all you beggars of Paris Town" 6. Some Day - Katherine - "Some day you will seek me and find me" 6a - Melos 6b - Archers Chorus. - "Woof ! The boys have lost a brother" 6c - Melos 7. Only a Rose - Katherine and Villon - "Red rose out of the East" 8. Fight Music and Finaletto, Act I - Entire Company Entr'acte 9. Opening Act II - King, Tristan and Astrologer 10. Hunting - Noel and Ensemble - "We hunt today for a wilder sort of game" 10a - Melos 10b - Melos 10c - Reprise "Only a Rose" 11. Scotch Archer's Song - Male Chorus with solos - "There's a crook with a llok like a book full of naughtiness" 11a - Reprise "Love for Sale" 11b - Melos 12. To-morrow - Villon and Katherine - "When you say, 'Not today' … " 13. Finale, Act II - . Entire Company Entr'acte 14. Opening, Act III - "Nocturne" - Ensemble 14b - Ballet (Tarantella) 14c - Reprise - "Nocturne" 15. Serenade - Tabarie, Oliver, Lady Mary - "Lullaby, lullaby " 15a & 15b - Reprise "Nocturne" (Waltz) 16. Huguette Waltz - Huguette - "Hearts may flower for an hour" 16a Melos 17. Love Me To-night (Duet) Katherine and Villon - "Love me tonight … " 17b - Melos 17c - Melos "Love for Sale" 18. Finaletto, Act III Entr'acte 19. Opening, Act IV - Scene I 20. Opening, Act IV - Scene II — Church Music - "Te deum laudamus!" 21. Victory March - Fighters - "Sons of toil and danger" 22. Melos 23. Finale, Act IV - Villon, Katherine SCENES AND SETTINGS: ACT I - THE TAVERN ACT II (a) THE COURT; THAT NIGHT (b) THE COURT; NEXT MORNING 8 Minutes Intermission
ACT III THE MASQUE ACT IV (a) A GATE OF OLD PARIS (b) THE GIBBET The entire action takes place in old Paris—the time of Louis Xlth ORCHESTRATION This was originally massive, and the full set of parts can still be supplied. Through the years Musical Directors have found satisfactory ways of trimming the requirements to suit their own budget and pit. In full it consists of Violins, Desks 1, 2, 3 and 4, 1st and 2nd Violas, Cello, Double Bass, 2 Flutes, Oboe, 2 Clarinets, Bassoon, 2 Horns, 2 Trumpets, 3rd Trumpet, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone (a special score can be provided where only one Trombone is employed), Drums, Harp
VALLEY OF SONG Music by Ivor Novello, adaptation by Christopher Hassall, Phil Park and Ronald Hanmer SYNOPSIS Ivor Novello intended this to be his next West End show. When he died in 1950 the work was completed by Christopher Hassall - who had worked with Novello for many years - and adapted by Phil Park and Ronald Hanmer for the amateur stage. Set in Wales and Venice, the story concerns the love of a young Welsh choirmaster, David, for his leading soprano, Lily, who has ambitions to become an opera star. Following an affair with an Italian 'Count' she loses her voice - but regains it on being reunited with her true love on his return from the war, wounded but safe. With plenty of chorus work the musical numbers include: "I Know A Valley", "Rainbow In The Fountain", "Look In My Heart" and "Soldier Lad". STORY The Welsh Valleys, 1913. Nan Brewster is the largest landowner in the valley and supports the local valley choir, run by choirmaster David. David’s love for Lily, his leading soprano, creates beautiful music for the choir. But when Lily is given an opportunity to sing in Venice, she jumps at the chance, and into the arms of Ricardo, a wealthy count set on making her an international star. But, by opening night, it becomes clear that Ricardo’s intentions are not entirely honourable… As Europe is plunged into the First World War, how much is David willing to sacrifice for the woman he loves? PRINCIPALS: - 4 female, 4 male • David Evans • Nan Brewster • Olwen Jones • Gwilim • Reporter - Swansea Argus • Lily Morgan • Hugh Griffiths • Maria • Count Ricardo Favero • Gauthier INSTRUMENTATION: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, percussion, harp, strings Vocal Score and Libretto available on hire only SCENES AND SETTINGS ACT I • Brewster Towers - Summer evening 1913 ACT II • Scene 1 - The Palazzo Felice - Spring morning 1914 • Scene 2 - The Same - Evening ACT III • Scene 1 - A Corridor, Brewster Towers - Winter 1914 • Scene 2 - The Terrace, Brewster Towers - Christmas 1914
VALMOUTH Book, music and lyrics by Sandy Wilson From the novel by Ronald Firbank Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith - 2 October 1958 York Playhouse, Off-Broadway - 6 October, 1960 Sandy Wilson's vibrant musical of Ronald Firbank's original novel was seen at the Chichester Festival in 1982 with Bertice Reading, Fenella Fielding, Doris Hare and Robert Helpman in the leading roles SYNOPSIS Mrs Yajnavalkya, the exuberant black masseuse, sets up her establishment in Valmouth where the aphrodisiac air ensures longevity for all who breathe it, from the erotic to the exotic, the comical to the incredible. Not surprisingly, therefore, every season brings an influx of regular visitors to this fashionable spa to swell the array of dazzling fantastics, among them the ageing nymphomaniac Lady Parvula. With the help of Mrs Yaj, Lady Parvula tries to seduce the virile young David Tooke who steadfastly rejects her shameless advances, while his sister Thetis imagines herself the bride of Captain Dick Thoroughfare, heir to the wealthy, Catholic, Mrs Hurstpierpoint of Hare Hatch House. But Dick is secretly married to Mrs Yaj's niece Niri-Esther, which he announces on the night of the Centenarians' Ball together with the news that Niri is pregnant. To nearly everyone's horror Mrs Hurstpierpoint welcomes the girl, fancying her as an infidel convert to Catholicism, and organises plans for a wedding and christening presided over by Cardinal Pirelli. But the nuptials are prevented at the eleventh hour by the excommunication of the Cardinal and the total destruction of Valmouth. Only Niri and Mrs Yaj survive and back on their native tropical island Mrs Yaj regrets the passing of Valmouth. "... this perennially fresh and pertinent musical ... Sandy Wilson's lyrics include, by my reckoning, at least half a dozen potential hits beside 'Big Best Shoes'. Valmouth, in short, bewitches by its riches as the opening chorus swore it would..." Plays and Players The Chorus: Inhabitants of Valmouth. Guests at the Ball. Wedding Guests. Singing Principals Mrs Yajnavalkya. Grannie Tooke. Lady Parvula de Panzoust. Mrs Hurstpierpoint, Mrs Thoroughfare. Niri-Esther. Thetis. David Tooke. Captain Dick Thoroughfare. Lieutenant Jack Whorwood. Cardinal Pirelli. Smaller Roles Nit: the footman. Father Colley-Mahoney. Sir Victor Vatt. Dr Dee. Ffines: the butler. Carry: Mrs Yaj's maid. Madam Mimosa: Valmouth's demi-mondaine. Lady Saunter. Sister Ecclesia. Fowler: Mrs Hurstpierpoint's maid. The Scenes The road to Valmouth. Valmouth Market Square. The banks of the River Val. Hare Hatch House. The Nook. Hare Hatch House gardens. Outside the chapel. Tarooa
MUSICAL NUMBERS: Opening / Valmouth - Company Magic Fingers - Mrs Vajnanalkaya Mustapha - Mrs Vajnanalkaya I Loved a Man - Thetis Tooke What Then Can Make Him Come So Low? - Niri-Esther All the Girls Were Pretty - Mrs Hurstpierpoint, Lady Parvula, Mrs Thoroughfare Just Once More - Lady Parvula Lady of the Manor - Niri-Esther What Do I Want With Love - David Tooke My Big Best Shoes - Mrs Vajnanalkaya, Grannie Tooke Niri-Esther - Jack Whorwood, Captain Dick The Cry of the Peacock - Mrs Vajnanalkaya Little Baby Girl - Mrs Vajnanalkaya The Cathedral of Clemenza - Cardianl Pirelli Only a Passing Phase - Lady Parvula Valmouth - Captain Dick Where the Trees Are Green With Parrots - Niri-Esther My Talking Day - Sister Ecclesia I Will Miss You - Grannie Tooke, Mrs Vajnanalkaya Finale / Valmouth - Company ORCHESTRATION Woodwind I Flute, Woodwind II clarinet, Bass/Bass Guitar, Guitar, Percussion, Harp DISCOGRAPHY Chichester Festival Theatre Production starring Bertice Reading, Fenella Fielding, Doris Hare, Robert Helpmann and Mark Wynter - TER 1019
VANITY FAIR A musical play in 2 acts by Robin Miller and Alan Pryce-Jones based on W. M. Thackeray's novel. Lyrics by Robin Miller. Music by Julian Slade. Bristol Hippodrome - 16 October, 1962 and toured through Oxford and Brighton x2 to 18 November. Opened at the Queen's Theatre, London 27 November, 1962 - 26 January, 1963 (70 perfs) MUSICAL NUMBERS Vanity Fair I'm No Angel Impressed There He Is Dear Miss Crawley Mama Love, Honour and Obey Farewell Advice to Women Waterloo Waltz Where Is My Love? How to Live Well on Nothing a Year Someone to Believe In Rebecca Forgive Me I Could Be Good Poor Dear Girl. CAST Street Singer Amelia Sedley Miss Jemima Miss Pinkerton Rebecca Sharp Joseph Sedley Mr Sedley Mrs Sedley William Dobbin George Osborne Miss Crawley Lord Steyne Rawdon Crawley Mr Moss Elizabeth Charlotte Caroline Harriet Jane Emma Bates Maid Manservant Admiral Broadside Mr Cant Mrs Cant Marquis de Truffigny Duke of Stunnington Duchess of Stunnington Lady Bareacres Lady McGrizel Lord Slingstone Lord Ruin Mr Hammerdown Thug Another Thug Ensign Stubble Wounded Man Mr Screw Footman Duke of Wellington
VANITY FAIR A Revue by Arthur Wimperis. Music: Herman Finck, Max Darewski, Shelton Brooks and Jerome Kern. Lyrics: Arthur Wimperis, Percy Greenbank, et al. Palace Theatre, London - 6 November, 1916 (265 perfs) The Cast included: Helen Beltramo, Gwendoline Brogden, Regine Flory, Teddie Gerard, Nelson Keys, Stanley Logan, Moya Mannering, Arthur Playfair, Roy Royston 1. By Way of an Overture 1. Orchestral Selections 1. - The Palace Theatre Orchestra under Herman Finck Introducing: Piccadilly; Commissionaire’s Chorus; A Little Love, a Little Kiss; Welkin’ the Dog; The Snotty; The Rainbow Song. 2. Orchestral Selections 2. - The Palace Theatre Orchestra under Herman Finck Introducing: Hello! The Telephone Song; Some Sort of Somebody; The Tanko; The Anzacs; Sunlight & Shadow; The Kirchner Girl. Scene 2 3. The Tory and the Rat - Arthur Playfair & Stanley Logan 4. Dashing Lady Vi. - Teddie Gerard 5. The Anzacs. - Gwendoline Brogden & Chorus Scene 3 6. Some Sort of Somebody. (Jerome Kern) - Mlle Regine Flory & Nelson Keys 7. Sunlight and Shadow - Waltz Song. - Gwendoline Brogden Scene 4 8. Walkin’ the Dog. (Shelton Brooks) - Nelson Keys 9. A Little Love, a Little Kiss. - Mlle Regine Flory 10. The Snotty. - Nelson Keys 11. The Rainbow Song. - Gwendoline Brogden and Sixteen Palace Girls Scene5 12. The Romance of a Dragonfly - Part 1. 13. The Romance of a Dragonfly - Part 2. Scene 6 14. The Kirchner Girl - Teddie Gerard Scene 7 15. The Tanko - Mlle Regine Flory and Sixteen Palace Girls 16. Some Sort of Somebody - De Groot Musical Director: Herman Finck
VÉRONIQUE Libretto by Albert Vanloo, Georges Duval; Music by André Messager; Presented at the Bouffes-Parisiens, 10 Dec 1898; rev. London. Apollo Theatre - 18th May, 1904 SYNOPSIS Act I In the florist Coquenard's shop. Crippled with debts, Vicomte Florestan de Valincourt risks prison, short of marrying a rich heiress. King LouisPhilippe himself is to act as a witness at his wedding to a young girl from the provinces, Helene de Solanges. She happens to come into this very shop and, unseen, overhears a conversation which reveals to her that her betrothed is also the lover of the winsome florist's wife, and that without having met Helen he is going to marry her for her money. She decides to play a trick on him. Dressed as a working girl, she has herself and her aunt, Ermerance de Champ d'Azur, taken on as shop-girls at Coquenard's; they take for the duration the names of Estelle and Veronique. To take leave of his bachelorhood Florestan invites everyone to Romainville. Act II At Romainville. Helene/Veronique has succeeded in charming Florestan, though he finds this simple working-girl very shy. As for Aunt Ermerance, she finds M. Coquenard not unprepossessing; as well as being a florist he's a Captain in the National Guard. After a donkey-ride and a turn on a swing (pretexts for two exceptionally famous duets) Helene/Veronique ends up causing Florestan serious worries, since he doubts if his unknown fiancee can be as attractive as this delightful young woman. Veronique finally runs away, leaving the young man a farewell letter, which saddens him. Act III At the Tuileries. Ermerance is thinking nostalgically of her shopkeeper hero. Helene impatiently awaits the moment when she will be introduced to her future husband. She has learned that he has been in prison, and to get him released has paid off his debts. Once free, and face-to-face with his future wife, Florestan realizes he has been fooled. Agathe Coquenard makes fun of him before returning to her flowers. A good sport, he admits he was in the wrong. Not long till the wedding. MICHEL PAROUTY Translation: Hugh Graha CAST • Evariste Coquenard, a florist - baritone • Agathe Coquenard, his wife - soprano • Florestan, Vicomte de Valaincourt - baritone • Hélène (later “Véronique”) de Solanges, maid of honour at the Court - soprano • Ermerance (later “Estelle”), Countess de Champ d’Azur, her aunt - mezzo-soprano • Aunt Benoît - mezzo-soprano • Denise, her niece, fiancée of Séraphin - soprano • Monsieur Loustot, baron de Merlettes - tenor • Séraphin, Hélène and Ermerance’s groom - tenor • Octave, Florestan’s friend • Felicien, Florestan’s friend • Céleste - soprano • Sophie - soprano • Héloise - soprano • Irma - soprano • Elisa - soprano • Zoe - soprano • An orderly of the national reserve, waiters, florists, and others.
MUSICAL NUMBERS Act I • Opening • Chorus: “What delicious freshness” and couplets by Agathe • “Ah! the charming promenade” – Hélène, Ermerance, Séraphin • “Hello, Monsieur Séraphin” – Séraphin, backing vocals • “True God! my good friends” – Florestan • Verses: “When I was Baron de Merlettes” – Loustot • “So it’s all over” – Hélène, Ermerance, Florestan, Agathe • “Little turkey! Ah what an outrage” – Hélène • “My cars are at the door” • “Martial pace, Energetic maintenance” – Florestan • “Excuse me, I’m indiscreet… Since this morning, looking for work” – Véronique, backing vocals • Together, “It’s Estelle and Véronique” – Hélène, and Final I Act II • Choir: Ronde du Tourne Bride – Agathe • De-ci, de-là, cahin-caha (Donkey Duet; Donkey Duet) – Florestan and Véronique • Oh, nasty! Do you want to laugh? … Push, push, the escarpolette (Duo of the escarpolette) – Florestan and Véronique • Ronde “Lisette was afraid of the wolf ” – Agathe • Verses “A cute grisette” – Florestan • Choir • The letter “Farewell I’m leaving” – Florestan, and Final II “Since the ungrateful Véronique” Act III • Choir: “Hush, hush, let’s be silent”, and Romance “From a store the simple young lady” – Ermerance • Verses: “Let’s see my aunt” – Hélène • Choir and duet: “Aux Tuileries” – Agathe, Coquenard • “Oh! Heaven” – Hélène, Agathe, Ermerance, Coquenard • Verses: “My faith, to come from the provinces” – Agathe • “Well! in order, let’s proceed” – Hélène and FlorestanFinale Act III DISCOGRAPHY Studio cast recording starring Mady Mesplé and Michel Dens - EMI Classics - 7243 5 74073 2 8
VERY GOOD EDDIE A Musical Play in Two Acts, 3 Scenes. Book by Philip Bartholomae and Guy Bolton. Based on the farce "Over Night" by Philip Bartholomae. Music by Jerome Kern. Lyrics by Schuyler Greene, (Herbert Reynolds). Princess Theatre, New York - 23 December, 1915: transferred to Casino Theatre, New York - 29 May, 1915; Transferred to the 39th Street Theatre - 11 September, 1916; transferred Princess Theatre - October 1916 (Total 341 perfs) Revival. Booth Theatre, New York - 21 December, 1975 (307 perfs) SYNOPSIS The Hudson River Day Line's Catskill stops for fifteen minutes at Poughkeepsie. Dick Rivers comes aboard. He has fallen in love with Elsie Lilly, Madame Matroppo's pupil. To be alone with Elsie he begs Madame Matroppo to let him interview the girl for a magazine article. She agrees. Elsie is not easily wooed. She has known Rivers and suggests he is always in love with "Some Sort Of Somebody." Newlyweds Eddie and Georgina Kettle board the boat. It is obvious from her incessant barking of commands that Georgina is determined to wear the trousers in the family — though little Eddie's trousers are probably several sizes too small for her. They are followed by two more honeymooners, Percy and Elsie Darling. The Darlings and the Kettles meet, and Eddie and Percy turn out to be old schoolmates. All four rejoice, "Isn't It Great To Be Married?" Georgina and Percy leave the boat — the one to send a telegram, the other to find some missing luggage — and the vessel sails without them. Eddie and Elsie, alone, discover they haven't even enough money for one meal. Rivers appears, and Eddie, who knows him, is forced to pretend Elsie is his bride. Rivers lends Eddie the money he will need. He also tells Eddie that Eddie's old flame Elsie Lilly is on the boat. Eddie and his "Mrs." sit down not just to dinner but to cocktails as well. Rivers returns and introduces Madame Matroppo to "Mr. and Mrs. Kettle." On top of his martinis, Eddie orders champagne for everyone. They celebrate with "Wedding Bells Are Calling Me." At the Rip Van Winkle Inn, Rivers and Elsie Lilly dream of the joys "On The Shore At Le Lei Wi." Eddie and his Elsie, increasingly nervous at their masquerade, now discover there won't be a return boat — or a train — until the next day. There is nothing for them to do but remain over-night. To the astonishment of the desk clerk, they request separate rooms. Once they have signed the register, Eddie carefully spills ink over it to conceal his presence. Rivers is as puzzled as anybody by Eddie's behaviour, insisting he'd act differently "If I Find The Girl." Madame Matroppo catches Eddie slinking off to eat dinner alone and orders him back upstairs to dine with his "wife." Eddie regrets he is so small he must wear a "Size Thirteen Collar." Georgina and Percy arrive but, with the register ruined, cannot be sure they have come to the right hotel. Madame Matroppo, who can never remember names correctly, assures them the only honeymooners are named "Fish." Since it is late, they also take two rooms and head for bed. Georgina, learning that Darling's wife is named Elsie, goes upstairs with the uneasy feeling she is the same Elsie that Eddie loved long ago. A mouse scares Elsie Darling out of her room, and when she knocks on Eddie's door he comforts her, advising her to be as brave as the "Babes In The Wood." The next morning Percy and Georgina meet Rivers, who tells them Eddie Kettle and his wife are at the inn. But it is a changed Eddie who comes downstairs. He has learned how to handle himself, and when he orders Georgina to sit down, she does. On boarding, Georgina noisily issues commands about baggage and tips. But Georgina's pushiness masks her naïvete. Eddie, in his newfound strength, orders Georgina to sit down, the delighted clerk shouts admiringly, "Very Good, Eddie." Extracted from American Musical Theatre 3rd Ed ed. Gerald Boardman
1915 Production: CAST (in order of appearance): • Steward on The Catskill • Monsieur de Rougemont • Purser on The Catskill • Dick Rivers • Madame Matroppo • Elsie Lilly • Eddie Kettle • Georgina Kettle, his wife • Magazine Girl • Percy Darling • Elsie Darling, his wife • West Point Cadet • Al Cleveland clerk at the Rip Van Winkle Inn • Victoria Lake • Chrystal Poole • Lily Pond • Belle Fontaine • Flo Tide • Virginia Spring • Miss Always Innit • Miss Carrie Closewel • Miss Funnie Rekkod • Miss Munnie Duzzyt • Miss Gay Ann Giddy • Miss E. Z. Morrels • Mr. Tayleurs Dummie • Mr. Fullern A. Goat • Mr. Dyer Thurst • Mr Rollo Munn • Mr. Watt Pumkyns • Mr. Dustir Stacks MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 • We're on Our Way (Opening) - Victoria, Ensemble • The Same Old Game (Song) - Rivers, Girls • Some Sort of Somebody (All the Time) (Duet) (from Miss Information) (Lyrics by Elsie Janis.) - Rivers, Elsie • Isn't It Great To Be Married? (Quartet) - Eddie, Elsie, Percy, Georgina • Wedding Bells Are Calling Me (from Nobody Home) (Finaletto) (Lyrics by Harry B. Smith.) ACT 2 • On the Shore at Le Lei Wi (Opening) (Music by Jerome Kern (verse), Henry Kailimai (chorus), Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds.) Variation on the popular Hawaiian song On the Beach at Waikiki, music by Henry Kailimai, lyrics by G. H. Stover. - Elsie, Dick, Ensemble • If I Find the Girl (Song) (Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds, John E. Hazzard.) - Dick, Ensemble • Old Bill Baker (Undertaker) (Lyrics by Ring Lardner.) - Eddie • When You Wear a 13 Collar (Thirteen Collar) (Song) - Eddie • Old Boy Neutral (Duet) - Elsie, Dick, Ensemble • Babes in the Wood (Duettino) (Lyrics by Jerome Kern, Schuyler Greene.) - Eddie, Elsie • The Fashion Show (Song) Victoria, Ensemble • I Wish I Had a Million (I'd Like to Have a Million in the Bank) (Song) (Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds.) Al, Girls • Nodding Roses (Duet) (Lyrics by Herbert Reynolds, John, E. Hazzard.) - Elsie, Dick • Finale - Ensemble SCENES AND SETTINGS: Act 1: Deck of the Hudson River Boat, The Catskill. One summer afternoon. Act 2, Scene 1: The Rip Van Winkle Inn. That evening. Scene 2: The same, the next morning.
1975 Production CAST (in order of appearance): • Steward • Mr. Dick Rivers • Mme. Matroppo • Miss Elsie Lilly • M. de Rougemont • Mrs. Georgina Kettle • Mr. Eddie Kettle • Mr. Percy Darling • Mrs. Elsie Darling • Al Cleveland • Miss Lily Pond • Miss Chrystal Poole • Miss Carrie Closewell • Miss Always Innit • Mr. Tayleurs Dumme • Mr. Dayr Thurst • Mr. Dustin Stacks • Mr. Rollo Munn MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 • "We're on Our Way" - Ensemble • "Some Sort of Somebody" (Lyrics by Elsie Janis.) - Elsie Lilly, Dick • "(When You Wear a) Thirteen Collar" - Eddie • "Bungalow in Quogue" - (fromThe Riviera Girl) (Lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse.) - Elsie Darling, Percy Darling • "Isn't It Great To Be Married" - Elsie Darling, Georgina Kettle, Eddie, Percy Darling • "Good Night Boat" - (fromThe Night Boat) (Lyrics by Anne Caldwell and Frank Craven.) - Ensemble • "Left All Alone Again Blues" (fromThe Night Boat ) (Lyrics by Anne Caldwell.) - Elsie Darling • "Hot Dog!" - (fromThe Bunch and Judy ) (Lyrics by Anne Caldwell.) - Ensemble • "If You're a Friend of Mine" (from Lady Mary , London) (Lyrics by Graham John.) - Elsie Darling, Eddie • "Wedding Bells Are Calling Me" (Lyrics by Harry B. Smith.) - Ensemble ACT 2 • "Honeymoon Inn" (from Have a Heart) (Lyrics by P. G. Wodehouse.) - Elsie Lilly, Ensemble • "I've Got to Dance" - (dropped from very Good Eddie (1915)) -M. de Rougemont, Ensemble • "Moon Love" - (fromThe Beauty Prize) (Lyrics by Anne Caldwell.) - Mme Matroppo, Ensemble • "Old Boy Neutral" - Elsie Lilly, Dick • "Babes in the Wood" - Elsie Darling, Eddie • "Katy-did" - (from Oh, I Say!) (Lyrics by Harry B. Smith.) - Mme Matroppo • "Nodding Roses" (Lyrics by Schuyler Greene and Herbert Reynolds.) - Elsie Lilly, Dick • Finale (Lyrics by John E. Hazzard and Herbert Reynolds.) - Ensemble SCENES AND SETTINGS The action takes place in 1913. Act 1: A Hudson River Dayliner. Act 2, Scene 1: Lobby of the Honeymoon Inn in the Catskills. That evening. Scene 2: The next morning.
THE VICAR OF BRAY An original English comic opera in 2 acts - Written by Sydney Grundy : Composed by Edward Solomon Globe Theatre, London - July 22, 1882 (69 perfs) Savoy Theatre, London - 28 January 1892 (143 perfs) Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York - 7 October, 1882 (7 perfs) SYNOPSIS The Rev. William Barlow is Low Church. He became Low Church in order to marry his rich wife who, now dead, has left him with one daughter, Dorothy. Dorothy is in love with her father's curate, Henry Sandford, a decidedly priggish young man with a habit of speaking in rounded and polysyllabic periods. The Vicar has other designs for his daughter in the form of Sandford's old schoolmate, Tommy Merton, son of the proprietor of the living of Bray. To get Sandford out of the way the Vicar, on the advice of his confidential family solicitor, Mr Bedford Rowe, turns High Church. Aghast, Sandford flees to become a missionary in the Cassowary Isles. But alas! now that the Vicar and all his students have become 'High' they are doomed to celibacy and the Chorus of Lady Sunday School Teachers is distraught at the loss of their matrimonial prospects. So, too, is Mrs Merton who has had her eye on the Vicar. Tommy Merton is prepared as a husband for Dorothy but suddenly Sandford, whom everyone supposed to have been devoured by cannibals, returns-a decidedly better young man with his rounded periods knocked out of him by the King of the Cassowaries. Dorothy returns to her first love, but her father is adamant. Suddenly the solicitor arrives: the Vicar's High Church propensities have displeased his Bishop who has declared him defrocked, his living to be bestowed on Sandford. There is only one way out. The Vicar becomes 'Low' again. He is now eligible to wed the wealthy Mrs Merton while Henry gets his Dorothy and Tommy goes off with the leading danseuse of the local theatre. CAST: Reverend William Barlow, Vicar of Bray Reverend Henry Sandford, his curate Thomas Merton, Esq., of Bray Manor Mr. Bedford Rowe, a Confidential Family Solicitor Dorothy, the Vicar's Daughter Mrs. Merton, widow of the late Thomas Merton, of Jamaica Nelly Bly, of the Theatre Royal, Bray Students of Divinity, Ladies of the Ballet, Teachers, Huntsmen, Jockeys. SCENES AND SETTINGS Act 1: Low Church. The Village Green. Act 2: High Church. The Vicarage Grounds. MUSICAL NUMBERS: Act I Chorus of Children - "Hooray, hooray! " Chorus of Lady Teachers - "To a slow and stately measure" Song: - Winifred - "O, Why is my love?" Chorus of Teachers - "All the bold …"
Chorus of Students; and Solo Sandford - "On, Students, on!" Song: Sandford - "As good as he ought to be" Ensemble and Entrance of Vicar - "Hail to the Vicar" Song: Vicar - "The Rev. Mr. Barlow" Chorus - "Bow, Students, bow!" Song, Mr. Bedford Rose - "I'm as sharp as a ferret" Exit - "Good morning, dear Vicar" Entrance of Mrs Merton - "Has anyone seen the Pytchley Pack?" Trio: Rowe, Vicar and Mrs Merton - "Now if you'll excuse me" Duet: Vicar and Mrs. Merton - "The shy widow" Duet: Sandford and Winifred - "Tell me true, love …" Chorus of Huntsmen; and Solo: Tommy Martin - "Jolly, jolly Huntsmen!" Chorus, Corps de Ballet: - "Please to make way for us" Dance: Nelly Bly Ensemble: "O, shocking sight" Finale: "Back, Students, back!" Act II Chorus of Teachers: - "Listen to the merry bells" Concerted number: Students, Teachers & Vicar - "What is life?" Song and Chorus: Vicar and Students - "The Jackson case" Duet: Vicar and Mrs Merton - "The Wily Widower" Solo: Mrs Merton - "You ask me why" Duet: Winifred and Sandford - "Come back to me" Duet: Winifred and Sandford - "Propriety, prisms and prunes" Trio: Sandford, Merton & Winifred - "Just a word" Entrance: Nellie Bly Entrance: Corps de Ballet Dance: Pas de Cinq Exit of Vicar & Corps de Ballet Concerted number: Tommy, Merton, Bedford, Rowe and Huntsmen - "Confidential family solicitor" Chorus: Corps de Ballet - "We no longer gyrate" Concerted piece: - "See, see, we saw!" Chorus of Children: "Lucky little boys and girls" Wedding chorus: - "Lady Fair" Finale: "O William, seet William"
VICTOR/VICTORIA A Musical Comedy in Two Acts, 16 Scenes. Book by Blake Edwards. (Based on the musical film of the same name, screenplay by Blake Edwards, which was based on the German Ufa film "Viktor und Viktoria" conceived by Hans Hoemburg and written by Rheinhold Schuenzer.) Music by Henry Mancini. Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Marquis Theatre, New York: Opened 25 October 1995; closed 27 July 1997 (738 perfs) THE STORY Carroll Todd ("Toddy" to his friends) is tenuously employed as the resident performer at Henri Labisse's Left Bank gay club, "Chez Lui." Toddy and Les Boys entertain the small but appreciative audience. Toddy insults a group of customers which includes his ex-boyfriend Richard. Labisse threatens to fire him A penniless English soprano, Victoria Grant, auditions unsuccessfully for Labisse. Toddy tries to help, but Labisse rejects her and fires him. Toddy befriends Victoria, and offers her shelter from the wet wintry night in his tiny apartment. They become instant friends and confidantes. Toddy wishes he were a woman, like Victoria, while Victoria believes that there are far more advantages to being a man. Richard, the ex-boyfriend, arrives at Toddy's unexpectedly to collect his things. Victoria is by now wearing his hat and pyjamas. Richard mistakenly thinks she is Toddy's new boy-friend and insults Toddy. Victoria punches Richard and kicks him out. Toddy is impressed. Richard actually thought Victoria was a man! And at that moment The Inspired Idea strikes Toddy right between the eyes. Why not? Victoria could indeed be a man - Europe's greatest female impersonator! Victoria says he's crazy. Toddy pursues his argument, and dreams up Count Victor Grazinsky - a gay Polish aristocrat and Toddy's new lover. "It will work," he assures Victoria. "It will not!" says Victoria. They'll never accept a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman! - "They'll know he's a phoney!" "Exactly," says Toddy. "They'll know he's a phoney! " Toddy drags the reluctant Victoria to meet Andre Cassell, Paris's leading impresario, who is dubious about "Count Victor Grazinsky" until he hears "him" hit a glass-shattering high G-flat. "Victor" is in business. "Le jazz hot!" introduces Victor to Paris café society. His show-stopping performance at once makes him the toast of Gay Paree. The only doubter of Victor's authenticity is a dashing American businessman - cum - gangster figure, King Marchan, visiting Paris with his brassy girlfriend Norma and his loyal bodyguard Squash. King is convinced Victor is a woman, and determined to prove it. At Cassell's opening night party for Victor, King invites Victor to tango with Norma, hoping to prove his point. Victor's tango is a sensation. Norma is thrilled King is thwarted, and starts to doubt himself. He finds Victor attractive as a woman .. but what if he's a man? By an unwelcome coincidence, King and Norma and Squash find themselves in the adjoining hotel suite to the newly successful Toddy and Victor. Norma tries to seduce King. She succeeds only in making him impotent Next door, Victoria bemoans to Toddy that in King she thinks she has finally found the man of her dreams, but here she is trying to convince him that she is a man, too! Victor continues to take Paris audiences by storm. Norma complains to Victor and Toddy that King is shipping her back to Chicago because he fancies Victor - a man! King confronts his doubts about himself and Victor. Is it possible that he, King, is falling for a man? He invites Victor and Toddy to dinner to try and find out. After dinner they visit "Chez Lui," where Labisse also has his suspicions that Victor is a woman. He
invites her/him to sing. Victor and Toddy oblige. Richard's group arrives noisily in mid-song. Victor trips Richard and starts a major brawl in the club. The police arrive to break it up. Outside the club, King says he doesn't care if Victor is a man, and kisses him. Victoria admits she's not a man. King says he still doesn't care, and kisses her again. Back in the hotel, Squash barges into King 's bedroom and finds King and Victor in bed together. He apologises profusely: "Sorry, guys!" King tries to explain. Squash admires King for coming out of the closet, and stuns his boss by revealing that he, too, is gay! Victoria and King examine their potential problems if they are perceived publicly as two men. It won't work. Back in Chicago, Norma is performing in a night club. She informs King 's gangster partner, Sal Andretti, that King has dumped her for another man - and is living with 'a gay Polish fairy." Sal is aghast, and says they're all going to Europe. Two weeks later, Toddy and Squash have become happy partners. Not so for King and Victoria, unable to be seen together in public. Victoria tells Toddy she doesn't want to be a man anymore. Toddy understands, neither does he! Sal and the spurned Norma arrive in Paris. King admits he loves "Victor," keeping the secret. Sal, disgusted, ends their business relationship. Victoria reveals herself to Norma as a woman. Norma is horrified. Labisse witnesses this moment of naked truth. Victoria is horrified. Toddy tells her not to worry. "Trust rne!" Dissolve to Victor's farewell appearance. Labisse tries to expose him/her as a fraud. Toddy, thrilled to be back in drag, replaces Victoria to thwart Labisse and leave the way clear for a happy ending for our two loving couples - King and Victoria, and Toddy and Squash. Leslie Bricusse CAST (in order of appearance): • Carroll Todd (Toddy) • Les Boys • Richard Di Nardo • Henri Labisse • Grego • Madame Roget • Victoria Grant (Victor) • Choreographer • Miss Selmer • Andre Cassell • Jazz Singer • Jazz Hot Musicians • Jazz Hot Ensemble • Norma Cassidy • King Marchan • Squash (Mr. Bernstein) • Louis Says Ensemble • Chambermaid • Apache Dancers • Street Singer • Norma's Girls • Sal Adretti • Clam • Juke SCENES AND SETTINGS: Act 1 • Scene 1: Small Square/Chez Lui. • Scene 2: Small Square/Toddy's Flat. • Scene 3: Backstage at Cassell's. • Scene 4: Cassell's Nightclub. • Scene 5: Backstage at Cassell's. • Scene 6: Left Bank Cafe. • Scene 7: Paris Hotel Suites. Act 2 • Scene 1: Cassell's Nightclub. • Scene 2: Victoria's Dressing Room. • Scene 3: Paris Hotel Suites. • Scene 4: Chez Lui. • Scene 5: Small Square. • Scene 6: Paris Hotel Suites. • Scene 7: Chicago Speakeasy. • Scene 8: Paris Hotel Suites. • Scene 9: Cassell's Nightclub.
MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 Paris By Night - Toddy, Les Boys If I Were a Man - Victor Trust Me (Music by Frank Wildhorn.) - Toddy, Victor Le Jazz Hot - Victor, Ensemble The Tango - Victor, Norma Paris Makes Me Horny - Norma Crazy World - Victor ACT 2 Louis Says (Music by Frank Wildhorn.) - Victor, Ensemble King's Dilemma - King Marchan Apache - Les Boys You & Me - Toddy, Victor Paris By Night (reprise) - Street Singer Almost a Love Song - King, Victor Chicago, Illinois - Norma, Girls Living in the Shadows (Music by Frank Wildhorn.) - Victor Victor/Victoria - Victor, Toddy, Company Who Can I Tell? (Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.) - Liza Minnelli (Victor) DISCOGRAPHY: Original Broadway Cast Recording - Philips 446 919-2
LA VIE PARISIENNE Music by Jacques Offenbach: Book and lyrics by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy. Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - 31 October, 1866 Holborn Theatre, London - 30 March, 1872 (adaptation by F.C. Burnand) Booth's Theatre, New York - 12 June, 1876 Paris in the 1860s - and cosmopolitan gaiety has reached new heights of delightful frivolity. A divertingly-tangled tale of flirtatious masquerading and romantic intriguing, it concerns irresponsible men-about-town, fashionable demimondaines, aristocratic visitors in search of a good time, and a motley assortment of flamboyant characters. irrepressible, vivacious music and scenes of rapturous hilarity make this glittering vision of life in the 'Gay Paree' of the Second Empire a marvellously enjoyable show. SYNOPSIS Act 1 Idle Parisians foregather in front of the Saint-Lazare railway station to watch the arrival of foreign tourists. Two young dandies — Raoul de Gardefeu and Bobinet — are there too but not out of idle curiosity. They are in love with the same woman, the demi-mondaine Metella, and have come to meet her. They are busy avoiding each other studiously when the Trouville train arrives, bringing Metella. The two lovers rush forward but the minx is escorted by a third beau and brazenly asserts that she doesn't know the other two. When she has gone, Gardefeu and Bobinet fall into each other's arms and patch up their quarrel; they decide that it's high time they gave up all these <<fast women>> and their costly ways for the homely and disinterested sweetness of the << ladies of fashion>> on the boulevard Saint-Germain. Bobinet rushes off full of hope. Meanwhile Gardefeu meets his former man-servant Joseph who is now a guide employed by the Grand-Hotel. Joseph has come to fetch some customers who are arriving by the Le Havre train, the baron de Gondremarck, a wealthy Swede, and his wife. The Swedes appear and as the baroness turns out to be enchantingly pretty, Gardefeu asks Joseph to let him take his place. Thanks to a large tip, Joseph becomes helpfulness itself and leaves Gardefeu with his new customers while freshly arrived travellers continue to pour out of the station; among them is a Brazilian millionaire obviously bent on spending his money as lavishly and as fast as he can. Act 2: Gardefeu has brought his Swedes to his own town-house, telling them that it is an annexe of the Grand-Hotel. His first care is to lodge them in separate bedrooms, with a view to fostering his own amorous projects. The baron, intent as he puts it on <<stuffing himself up to there>>, raises no objections. His main ambition is to make the acquaintance of the lovely Metella whose countless perfections have been detailed to him by one of his Swedish friends. Who should then walk in but Metella herself, come to make things up with her betrayed lover. Gardefeu is in a quandary and explains that Metella's apartments are now occupied by the baroness. Metella leaves in a rage, bent on revenge. Meanwhile Gardefeu plans to entertain the baron with a table d'hote for this first night and then to get rid of him the next evening by sending him off to some improvised social <<do>>, so as to give himself a clear field with the baroness. All this however, is easier said than done. Fortunately, Gabrielle the glover and Frick the boot-maker come to deliver their goods. Gardefeu takes them into his confidence and they readily undertake to collect a few friends to make up the table d'hote. Frick dresses up as a major and Gabrielle as the widow of a colonel, and dinner goes off with a swing. Act 3: Gardefeu has entrusted the organisation of his social <<do>> to Bobinet who has been left in charge of his aunt's town-house while the good lady is out of Paris. Bobinet, who is nursing his wounds after his first contact with the <<disinterestedness>> of the ladies of fashion, nevertheless throws himself into the fray with
commendable spirit. His aunt's servants will masquerade as fashionable guests, while Bobinet himself will take on the part of the baron's host, Admiral Walter, with the dowager's chambermaid, Pauline, posturing as his wife. She is under strict injunctions to seduce the baron and keep him away from his wife as long as possible. Everyone gets marvellously tipsy and the party is a howling success. Act 4: The Brazilian millionaire is offering a masked ball at the Cafe Anglais. Alfred the majordomo is busy instructing his waiters, advising them to << close their eyes>> as much as they can. His advice is very sound for astonishing events are about to take place which it would be too difficult to explain. Let us merely say that Metella, anxious to win back Gardefeu, is in league with the baroness who wants to extricate her husband from the perils of Parisian life; that Gardefeu and the baron almost come to blows and that the Brazilian and Gabrielle the pretty glover discover the virtues of love at first sight. All is well that ends well. M.T. Principals: - 6 female, 7 male - and 2 male small character parts CAST (in order of appearance) BOBINET - A Parisian dandy (baritone) AN EMPLOYEE of the railways (speaking part) RAOUL DE GARDEFEU - A Parisian dandy (tenor) MÉTELLA - A demi-mondaine (soprano) GONTRAN - Métella's friend (tenor) JOSEPH - A guide (speaking part) LE BARON DE GONDREMARCK - A Swedish traveller (baritone) LA BARONNE DE GONDREMARCK - His wife (soprano) THE BRAZILIAN - A wealthy person (baritone) ALPHONSE - Gardefeu's valet (speaking part) FRICK - A bootmaker (baritone) GABRIELLE - A glovemaker (soprano) PAULINE - A chambermaid (soprano) PROSPER - A servant (baritone) URBAIN - A servant (baritone) CLARA - The concierge's niece (soprano) LEONIE - The concierge's niece (mezzo-soprano) LOUISE - The concierge's niece (mezzo-soprano) ALFRED - A majordomo (baritone) Instrumentation: flute, oboe, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, percussion, harp, strings. Professional Version: 2 flute, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, 3 percussion, harp, strings Adaptation by Phil Park and Ronald Hanmer for amateur production. Professional Version: Sadler's Wells 24 May 1961 (adaptation by by Geoffrey Dunn)
VIENNA BLOOD Operetta in 3 acts: Book by Victor Léon and Leo Stein, Music By Johann Strauss II completed by Adolf Müller Jnr. Carltheater, Vienna - 26 October, 1899 Broadway Theatre, New York (as Vienna Life) 23 January, 1901 (35 perfs) SYNOPSIS Count Balduin Zedlau, ambassador of the tiny court of Reuss-SchleizGreiz, is posted to Vienna. His wife Gabrielle is Viennese and loves the city, but he prefers the quiet of the countryside. But things soon change and he becomes a man of the world, taking Franziska (Franzi) Cagliari as his mistress, Act I Franzi is living with the Count at his country retreat. The dancer's father, thinking the Count a bachelor, hopes his daughter will marry him, but the Count becomes attracted to the model, Pepi Pleininger. On the advice of Josef, his valet, the Count writes to Pepi inviting her to another of his villas at Heitzing. Josef, engaged to Pepi, is unaware that it is to she to whom the invitation has been sent. Prince YpsheimGindelbach, Prime Minister of Reuss-Schleiz-Greiz, pays an unexpected visit ti the villa. He assumes that Franzi is the Count's wife and when the real Countess arrives he believes her to be the Count's mistress! Zedlau enters and with some embarrassment, whispers to the Prince, "Introduce her (Franzi) as your wife." But the Prince, mistaking him, presents the Countess as his wife! Act II. A party is in progress in the palace of Count Bitowski and when Count Zedlau encounters both his wife and mistress, an explanation is demanded. He makes various excuses, but both ladies disbelieve him. Pepi arrives, having been invited by Franzi, and the Count hands her a letter he has written. Pepi agrees to the rendezvous. When the Countess asks her husband to accompany her to a festival, he excuses himself by saying that he must attend the Prince after the ball. Knowing this to be untrue, since she and the Prince have straightened out their respective identities, they decide to carry on a flirtation, planning to attend the festival together. Act III. Prince Ypsheim-Gindelbach is present at the festival at Heitzing with the Countess. Franzi is with the valet Josef, while the Count accompanies Pepi. All ends happily, however, the Count falling in love with the Countess again, while Franzi is happy with the Prince and Josef and Pepi are reunited. PRINCIPAL CAST: Prince Ypsheim-Gindelbach of Reuss-Griez-Schliez (bass) Count Zedlau, Ambassador from Reuss-Griez-Schliez (tenor) Countess Zedlau Rudolph Kaegler, father of Franziska Gabriele, his wife (soprano) Franziska (Franzi) Cagliari, a ballet dancer (soprano) Betty, maid to Franziska Cagliari Pepi Peininger, a milliner's model - (soprano) Josef, Count Zedlau's valet - (tenor) Theresa, Tyrolean Danseuse Prince Bitowski Marguerite, Ursula, Marie, Luise, Hortense, Agnes, Amelia, Rose, Katrina, Rodolfo Captain of Gendarmes
Milliners, Bird-sellers, Peddlers, Peasants, Lancers, Pages, Maids of Honour, Court Ladies, Tyrolean Singers, etc. Scenes and Settings Act 1: The villa of Count Zedlau, in the environs of Vienna. Act 2: Ballroom in Prince Bitowski's palace. Act 3: Casino at Hietzing, near Vienna.
VIKTORIA AND HER HUSSAR Book by Alfred Grunwald and Dr Fritz Löhner-Beda from the Hungarian by Emerich Földes. English book and lyrics by Harry Graham. Music by Paul Abraham Stadtheater, Leipzig - 7 July, 1930 Palace Theatre, London (adapted by Harry Graham) - 17 September, 1931 SYNOPSIS Prologue The show opens in Siberia in the aftermath of World War I where Stefan Koltay is under sentence of death for being a counter-revolutionary. His batman's violin becomes the price for their escape. Act I The Japanese Garden of the American Embassy in Tokyo is the scene of the impending wedding of Count Ferry Hegedüs, brother to Countess Viktoria, and Lia San. Countess Viktoria and her husband, the Ambassador John Cunlight are being posted to St Petersburg. The sadness of their parting contrasts with the wedding celebrations. It to this setting that Koltay and his batman Janczi have come. These two have come to the embassy because Viktoria and Stefan are old friends and he saw her earlier in the ambassador's car. When the ambassador appears, Koltay introduces himself as Captain Czaky, an Hungarian citizen. He tells the ambassador that he and Janczi have escaped imprisonment in Siberia and seek diplomatic protection. As his wife is Hungarian, Cunlight readily agrees to the request. What he does not know, however, is that Viktoria and Stefan had pledged everlasting fidelity to each other in their earlier lives. The wedding of Ferry and Lia San takes place and Viktoria and Stefan come face to face. Act II Cunlight has been posted to St Petersburg and Koltay and Janczi accompany him. Janczi is homesick for Hungary and Doroszma but Koltay says they will only return home if Viktoria goes with him. At a reception Viktoria tells Koltay that he could be recaptured by the Russians at any time and should leave. He tells her that it was only the thought of being with her that kept him going through war and imprisonment - and yet here she is, the wife of another! She tells his that he had been posted as being killed when his regiment had been wiped out in battle. It is obvious that she still loves him but when the Russians enter the embassy he is determined to leave without her. Act III A year later in the town of Doroszma it is the celebration of the grape harvest. There is an age-old custom that on the day of the wine festival there shall be three weddings. Janczi and his love Riquette will form one couple, Ferry and Lia San will be the second (Japanese marriages are not recognised in Doroszma). Viktoria will form half of the third couple but will it be a renewal of marriage to Cunlight or to Koltay? CAST of CHARACTERS • Janzci (his servant) • A Cossack Sentry • A Russian Sergeant • Viktoria • Tokeramo Yagani (A Japanese Secretary) • John Carling (American Ambassador at the Court of Japan) • Miki (A Japanese Boy) • Riquette (Viktoria’s Maid) • Count Ferry Hegedu • A Japanese Maid • O Lia San Barbara Diu Webster (Butler to American Ambassador) • O Kiki San • O Muki San • Bela Porkelty (Mayor of Doroszma) plus chorus of Servants, Japanese Guests, Hungarian Peasants, etc.
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