AND SO TO BED

Book by J.B. Fagan. Lyrics & Music by Vivian Ellis

Opened London October 1951 (323 performances)

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Synopsis

This is the musical adaptation of a play by J.B. Fagan about the English diarist, Samuel Pepys.

Vivian Ellis contributed an intriguing 17th century style score containing a mixture of musical influences such as a madrigal, jig, saraband and rigaudon in a variety of numbers including:

• Love Me Little, Love Me Long
• Gaze Not On the Swans
• Amo, Amas
• And So To Bed
• Bartholomew Fair
• Moppety Mo
• Beauty Retire

Story (from the book)

This historical romp finds diarist and 'father of the Admiralty' Samuel Pepys rescuing lovely singer Mrs Knight from a violent pick-purse, then slyly arranging a musical tryst with her that evening. His dinner guests include young francophile dandy Pelham Humphries and brazen Mrs Pierce and Mrs Knepp, but Pepys declares he has urgent business at the Navy office. His attractive wife sees him dress up, and knowing his ways with women, doesn't believe his story. When she finds the note with Mrs Knight's address she pursues Sam.

Meanwhile her amorous husband is using all his flowery lines on Mrs Knight when her former lover King Charles II arrives. Sam is forced to hide in a chest where he hears little good of himself. Then it's Charles's turn to hide as Mrs Pepys arrives, ranting and raving after Samuel, but she's brought to heel upon discovering not Sam, but his Majesty behind a curtain. Charles, the archetypal ladies' man, flirts with Mrs Pepys before sending her home, then demands that sulking Mrs Knight open the chest. Charles and an uncomfortable Sam lecture each other, but upon leaving Sam forgets his flageolet (a musical instrument) which Charles then sends to Mrs Pepys; now both know what the other has been up to.

Back home Sam and wife confront one another with various accusations, protestations and extractions of mutual promises of fidelity. It is now past midnight, their adventures are over... and so to bed.

Cast

1. A Thief
2. A Watchman
3. Caesar
4. Charles II
5. Humphrey
6. Mistress Knepp
7. Mistress Knight
8. Mistress Pepys
9. Mistress Pierce
10. Pelling
11. Prodgers – Groom of the Bedchamber
12. Samuel Pepys
13. Servant to Mistress Knight – Anna
14. Servant to Mistress Knight – Julia
15. Servant to Pelling – Tom
16. Servant to Pepys – Coachman
17. Servant to Pepys – Doll
18. Servant to Pepys – Jake
19. Servant to Pepys – Lettice
20. Servant to Pepys – Sue