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My Lady Frayle

Musical in 2 acts: Book and Lyrics by Arthur Wimperis and Max Pemberton; Music by Howard Talbot and Herman Finck

Shaftesbury Theatre, London, - 1st March - 21st June, 1916

Synopsis

My Lady Frayle, is a kind of inverted Faust in musical-comedy form for the Countess of Frayle sells her soul to Mr. Lucifer D. Nation, that she may be young again and win the love of her ward.

Story

The ageing Countess of Frayle has fallen madly in love with Dick Bassett, her ward, and the mysterious Lucifer D. Nation offers to restore her youth and maidenhood, and re-create her as Vivien Ingoldsby. Finally, however, Vivien’s love for Dick attains the nobility of self-sacrifice, and the devil is defeated of his purpose. By the end of the show Vivien is restored as the Countess and Dick is back in the arms of his sweetheart, Virginia Desborough.

Sub-plots involve the Dean of Dorchester trapped into an engagement with Vera de Vere, an actress young enough to be his daughter, and William Wilcox, the blackmailing butler, who eventually ends up with Vera.

Musical Numbers

ACT I - Scene 1 - A Room at King's Frayle.

ACT I - Scene 2 - Ballroom at King's Frayle.

ACT II - The Gardens, King's Frayle.

Items 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 13, 15 and 16 were composed by Howard Talbot.
Items 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 were composed by Herman Finck.

Cast

Orchestration.

[Strings]: Violin (leader); 1st violin; 2nd violin; Viola; Cello; Bass
[Wind]: Flute; Clarinets; Oboe; Bassoon
[Brass]: Cornets; Horn; Trombone; Euphonium
[Percussion]: Drums (bass, side), tympani, triangle, sandpaper, cymbals.

Synopsis of Scenery