Posts
-- The 'pre-Savoy' years: 1877-1880.
"THESPIS" -- Sullivan. Libretto: Gilbert.
"TRIAL BY JURY" -- Sullivan. Libretto: Gilbert.
"SORCERER". Sullivan. Libretto: Gilbert.
"HMS PINAFORE, or the lass that loved a sailor: a nautical opera". SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"PIRATES OF PENZANCE, or the slave of duty. SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
-- The Savoy Years. 1881 --
1881. "PATIENCE, or Bunthorne's Bride" -- SULLIVAN. Libretto: GILBERT. Strictly, the first Savoy opera. The opera with which the Savoy Theatre opened.
"IOLANTHE, or the peer and the peri: a faery opera." SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Princess Ida, or Castle Adamant: a respectful operatic perversion of Tennyson." SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Mikado, or the Town of Titipu". SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Ruddygore, or the Witch's curse. SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Yeomen of the Guard, the -- or the merry man and his maid." SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Gondoliers, the -- or the republic of Barataria." SULLIVAN. Libretto: GILBERT.
1891.
"Nautch Girl or, The Rajah of Chutneypore" . EDWARD SOLOMON. Libretto:
George Dance & Frank Desprez.
Tenor role:
| Indru, the son of the rajah of Chutneypore-- | tenor | Courtice Pounds |
1892.
"Vicar of Bray, The". Libretto by Sydney Grundy -- Music by: Edward Solomon.
Tenor role: Reverend Henry Sandford, a curate –played in the first Savoy production by Courtice Pounds
"Haddon Hall". SULLIVAN.
Libretto: S. Grundy.
1893.
"Jane Annie, or the Good Conduct Prize". ERNEST FORD.
Libretto: J. M. Barrie & Arthur Conan Doyle.
Tenor role: Tom, a press student, created by Charles Kenningham
"Utopia Limited, or the flowers of progress. SULLIVAN. Libretto: Gilbert.
"Mirette". Music by André Messager.
Libretto by: Harry Greenbank & Fred E. Weatherly (revised by Adrian Ross)
Tenor role: Picorin, a gypsy, in love with Mirette (tenor) – Courtice Pounds
1894.
"Chieftain, The". SULLIVAN. Libretto: F. C. Burnand.
Tenor roles:
Pedro Gomez (consulting lawyer, astrologer, and keeper of the archives of the Ladrones) (tenor) – Scott Russell
Count Vasquez de Gonzago (A Spanish Noble) (tenor) – Courtice Pounds
"Grand Duke, The -- or the statuary duel". SULLIVAN. Libretto: GILBERT.
1897.
"His Majesty, or the court of Vingolia" -- Alexander Mackenzie. Libretto by F. C. Burnand, R. C. Lehmann, & Adrian Ross.
Tenor roles:
Count Cosmo (Prime Minister and First Lord of the Admiralty) (tenor) – Scott Russell
Prince Max (of Baluria) (tenor) – Charles Kenningham
"Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, The". Jacques Offenbach. Libretto: Charles H. Brookfield & Adrian Ross.
1898.
"Beauty Stone, The". SULLIVAN.
Libretto: A. W. Pinero & J. Comyns Carr.
Tenor role: Philip, Lord of Mirlemont, created by George Devoll.
Tenor aria: "I Love Thee".
1899.
"Lucky Star, The". "Ivan Caryll".
Libretto: Charles H. Brookfield, Adrian Ross, & Aubrey Hopwood.
Tenor role: Tapioca, created by Evett.
Tenor aria: "Dreaming in the dark, your vision comes upon my lonely slumber"
"Rose of Persia, The". Arthur Sullivan. Libretto: Basil Hood.
Tenor role: Yussuf, a professional story-teller -- created by Robert Evett
Tenor aria: "Our tale is told".
1901.
"Emerald Isle, The -- or, The Caves of Carrig-Cleena".
SULLIVAN and Edward German. Libretto: Basil Hood.
Tenor role: Terence O'Brian (a Young Rebel) created by – Robert Evett
"Ib and Little Christina". FRANCO LEONI. Libretto: Basil Hood.
Savoy
Ib's father – Henry Lytton
Little Ib – Laurence EmeryOld Henrik, Christina's grandfather – Holbrook Blinn; H. Thorndike
Ib's Mother/Gipsy Woman – Mary Rorke; Isabel Jay
Little Christina – Phyllis Dare; Ela Q. May (She reprised the role at Daly's Theatre)
Ib – Martin Harvey; Robert Evett (Evett reprised the role at Daly's Theatre)
John – H. Nye Chart; Powis Pinder
- Christina – Eva Moore; Louie Pounds (also at the Coronet Theatre in 1900)
"Willow Pattern, The" Basil Hood Cecil Cook
1902.
"Merrie England". Edward German. Libretto: Basil Hood.
Tenor role: Sir Walter Raleigh, created by Robert Evett.
Tenor aria: "Dan Cupid Hath a Garden"
1903.
"Princess of Kensington, A". Edward German.
Libretto: Basil Hood.
Tenor role: Brook Green, a Junior Clerk --created by Robert Evett.
Tenor aria: "A blue sky and a blue sea" (the aria was replaced during the original run, with the song "Where haven lies")
1909.
"Mountaineers, The". Reginald Somerville.
Libretto: Guy Eden.
Tenor role: Conrad, a rich man from the city -- created by A. Laurence Legge.
Tenor arias:
"Was it the sigh of a passing soul?"
"Is the love dead?"
"Fallen Fairies; or, the Wicked World".
Edward German. Libretto: W. S. Gilbert. The tenor roles are:
The Fairy Ethais (tenor) – Claude Flemming[15]Sir Ethais, a Hunnish Knight (tenor) – Claude Flemming
1910
"Two Merry Monarchs".
Tenor: Roland Cunningham, with soprano.
ORLANDO MORGAN. Libretto: Arthur Anderson, George Levy, & Hartley Carrick. Tenor role: Prince Charmis, Governor of Police -- created byRoland Cunningham (then C. Hayden Coffin).
TENOR ARIA: "Love of my life". Synopsis
A tocsin-bell summons the populace, who rush out to hear the king's herald, Helvanoise, announce a new law: Kissing is now forbidden for one year under penalty of banishment. Those who wish to continue to kiss must purchase a kissing license from Rolandyl, the Post-Master General. Princess Iris has known about the law for the past three days because she is engaged to the Post-Master General. Princess Cynthia, King Paul's adopted daughter, is in love with Prince Charmis, the Governor of Police. They agree to keep their engagement a secret and do not get a kissing license.
The public is incensed about the new law, and led by Caroline, they protest the edict on the steps of the palace. King Paul justifies his decision to enact the law, and when the crowd does not accept his argument, he weeps them into submission. King Paul tells his life story to Rolandyl. Nine hundred years ago, King Paul was an alchemist who discovered the Elixir of Life, and when he drank it, he became immortal. His bonehead assistant stole some of the Elixir and drank it as well. Twenty years ago, King Paul betrothed the adopted daughter of the late King to the King of Utopia, who comes to Esperanto today to claim his affianced bride. King Paul has brought up Princess Cynthia on slow poisons so that she may take a heavy dose of poison without feeling the effects. King Paul plans to get her to kiss the King of Utopia, and he will barter crown and country for an antidote, then King Paul will rule throughout the world.
Meanwhile, Helvanoise is furious to learn that Iris has been flirting with Rolandyl. King Paul tells Cynthia about her betrothal, and when she begins to cry, he gives her an "extra special sweet" to make her feel better. King Utops of Utopia arrives, accompanied by Mandamus and the King's Bodyguard. Princess Cynthia is presented to him, and when he tries to kiss her hand, Charmis interrupts him and informs him that he must get a license before kissing anybody.
Act II - The Reception Room inside the Royal Palace of Esperanto. Evening.
Charmis has called in the constables to act as flunkeys in case of any disturbance this evening. He swears he will protect Cynthia from King Utops at any cost. Six ladies-in-waiting are late for the ball, so Mandamus will not admit them. They press Helvanoise to choose a girl from the six of them, but he declines to make a selection. The ballroom guests appear with Iris, who tells the ladies where they might get a kissing license, even though the men show no interest in purchasing one. Iris decides that when Cynthia and Charmis announce their engagement, she will announce her engagement to the Post-Master General. King Utops works his charm on Cynthia, and when he moves to kiss her, Charmis interrupts them again. Utops produces his license - a license to sell wines and consume liquor on the premises! Utops complains to Paul that Rolandyl sold him the wrong license, and that he doesn't like Charmis hanging around Cynthia. King Paul orders Rolandyl to set up his office in the reception room and sell licenses to the public.
Utops finally kisses Cynthia, but when Utops fails to respond to the poison, he admits that he was Paul's assistant when he discovered the Elixir of Life. The world isn't big enough for two immortal kings, so they decide to fight a duel, in which they drink from two glasses. One is filled with water, the other is filled with a liquid which makes the drinker mortal. So that there is no cheating, Charmis and Mandamus are summoned to supervise the duel. King Paul tells Charmis about the Elixir and explains that he still has a phial in his cabinet. Charmis is to get the phial and bring to him at once. Unbeknownst to them, Charmis mixed the drinks while the kings were blindfolded, and when they drink, they are both in the cart. Charmis returns with Cynthia and everyone, saying that they drank the Elixir and will live forever as King and Queen of Esperanto. Mandamus is appointed King of Utopia, Utops becomes his Lord Chief Justice, and Paul becomes Charmis' Governor of Police. Helvanoise is named the new Post-Master General, and when Rolandyl tries to speak to Iris, she reminds him that she will marry the Post-Master General, who is now Helvanoise. The kissing law is repealed, and the happy couples leave Rolandyl, Utops and Paul disconsolate.
-------
curtain raisers, and afterpieces.
1877.
"Dora's Dream" -- Arthur Cecil -- Alfred Cellier.
Setting: A drawing room in a villa in Putney.
Fred Fancourt, a stockbroker, courts his cousin, Dora. He seeks a comfy, capable, dumpy little wife. Dora, on the other hand, has begun reading great literature and declares that she will only marry a poet. They play charades, and Fred takes the opportunity to show that poets are impossible to live with, while Dora shows how insufferable stockbrokers can be to their wives. Both dreams shattered, and the couple agrees to part. Eventually, however, they make up and (presumably) get married and live happily ever after.Roles and cast
Dora Leslie, a romantic young lady - Fanny Holland (1873 and 1876); Giulia Warwick (1877-78)
Fred Fancourt, her cousin, of the Stock Exchange - Arthur Cecil (1873 and 1876); Richard Temple (1877-78)
a voice outside, supposed to be Dora's father
a servant's voice outside (identified as that of Jennie Sullivan in a programme reproduced in Leslie Baily)
1878,
"Spectre Knight, The" James Albery -- Alfred Cellier
Synopsis
Scene - A Haunted Glen.
Time - The educated will perceive; the uneducated will not require to know.
The eccentric Grand Duke, with his daughter Viola and the remains of his court, has been banished and live in a lonely glen where they try to keep up the semblance of their former grandeur. Viola has known no other life and never seen another human being except those of their party. She is thus greatly delighted when the Duke's nephew Otho arrives in the glen disguised as a friar. Otho falls in love with his cousin at first sight, and having learned from her of the legend of the spectre knight who is supposed to haunt the glen, he appears in the disguise of the ghost. He wins Viola's heart and finally introduces himself to her as Otho who has just overthrown the usurper of her father's throne. He promises that they can all go home again. The Duke consents to Otho's union with Viola, and all ends happily.Musical numbers
Overture
No. 1 - Recit. - Chamberlain -- "Potatoes a pound and onions a rope..."
No. 2 Recit. - Duke and Chamberlain -- "What letters have you brought from the Palace?"
No. 3 - Duo - Duke and Chamberlain -- "Your Grace, I am an eligible Count..."
No. 4 - Quartett - Ladies in Waiting, Chamberlain and Duke -- "You may talk, you may talk, you may scold..."
No. 5 - Song - Otho -- "Said Cupid to me, come hither to see..."
No. 6 - Vocal Waltz - Princess -- "I am free, I am free, for my labour is done..."
No. 7 - Recit. and Trio - Otho, Viola and 1st. Lady -- "Pardon me, madam, I've a word to say to this young lady..."
No. 8 - Duett - Viola and Otho -- "The little goldfinch in her nest is but a homely bird at best..."
No. 8(bis) - Replica of Duet -- "You should not be long alone..."
No. 9 - Recit and Quartett - Viola, 1st. Lady, Chamberlain and Duke -- "Fill up, and let us drink to one another..."
No. 10 - Round - Viola, 1st. Lady, Chamberlain and Duke -- "Too-whit, too-whoo, too-whoo, too-whit..."
No. 10b -- Melodrame
No. 11 & 12 - Entrance and Song of the Spectre - Otho -- "I only mix with ghosts well known..."
No. 13 - Scena - Viola, 1st. & 2nd. Lady, Chamberlain, Duke, Otho & Pages -- "I am here... close at hand... at your will..."
No. 14 -- Banquet Music
No. 15 - Song - Viola -- "I have been taught that I should love my father and my friends..."
No. 16 - Finale -- "He has come to our undoing..."Roles and cast
The Grand Duke (banished at the age of 40) (bass) – Frederic Clifton
The Lord Chamberlain (banished at the age of 35) (baritone) – Rutland Barrington
1st lady in waiting (banished at the age of --) (mezzo-soprano) – Harriett Everard
2nd lady in waiting (banished at the age of --) (soprano) – Lisa Muncey
Lady Viola (banished at the age of 1) (soprano) – Giulia Warwick
Ghost ("The Spectre Knight" - an Imposter, buried A.D. 1294) (bass-baritone) – Richard Temple
The Spectre Knight (banished at the age of 7) (bass-baritone) – Richard Temple
During the run of The Sorcerer, Barrington was replaced by F. Talbot, Muncey by Miss Hervey (possibly Rose Hervey), and Warwick by Laura Clement. When revived with Pinafore, the cast was Clifton, Talbot, Everard, Muncey, Clement, and Temple. During the run, Muncey was replaced again by Hervey and Clement by Alice Burville.
"Beauties on the Beach" George Grossmith
'Silver Wedding, A" -- George Grossmith
'Five Hamlets" George Grossmith
"Cups and Saucers" George Grossmith.
The recently widowed Mrs. Emily Nankeen Worcester and General Edwin Deelah intend to marry each other, feigning love, but each is secretly interested in the other's purportedly valuable collection of "rare" china, which they plan to sell upon marriage.
Mrs. Nankeen Worcester is in her Morning Room anticipating a visit from General Deelah. She recounts how she came to own the single but highly valuable item in her china collection ("A Friend Most Dear"), the sole remaining saucer from Julius Caesar's favorite tea service, appraised at ten thousand pounds.
General Deelah arrives, and, after some shy conversation and gentle flirting, the conversation turns to their china collections. Mrs. Worcester notes that she has but one small saucer and inquires of the General's china collection. Deelah boasts that he has a very large collection of china, but states in an aside, "--in China." He quickly changes the subject by asking, "Would it surprise you to learn that I am related to the Chinese?" He then sings of an extravagantly wealthy Chinese merchant named Foo Choo Chan who wished nothing more than to be English ("Foo Choo Chan Was a Merchant of Japan"). The relationship turned out to be Foo Choo Chan's marriage to the "sister of [Deelah's] brother's second aunt, by an uncle on [Deelah's] grandmother's side."
Deelah professes his love for Mrs. Worcester, whereupon she pretends to have fainted until she spots him snooping around for her famed Julius Caesar saucer. She then "recovers" and announces that since she is Deelah's true love, she can now reveal her most prized possession to him. To Deelah's horror, he finds that it is a counterfeit—of his own make, which he admits to Mrs. Worcester. To her horror, he also admits that his own collection of china is his own make as well. She orders Deelah to leave, and Deelah sings farewell, attempting to make her regret her decision ("The Farewell Song").
Deelah then admits that he never had any real interest in china, but that society had forced him "with the alternative of being thought vulgar, to pretend an affection for its inartistic, ugly beauties at which [his] true soul actually revolts!" Deelah further explains,
A set of vagabonds who infest England have bought up every bit of Oriental ware, are doctoring it up, making it look dirty, cracking it, and then palming it off on would be fashionable folks as real oriental ware. One little town in Japan had been completely cleaned out of every cup and saucer, and the poor Japanese were compelled to drink their tea out of ink bottles and blacking pots. I could not bear to see this. So I started a firm for the manufacture of English china to supply to wants of the natives, and I flatter myself I am doing very well.
General Deelah once again proposes to Mrs. Worcester, who agrees, and they decide to "give up old china and live in Japan, and make cups and saucers as fast as we can" ("We'll Give Up Old China and Live in Japan").Song List
No. 1. My Little Saucer
No. 2. Foo Choo Chan
No. 3. The "Farewell Song"
No. 4. We'll Give Up Old China
"After All!" Frank Desprez -- Alfred Cellier
Selworthy returns from many years in the Americas to seek his youthful sweetheart Perdita, and calls upon his old pal Pennyfather only to discover that Perdita is now Mrs. Pennyfather. He is heartbroken, but on learning from his friend what a henpecking, overbearing and overweight woman his sweetheart has now become, realises that he has had a lucky escape and that he really can forgive Pennyfather After All!
Song list
No. 1. True, True Love! – SelworthyNo. 2. The Solicitor's Song: Up A Little Early – Pennyfather
No. 3. It's Missus – Maria
No. 4. Strictly Proper – Pennyfather and SelworthyRoles and original cast
Pennyfather – Rutland Barrington
Selworthy – Richard Temple
Maria – Jessie Bond
Offstage voice – J. Hervey
The offstage voice was originally played by Jennie Sullivan, Arthur Sullivan's cousin under the name J. Hervey. The role is not mentioned after the first few weeks or months of the run. Jessie Bond in her autobiography mentions her spoonerism "The missus is having such a cow with the rabman", which comes from this piece.
After Bond left for America in 1879, Julia Gwynne took over the role of Maria.[4] C. H. Workman played Pennyfeather in the 1895-97 revivals. Emmie Owen played Maria in the 1895-96 revivals. Jones Hewson played Selworthy in the 1895-97 revivals.
1880.
"In the Sulks" Frank Desprez -- Alfred Cellier. After an argument, Mr. Liverby is sulking and refusing to speak to his wife. Mrs. Liverby decides to make him jealous and writes a love letter to herself, allegedly from a young man. Mr. Liverby finds a love letter, but when he learns it was a joke he forgives her. However, the letter turns out not to be the one Mrs. Liverby had written, but another one written by a young man who has been hanging around the house for days trying to get an opportunity to speak to her. She is terrified, but her husband refuses to listen, thinking that this is another joke to try to make him lose his temper again, and he is determined to stay in a good humour. The young man eventually turns out to be Mr. Liverby's nephew who had been let go by Liverby's firm, and who has merely been trying to persuade Mrs. Liverby to put in a good word for him. Mr. Liverby agrees to reinstate his nephew, and all ends happily.Musical numbers
No. 1 - Song - Georgina
No. 2 - Duet - Liverby and Georgina
No. 3 - Trio - Georgina, Liverby and Joseph
No. 4 - Finale. The original cast was:
Mr. James Liverby, a man of business. George Temple
Mrs. Georgina Liverby, his wife. Lilian La Rue
Joseph, a boy in buttons. Frank Thornton
one muta persona. Ellen Shirley
When the Pirates company returned from New York in 1881, Julia Gwynne replaced La Rue as Kate (in Pirates) and Mrs. Liverby.[4] When George Temple left at the end of the run of Pirates, W. H. Seymour took over the role of Mr. Liverby.
"Uncle Samuel" Arthur Law George Grossmith. Jack is Samuel Crow's nephew, whom he threw out of his house many years ago, and who (unbeknown to his uncle) has been brought up by the latter's friend Mr. Daw. Daw has just died, and has asked Crow to look after his frumpish daughter Marjorie. Crow lives with his niece Jenny, Jack's cousin with whom he is in love, but from whom he has concealed his true identity. Jack turns up incognito at his uncle's house on the Thames to hatch a plot to gain Crow's consent to the marriage. When Marjorie arrives, Jenny mistakes her for a flame of Jack's. Eventually Crow in a rage at Jenny's determination to marry this unknown man, decides to leave all his money, not to her but to his nephew Jack whom he thinks he has not seen for many years. He is mortified on learning who this young man really is. Musical numbers
No. 1 - Song - Crow -- "What is the good of a name."
No. 2 - Duet - Jack and Crow -- "Is she dark or fair?"
No. 3 - Duet - Jenny and Margery -- "Come, come, compose yourself I pray..."
No. 4 - Trio - Jenny, Margery, and Jack -- "I'm caught, I'm caught, what an awkward situation..."
No. 5 - Finale - "At last we've arrived at a happy conclusion..."The original cast was:
Mr. Samuel Crow, an old bachelor. Frank Thornton
John Bird (alias Jack Sparrow). Arthur Law
Jenny Wren. Minna Louis
Margery Daw. Rosina Brandram
1881.
"Mock Turtles" Frank Desprez Eaton Faning.
Mr. and Mrs. Wranglebury quarrel like two tigers whenever they are together. Things come to a head when Mrs. Wranglebury's mother comes unexpectedly to stay with them. Mr. Wranglebury borrowed money from his mother-in-law many years ago to start his business, and he is fearful that she may ask for it back. They pretend to be very amiable and discover that they really prefer being amiable to each other and want to live happily together. When the servant Jane nearly spoils everything by telling the mother-in-law of the quarrels, she is branded a liar and sacked on the spot. Musical numbers
No. 1 - Duet - Mr. and Mrs. Wranglebury - "Oh! I hate you, I despise you..."
No. 2 - Song - Mrs. Boucher, with Mr. and Mrs. Wranglebury - "I mean to go about, my dears..."
No. 3 - Duet - Mr. and Mrs. Wranglebury - "I love you so..."
No. 4 - Finale - Mr. and Mrs. Wranglebury and Mrs. Boucher - "We mean to see the Abbey..."The original cast was:
Mr. Wranglebury. Courtice Pounds (tenor) (his first principal role with the company)
Mrs. Wranglebury. Minna Louis/Rose Hervey (soprano)
Mrs. Bowcher. Rosina Brandram (contralto)
Jane (non singing). Sybil Grey
Arthur Law and Eric Lewis each replaced Pounds for part of the run.
1883.
"Private Wire, A" -- Frank Desprez -- Percy Reeve.
Philip FitzStubbs loves Rose Frumpington who lives in the house on the opposite side of the street. Philip's father has forbidden the match and made his son promise not to see or write to Rose, but Philip has had a telephone installed so that they can talk. FitzStubbs senior hopes to marry Rose's mother. Mrs. Frumpington, a spiritualist, is worried that her late husband may disapprove of her marrying FitzStubbs. Visiting her daughter's house, she is alone in a room and hears a voice evidently talking to her. It is Philip, trying to talk to Rose by telephone, but Mrs. Frumpington assumes it to be the voice of her dead husband. She replies to the voice. Philip, assuming that he is speaking to Rose, becomes increasingly agitated at the strange answers he is getting down the wire, and eventually rushes across the street. All is explained, and finding that there is no spiritual objection, Mrs. Frumpington accepts Fitzstubbs's proposal, and the parents consent to the marriage of their children.[3]Roles and original cast
Mrs. Frumpington – Rosina Brandram/Miss Twyman
Miss Rose Frumpington – Minna Louis/Rose Hervey
Napoleon FitzStubbs – Eric Lewis
Philip FitzStubbs – Charles Rowan
Mary, the maid – Sybil Grey[3]
1886.
"The Carp" -- Frank Desprez & Arnold Felix -- Alfred Cellier.
Tenor role: AMANDUS, created by Charles Hildesley.
In a charming rural 17th century setting, near a stream and rustic bridge, Piscator arrives, looking forward to a quiet day's fishing. He is interrupted by Amandus, who wants to commit suicide by drowning himself in the river. Piscator, upset, tells Amandus that he has, throughout his life, tried to catch a particular carp at this place. If Amandus throws himself in, he will chase away the carp and spoil a lifetime of work. Amandus, in turn, tells Piscator of his hopeless love affair. He promises to wait until after 6 PM, when Piscator must return home, before drowning himself.
Amanda arrives, and she wants to commit suicide in the river, also over a hopeless love affair. Piscator tells her she must wait, and then goes up the bank, where he has seen the carp nibble at his line. Amanda tells Amandus about her plan to throw herself into the river, but Amandus notes that he has already claimed the pool for that purpose. Amandus's love is Clorinda, Amanda's dearest friend. Amanda then gives Amandus information that casts Clorinda in a bad light. She also shows Amandus that Clorinda has given a very unflattering profile of Amandus in a letter that Clorinda wrote to Amanda.
As the two continue to converse, Amanda finds out that her love, Corydon, is Amandus's best friend. Amandus reveals, however, that Corydon had paid off a gambling debt to Amandus by giving him Amanda's ring. He also relates some rather unflattering things that Corydon had told him about Amanda. Soon, the two are no longer enamoured of their former loves and are now in love with each other. By the time Piscator returns, neither of them wishes to commit suicide any more. Musical numbers
No. 1 – The Fisherman, at the Break of Day
No. 2 – I Loved Her!
No. 3 – Why does azure deck the sky?
No. 4 – It's really very hard
No. 5 – My heart is doubly broken! – Mem'ries
No. 6 – Finale – Mem'ries.
The tenor role is AMANDUS, created by Charles Hildesley. At the end of July 1886, Amandus was taken over by Charles Wilbraham.
1888.
"Mrs. Jarramie's Genie" Frank Desprez -- Alfred Cellier & François
Cellier. The scene is the morning room of Mr. Jarramie's house, Harley Street, London.
The Era printed this summary of the plot in its review of the first performance:
Mr and Mrs Barrington Jarramie are fashionable parvenus who are elevating themselves in society by the lever of politics. Daphne, their daughter, is secretly engaged to one Ernest Pepperton, an enthusiastic young Radical, who has incurred Mr Jarramie's dislike by his unorthodox politics. Mrs Jarramie is anxious about a very particular dinner which she is going to give that day. She has, by patience and diplomacy, secured a duchess as her guest, and Elie (Mrs Jarramie) condones her butler, Smithers's, pilfering of his choice imperial Tokay in order to keep him in good humour on the great occasion. A parcel arrives containing a present from Daphne's sailor cousin, an ancient lamp which he has sent as a bit of bric-a-brac. Daphne thoughtlessly runs out to get Smithers to clean the article, and that worthy soon appears and remonstrates with his mistress on the subject, winding up by giving "notice." It seems, however, that the real cause of the resignation is that Smithers has heard that Mr Jarramie is "blackballed" for the Cerulean Club, for which he had been put up. Mrs Jarramie loses her temper, and mentions the Tokay, and the butler spitefully leaves on the instant, taking his fiancée, the cook, with him. Mrs Jarramie is in despair but rubbing the lamp angrily, the room darkens, a vast cloud of smoke fills the air and Ben-Zoh-Leen, the Slave of Aladdin's Lamp, mysteriously appears. After mutual explanations, Mrs Jarramie engages him as cook and butler combined, for by his magic power he can change in a moment from one character to the other. In the twinkling of an eye he appears in the complete dress of a chef and goes about his business. Mr Jarramie comes down, and opens his letters. His Liverpool agents have sent him a combination safe, but have not forwarded the key word by which alone it can be opened. Finding the lamp in an escritoire, he dusts it, and the Genie appears from the kitchen. Mr Jarramie promptly engages him as an electioneering canvasser, and the Slave has to make a change to the orthodox frock-coat and high hat of a politician. Mrs Jarramie's jealousy, which has accidentally been aroused by her husband's late hours, is set aflame by the perusal of a telegram to him which she opens. She mistakes the wording "Did you get safe in last night!" and the female name which serves as a key-word to the safe, for a communication from a lady; and when she finds that Mr Jarramie has taken her chef away to use him as a canvasser, she orders Ben-Zoh-Leen to take her husband to – Timbuctoo. He does so; and then Pepperton explains to Mrs Jarramie the facts of her error. Horror! Mr Jarramie must be brought back. But Mrs Jarramie has carelessly put the lamp in the combination safe, and turned the handle. Ben-Zoh-Leen cannot conscientiously obey any one not "holding" the lamp, and Mr Jarramie is in an uncomfortable position, as the Genie amicably placed him in the midst of a tribe of natives of cannibalistic propensities. After a certain amount of agony Pepperton finds the letter containing the key-word, the lamp is recovered, and Mr Jarramie restored to the bosom of his family, Pepperton pardoned, and the Genie is given his freedom, and set up in an oil and lamp business, his last service being as a bald-headed and highly respectable butler, to serve up the dinner and announce "The Duchess!" on which happy termination the curtain drops.[1] Roles and original cast: Mr. Harington Jarramie – Wallace Brownlow
Ernest Pepperton – J. Wilbraham
Smithers, the butler – Charles Gilbert
Bill, workman – Henry le Breton
Jim, workman – A. Medcalf
Mrs. Harington Jarramie – Madge Christo
Daphne, her daughter – Rose Hervey
Nixon, parlourmaid – Miss M. Russell
Ben-Zoh-Leen, the Slave of the Lamp – John Wilkinson
When the piece was performed with Yeomen, Brownlow was replaced by J. M. Gordon. Shortly after opening, Le Breton was replaced by Jesse Smith. In August 1889, Wilkinson was replaced by A. Medcalf and Bowden Haswell replaced Medcalf as Jim. Other substitutions occasionally took place.
1891.
"Captain Billy". François Cellier. Libretto: Harry Greenbank.
Tenor role: Christopher Jolly (created by C. R. Rose).
Synopsis: Captain Billy has been absent from Porthaven, his native village, for many years. His relatives do not know that he has been pursuing a very successful career as a pirate. A young foundling, Christopher Jolly (TENOR -- role created by C. R. Rose), visits the village to examine the parish register in an attempt to find his birth certificate. Billy returns to the village on the same day and is recognised by his brother Samuel Chunk. Billy is reunited with his wife, who is surprised to discover that she is not a widow after all, and Christopher Jolly discovers that he is Billy's nephew, whom the old scoundrel had "lost" in the Sahara Desert many years before. Musical numbers: Song - Christopher Jolly -- "Oh! it isn't very nice when you fail...", Duet - Christopher and Polly -- "When flowers blossom in the spring...", Quartett and Dance - Widow Jackson, Polly, Christopher and Chunk -- "With beating heart I wait to see...", Song - Captain Billy, with Samuel Chunk -- "A pirate bold am I...", Song - Widow Jackson -- "I thought my dashing buccaneer..., Quartett -- Polly, Widow Jackson, Christopher and Captain Billy - "It's unpleasant, mia cara..., Finale - "By fate released at last...".
1893.
"Mr. Jericho". ERNEST FORD. Libretto: Harry Greenbank. Roles and cast: Michael de Vere, Earl of Margate – George de Pledge and later W.H. Leon, Horace Alexander de Vere, Viscount Ramsgate (An Omnibus Driver) – Bates Maddison and later Sidwell Jones, Mr. Jericho (A Jam Manufacturer) – J. Bowden Haswell, Lady Bushey – Agnes Scott. and Winifred (Her Daughter) – Florence Easton and later Edith Farrow (Edith Farrow began playing the role of Winifred in April when Easton took over the role of Dorothy in Haddon Hall. The other two cast changes occurred when the piece played with Jane Annie). The Musical numbers are: When Sunny Summer Ripens Corn – Horace, My Heart Goes Pit-a-Pat – Winifred and Horace, My Smelling Salts Get – Winifred, Lady Bushey and Horace, Jericho's Jams – Mr. Jericho, There Came to Maiden Innocence – Lady Bushey and Mr. Jericho, Who, Alas! Would Be A Peer? – Quintet, and Soon There Shall Ring (Finale) – Company. SYNOPSIS: The Earl of Margate has squandered his money, and so he lives in a cottage and must do his own gardening, while his son is reduced to working as an omnibus driver. After he crashes his bus one day, he and his father commiserate over their troubles. Horace believes that he will never be able to win the love of Winifred, Lady Bushey's daughter, one of his regular passengers. Winifred arrives at the cottage and reveals to Horace that she loves him too. Lady Bushey appears and, seeing the humble cottage, is appalled that Winifred loves "a commoner." She drags Winifred away, and Horace is heartbroken. A world-famous jam manufacturer, Mr. Jericho, shows up looking for a lady friend. Horace tells him that his father is very fond of Jericho's Jams. Jericho offers to pay Horace's father handsomely for this customer testimonial, to use it in advertising the jams. Jericho's lady friend turns out to be Lady Bushey. Now it is Winifred's turn to be appalled. Jericho encourages Lady Bushey to look favourably upon the romance of Horace and Winifred, but Lady Bushey repeats that her daughter must marry a peer. When they meet, Jericho recognizes the Earl and is delighted to offer him a generous allowance in return for his statement about his love for the jam. Jericho also suggests that Horace become a partner in the jam firm, giving Horace the financial means to marry Winifred, and all ends happily as Jericho and Lady Bushey come to a very satisfactory arrangement.
1894.
"Quite an Adventure". EDWARD SOLOMON. Libretto: Frank Desprez. SYNOPSIS: A young married lady, Mrs. Wallaby, living at Croydon, and always in great fear of burglars, is left alone meditating upon a little adventure she has had at Victoria Station. She had been to an entertainment, and from excitement or fatigue had felt faint, when a benevolent young gentleman, a stranger, came to her assistance. Arriving safely at Croydon, however, she is rather startled at receiving a visitor, no other than the gentleman who had so kindly rendered assistance. The stranger, after an apology for troubling her so late, ultimately explains that he cannot get into his rooms, and is locked out, the fact being that in his desire to hasten her recovery he had put his latch key down the lady's back. With many apologies the gentlemen requests Mrs. Wallaby to shake herself a little in order to discover if she is carrying the latch key about her, and with some confusion the lady consents, and after much comic gesticulation the key eventually falls on the floor. Meanwhile, poor Mr. Fraser, the benevolent owner of the key, hears the shriek and roar of the last train to London, and the rain is coming down in torrents. What is to be done? Mrs. Wallaby has not the heart to turn him out, and so, anticipating her husband's speedy return, she supplies the stranger with brandy and water, cigars, her husband's slippers and dressing gown, and leaves him. Mr. Fraser accordingly makes himself comfortable, takes off his wet coat, and wetter boots, mixes a stiff glass of brandy and water, and waxes enthusiastic respecting the charming young wife. He, however, first hangs up his dripping clothes in the hall, but is speedily startled at hearing footsteps, and presumes this must be the burglar whose appearance Mrs. Wallaby so much dreaded. It is no burglar, but her own husband, who, discovering a man in the house is terribly alarmed. Both the men are desperately afraid of each other, and the situation serves for the introduction of an amusing duet. In the height of their excitement a policeman enters. He has been waiting for an interview with the cook, and wonders that the siren of the kitchen is so long in coming to meet him. Curious to ascertain the cause of the delay, he comes cautiously into the house through the French windows opening on the garden, and immediately pounces upon the two men. Mr. Fraser, the owner of the latch key, at once gives the husband in charge; but Mrs. Wallaby enters, and explains, and all ends happily, the stranger being invited to spend the remainder of the night with them. The Savoy cast was: Mr. Wallaby – Robert Rous, Mr. Fraser – Henri Delplanque, Police Officer – Albert E. Rees, and Mrs. Wallaby – Re Stephanie.
"Cox & Box". SULLIVAN. Libretto: F. C. Burnand. Roles: James John Cox, A Journeyman Hatter (baritone), John James BOX, A Journeyman Printer (tenor), and Sergeant Bouncer, Late of the Dampshire Yeomanry, with military reminiscences (bass-baritone). Box's Musical numbers: Lullaby, "Hush-a-bye, Bacon" (Box), Trio, "Who are You, Sir?" (Box, Cox, Bouncer), Serenade, "The Buttercup" (Box, Cox), Romance, "Not Long Ago" (Box, with Cox), Gambling Duet, "Sixes!" (Box, Cox), Finale, "My Hand upon It" (Box, Cox, Bouncer).
1896.
"Weather or No". Bertram LUARD-SELBY. Libretto: Adrian Ross and William Beach. SYNOPSIS: The story concerns two figures who come in and out of a toy weather house according to whether it is wet or dry, and so they cannot meet. Nevertheless, the couple fall in love and eventually wrench themselves away from their supports so that they may be together. The original cast was: She. Emmie Owen for the first week, then Beatrice Perry. He. Scott Russell.
1897.
"Old Sarah". François Cellier. LIBRETTO: Harry Greenbank. SYNOPSIS: In Dullport, a dreary seaside town, out of season, Old Sarah sells sweets from a stall. She has only sold 2 ounces of acid drops and a pennyworth of mint rock in 7 weeks. Simon smuggles rum as the only way to make an "honest" living. Because nobody has any money, they all hate Archibald Jones, the income tax collector, except his sweetheart Margery (Simon's daughter). Claude Newcastle, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, arrives. By snooping around, he discovers a lot of things about people's incomes. However, when he snoops on Sarah she locks him in a bathing machine and threatens to drown him in the sea. He is, however, rescued by Archibald, forgives everybody, and all ends happily. The original cast was: The Rt. Hon. Claude Newcastle, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Jones Hewson, Archibald Jones, income tax collector. Charles Childerstone, Simon, a smuggler. Charles Herbert Workman, Margery, his daughter. Jessie Rose, and Old Sarah. Louie Henri (Scott Russell took over from Childerstone for some of the performances).
1900.
"Pretty Polly". François Cellier. Libretto: Basil Hood. SYNOPSIS: A good-hearted young man, Charlie Brown, has been abroad for some time. He wants to propose to pretty Polly Grey, but he is shy. He brings a talking parrot to her apartment to say the words "Pretty Polly! I wonder if she ever thinks of me!", which he hopes will "break the ice" for him, but he hides the parrot until he can determine whether or not she likes parrots. The lady sees the parrot and overhears his planning. She mischievously plays hard-to-get, claiming to hate parrots, but she happily accepts a bouquet of flowers from Brown (although the flowers had actually been sent by a rival, Percy Green). Brown hopes to sneak out without letting her know that he has brought the parrot, but Polly gives him a large dose of quinine to drink (as he had tried to excuse himself on account of tropical fever) and begs him to tell of his travels. Just then the bird squawks out "Pretty Polly!" and Brown tries to cover again, saying that he has learnt the skill of ventriloquism in India. As Brown tries to put the parrot's cage outside the window surreptitiously, Polly "notices" the parrot. Brown, thinking quickly, ties Percy Green's card to the cage and says that the parrot must have come from Mr Green. Polly exclaims that poor Freen must have sent it to her "to break the ice for him! What a clever idea!" Gathering his courage, Brown makes the following speech: Before I leave you for South Africa I must tell you as an honourable man that I have misled you. That is my parrot. Mr Percy Green’s card was tied to it by - by mistake. The voice you heard was not my voice, but my parrot's. The bird can talk, and I wanted it to say something which I was too shy to say myself. I meant it to break the ice for me. The clever idea was mine, not Mr Percy Green’s. Farewell! Polly then asks what else he taught the bird to say. Brown replies, "I wonder if she ever thinks of me!". Polly admits that the answer is "Yes". As Brown happily moves to kiss his pretty tormenter, she stops him: "One moment!" she covers up the parrot. "Parrots talk, you know!" They kiss. The first Savoy Theatre cast was: Charlie Brown – Henry Lytton (who also played the Sultan in The Rose of Persia), Polly Grey – Louie Pounds. From December 1900, the cast was: Charlie Brown – Robert Evett (who also played the Duke of Dunstable in Patience), Polly Grey – Louie Pounds.
"Outpost, The". HAMILTON CLARKE. Libretto: Albert O'Donnell Bartholeyns. Roles and original cast: Walter – H. Carlyle Pritchard, Henry – Charles Childerstone, Karl – W. H. Leon, Colonel – Edwin Bryan, Captain – Powis Pinder/ J. Lewis Campion, Corporal – Iago Lewis [Lewys], Kate – Lulu Evans/Nell Richardson (Campion played from 30 July to 11 August, while Pinder was substituting as the Pirate King in Pirates. Nell Richardson probably played while Evans was off from 27 August to 8 September. The touring cast was Fred G. Edgar, W. G. Lennox, E. A. White, R. A. Swinhoe, Fred Drawater, Bernard Fisher, Edward L. Bishop and, at times, Frank Robey, Norah Maguire, Florence Beech and Bessel Adams). SYNOPSIS. Körner's original libretto depicts a young French soldier sent to guard the German border. He hates military life, deserts his post, crosses into Germany, marries a German girl and lives happily as a farmer. Four years later, war breaks out, and the French army crosses the border. The young man is recognised, arrested, and charged with desertion, a capital offence. He decides to claim that he has been at his post the whole time, but the French do not believe this story and put him before a court martial. He is saved by the intervention of the French general who gives him the benefit of the doubt and an honourable discharge from the army, and he returns to living happily as a farmer. It is not known how much, if at all, Bartholeyns altered the original plot. The dramatis personae of both versions are essentially the same, with the addition of a corporal in the English version. The names of the heroine (Kate/Käthchen) and her father (Walter/Walther) are merely Anglicised.
1901.
'Willow Pattern, The". CECIL COOK. Libretto: Basil Hood. Roles and cast: Ah Mee, a maiden. Agnes Fraser, Hi Ho, her lover. Powis Pinder, So Hi, her father. Reginald Crompton, So Lo, his friend. Robert Rous, Wee Ping, a rich lady. Rosina Brandram, Ping Pong. Walter Passmore, Tee Thing, his grandmother. Jessie Pounds, Fee Fi, a poor girl. Blanche Gaston Murray, and Fo Fum, her lover. W. H. Leon.
1908.
"Welsh Sunset, A": one-act opera. Michael FARADAY. Libretto: Frederick Fenn Philip.
TENOR ROLE: Griffith David, a young Welshman -- played by Strafford Moss.
Tenor arias: "Heart of my soul" and "Hush't lies the land"
SYNOPSIS: Jenny and Griffith are in love. Griffith has a great tenor voice and has been singing an audition for Covent Garden opera. It is evening, Jenny and her mother are waiting outside Mrs. Jones's Cottage on a Welsh hillside for the boys to come home from Bala. They are joined by the other village girls. Griffith has been successful, and when he arrives he tells Jenny of the wonderful rich and famous life that awaits her in London. Jenny asks her lover to sing to her before he goes home. She says, "I feel tonight as though tomorrow wouldn't come for years and years." Griffith sings to her, saying that it is she in his heart that makes him sing. When the song is over, she appears to be asleep, and he takes her hand, but it is lifeless. He exclaims, "What's the good of fame and money now? It was for her, and now I can give her nothing!"
No comments:
Post a Comment