Derby Day (light opera)
Encyclopedia
Derby Day is a 1932 three-act light opera, with music composed by Alfred Reynolds
to a libretto by A. P. Herbert
. Herbert wrote his text between March and May 1931, whilst on a trip to Australia, during the first run of his successful Tantivy Towers
.
One contemporary review described the work as "mainly a Cockney opera", and praised the work as "topical in the best sense" and said of the music:
In particular, the song for the tipster, "'Oo wants a winner for the big race tomorrer?", has been singled out for particular praise as a musical expression of the Cockney.
, Hammersmith on 24 February 1932. The director was Nigel Playfair
, and the production was designed by George Sheringham
. Alfred Reynolds was the conductor. The original cast list was as follows:
, the major horse-racing event of the year. In Act III, Mr Bitter proposes to Mrs Bones.
broadcast an abridged radio version of the work in 1934. It was also broadcast twice in 1937, on Derby Day itself and two days later on the day the Oaks
was run.
Derby Day was shown in a 40-minute broadcast on BBC television in July 1937, with a cast including George Baker
as Mr. Bitter and Frederick Ranalow (who had appeared in the Playfair
/Austin
production of The Beggar's Opera
) as Waters. It was broadcast again in June 1938 with Muriel George
and Esmond Knight
, and Baker and Ranalow swapping roles.
Alfred Reynolds (composer)
Alfred Reynolds was a composer of light music for the theatre.He was born in Liverpool and educated at Merchant Taylors' School and later in France. He studied with Engelbert Humperdinck in Berlin....
to a libretto by A. P. Herbert
A. P. Herbert
Sir Alan Patrick Herbert, CH was an English humorist, novelist, playwright and law reform activist...
. Herbert wrote his text between March and May 1931, whilst on a trip to Australia, during the first run of his successful Tantivy Towers
Tantivy Towers
Tantivy Towers is a three-act light opera, written by A. P. Herbert and with music composed by Thomas Frederick Dunhill.It premiered on 16 January 1931 at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, and later transferred to the New Theatre. The play ran for six months, later touring England and being staged in...
.
One contemporary review described the work as "mainly a Cockney opera", and praised the work as "topical in the best sense" and said of the music:
I do not know if Mr. Reynolds is himself a Cockney, but I do know that his Cockney music, particularly in the coster scenes, is the best that has ever been written.
In particular, the song for the tipster, "'Oo wants a winner for the big race tomorrer?", has been singled out for particular praise as a musical expression of the Cockney.
Original production
The first performance took place at the Lyric TheatreLyric Theatre (London)
The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.Designed by architect C. J. Phipps, it was built by producer Henry Leslie with profits from the Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson hit, Dorothy, which he transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to open...
, Hammersmith on 24 February 1932. The director was Nigel Playfair
Nigel Playfair
Sir Nigel Playfair was the actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London, in the 1920s. He studied at University College, Oxford....
, and the production was designed by George Sheringham
George Sheringham
George Sheringham , was a British painter and theatre designer. One of the first recipients of the Royal Designers for Industry distinction in 1937, he is remembered for his work for the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company....
. Alfred Reynolds was the conductor. The original cast list was as follows:
- Scott RussellScott Russell (actor)Harry Henry Russell, better known as Scott Russell , was an English singer, actor and theatre manager best known for his performances in the tenor roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company...
as John Bitter (landlord of the Old Black Horse) - Tessa Deane as Rose (a barmaid)
- Leslie French as Bert Bones (a tipster)
- Mabel ConstandurosMabel ConstandurosMabel Constanduros , birth name Mabel Tilling, was an English actress and screenwriter. She achieved fame playing Mrs.Buggins on the radio programme The Buggins Family, which ran from 1928 to 1948. She played Earthy Mangold in the popular Worzel Gummidge radio serial on the BBC Children's Hour...
as Mrs Bones (his mother) - Frederic AustinFrederic AustinFrederic Austin was an English baritone singer, a musical teacher and composer in the period 1905–30. He is best remembered for his restoration and production of The Beggar's Opera by John Gay and Johann Christoph Pepusch, and its sequel, Polly, in 1920–23...
as Sir Horace Waters, J.P.Justice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(a race-horse owner) in his last stage appearance - Mabel Sealby as Lady Waters (his wife)
- Dewey Gibson as Eddy (their son)
- Guelda Waller as a Gypsy Woman
- Dewey Gibson as a Bookmaker
- John Thompson as a Policeman
- Pamela StanleyPamela StanleyPamela Margaret Stanley was a Britishactress who appeared in a number of stage and film roles in Britain and the United States; however, the role which she became most identified was that of Queen Victoria.-Career:...
in a walk-on role, making her stage début.
Synopsis
The story is set in the present day (the early 1930s), and centres around a day at the Epsom DerbyEpsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, the major horse-racing event of the year. In Act III, Mr Bitter proposes to Mrs Bones.
Broadcasts
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast an abridged radio version of the work in 1934. It was also broadcast twice in 1937, on Derby Day itself and two days later on the day the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
was run.
Derby Day was shown in a 40-minute broadcast on BBC television in July 1937, with a cast including George Baker
George Baker (record singer)
George Baker was an English singer. He is remembered for singing on thousands of gramophone records in a career that spanned 53 years, beginning in 1909...
as Mr. Bitter and Frederick Ranalow (who had appeared in the Playfair
Nigel Playfair
Sir Nigel Playfair was the actor-manager of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London, in the 1920s. He studied at University College, Oxford....
/Austin
Frederic Austin
Frederic Austin was an English baritone singer, a musical teacher and composer in the period 1905–30. He is best remembered for his restoration and production of The Beggar's Opera by John Gay and Johann Christoph Pepusch, and its sequel, Polly, in 1920–23...
production of The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad opera to remain popular today...
) as Waters. It was broadcast again in June 1938 with Muriel George
Muriel George
Muriel George was an English singer and film actress. She appeared in some 55 films between 1932 and 1955.She also appeared on the variety stage and sang on radio with her husband, Ernest Butcher for thirty years...
and Esmond Knight
Esmond Knight
Esmond Penington Knight was an English actor.He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind...
, and Baker and Ranalow swapping roles.