Robert and Elizabeth
Encyclopedia
Robert and Elizabeth is a musical
with music by Ron Grainer
and book and lyrics by Ronald Millar
. The story is based on an unproduced musical titled The Third Kiss by Judge Fred G. Moritt, which in turn was adapted from the play The Barretts of Wimpole Street
by Rudolph Besier
. It is an operetta-style musical which tells the story of the romance and elopement of poets Robert Browning
and Elizabeth Barrett
. The original 1964 London production was a success, starring June Bronhill
as Elizabeth and Keith Michell
as Robert. Several revivals have followed.
production opened at the Lyric Theatre
in London on 20 October 1964 and ran for 948 performances. The cast was as follows:
The original Australian production, in which June Bronhill reprised her London role, opened at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne
on 21 May 1966. The cast also starred English actor Denis Quilley
as Robert, Frank Thring
as Edward, and included Madeleine Orr
in a smaller role. The show ran for six months in Melbourne before moving to Sydney, where it ran for four weeks.
The musical was produced at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford
, England
, starring Jeremy Brett
and Sally Ann Howes
from 22 December 1976 to 29 January 1977. Another production ran at the Paper Mill Playhouse
, Millburn, New Jersey
, from November through December 1982, with Marc Jacoby as Robert and Leigh Beery as Elizabeth.
It was staged in the 1987 Chichester Festival, featuring Mark Wynter
. A recording of the production was released by First Night Records (ASIN: B000024TK6). The musical then played at the Forum Theater in Chicago, Illinois in November 1974, with Steven Arlen as Robert.
The show was prevented from being produced on Broadway due to a copyright disagreement with Rudolph Besier
, author of The Barretts of Wimpole Street
, on which the story was partly based.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music by Ron Grainer
Ron Grainer
Ronald Erle “Ron” Grainer was an Australian-born composer who worked for most of his professional career in the United Kingdom. He is mostly remembered for his film and television music.- Biography :...
and book and lyrics by Ronald Millar
Ronald Millar
Sir Ronald Graeme Millar was an English actor, writer and dramatist.Ronald Millar joined the Royal Navy in 1940 after having studied at King's College, Cambridge, England, for a year. He established himself as a playwright after the second world war, and between 1948 and 1954 lived in Hollywood,...
. The story is based on an unproduced musical titled The Third Kiss by Judge Fred G. Moritt, which in turn was adapted from the play The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 American film depicting the real-life romance between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning , despite the opposition of her father Edward Moulton-Barrett . The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture...
by Rudolph Besier
Rudolph Besier
Rudolf Besier was a Dutch-English dramatist and translator, who is best known for his play The Barretts of Wimpole Street ....
. It is an operetta-style musical which tells the story of the romance and elopement of poets Robert Browning
Robert Browning
Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.-Early years:...
and Elizabeth Barrett
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband, Robert Browning, shortly after her death.-Early life:Members...
. The original 1964 London production was a success, starring June Bronhill
June Bronhill
June Bronhill OBE was an internationally acclaimed Australian soprano opera singer.-Biography:She was born June Mary Gough in the inland Australian city of Broken Hill, New South Wales...
as Elizabeth and Keith Michell
Keith Michell
Keith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
as Robert. Several revivals have followed.
Songs
- "Escape Me Never" (lyric adapted from Browning)
- "The Family Moulton-Barrett"
- "Frustration"
- "The Girls That Boys Dream About"
- "Hate Me, Please"
- "I Know Now"
- "I Said Love"
- "I'm the Master Here"
- "In A Simple Way"
- "Love and Duty"
- "The Moon In My Pocket"
- "Pass the Eau-de-Cologne"
- "The Real Thing"
- "Soliloquy"
- "Under a Spell"
- "Want to Be Well"
- "What the World Calls Love"
- "What's Natural"
- "Woman And Man"
- "The World Outside"
- "You Only To Love Me"
productions
The original West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production opened at the Lyric Theatre
Lyric 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...
in London on 20 October 1964 and ran for 948 performances. The cast was as follows:
- John ClementsJohn ClementsSir John Selby Clements, CBE was an English actor and producer who worked in theatre, television and film.Clements attended St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge University then worked with Nigel Playfair and afterwards spent a few years in Ben Greet's Shakespearean Company. He made...
– Edward Moulton-Barrett - June BronhillJune BronhillJune Bronhill OBE was an internationally acclaimed Australian soprano opera singer.-Biography:She was born June Mary Gough in the inland Australian city of Broken Hill, New South Wales...
– Elizabeth Barrett - Keith MichellKeith MichellKeith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
– Robert Browning - Angela RichardsAngela RichardsAngela Richards is an English actress, best known to television viewers for her leading role in the BBC drama Secret Army , set during the Second World War in which she played Monique Duchamps....
– Henrietta
The original Australian production, in which June Bronhill reprised her London role, opened at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne
Princess Theatre, Melbourne
The Princess Theatre is a 1488-seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia.It is listed by the National Trust of Australia and is on the Victorian Heritage Register.-History:...
on 21 May 1966. The cast also starred English actor Denis Quilley
Denis Quilley
Denis Clifford Quilley OBE was an English theatre, television and film actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre....
as Robert, Frank Thring
Frank Thring
Frank William Thring was an Australian character actor.-Early life:Thring was born in Melbourne and educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. His father, Frank W. Thring, was the head of Efftee Studios, in Melbourne, in the 1920s, and is said to be the inventor of the clapperboard...
as Edward, and included Madeleine Orr
Madeleine Orr
Madeleine Grace Orr was an Australian-born film, stage and TV actress who worked for many years in London. She is best known as the first person to portray Madge Allsop, bridesmaid and companion to Barry Humphries' most popular and enduring comic character, Dame Edna Everage.-Early life:Born in...
in a smaller role. The show ran for six months in Melbourne before moving to Sydney, where it ran for four weeks.
The musical was produced at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, starring Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett
Jeremy Brett , born Peter Jeremy William Huggins, was an English actor, most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in four Granada TV series.-Early life:...
and Sally Ann Howes
Sally Ann Howes
Sally Ann Howes is a British actress and singer, who currently holds dual British-American citizenship. Her career on stage, screen and television has spanned over six decades...
from 22 December 1976 to 29 January 1977. Another production ran at the Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse
Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theatre with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey, less than 25 miles from Manhattan. Due to its location, it can draw from the pool of actors who live in New York City. Its location, as well as its focus on producing large-scale shows, makes...
, Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn, New Jersey
Millburn is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 20,149.Millburn Township was created as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 20, 1857, from portions of Springfield Township.Millburn also...
, from November through December 1982, with Marc Jacoby as Robert and Leigh Beery as Elizabeth.
It was staged in the 1987 Chichester Festival, featuring Mark Wynter
Mark Wynter
Mark Wynter is an English actor and former singer, who had four Top 20 singles in the 1960s, including "Venus in Blue Jeans" and "Go Away Little Girl"...
. A recording of the production was released by First Night Records (ASIN: B000024TK6). The musical then played at the Forum Theater in Chicago, Illinois in November 1974, with Steven Arlen as Robert.
The show was prevented from being produced on Broadway due to a copyright disagreement with Rudolph Besier
Rudolph Besier
Rudolf Besier was a Dutch-English dramatist and translator, who is best known for his play The Barretts of Wimpole Street ....
, author of The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street
The Barretts of Wimpole Street is a 1934 American film depicting the real-life romance between poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning , despite the opposition of her father Edward Moulton-Barrett . The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture...
, on which the story was partly based.