The Balkan Princess
Encyclopedia
The Balkan Princess is a British
musical in three acts by Frederick Lonsdale
and Frank Curzon
, with lyrics by Paul Rubens
and Arthur Wimperis
, and music by Paul Rubens
. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre
on 19 February 1910. The cast included Isabel Jay
and Bertram Wallis
. There was a successful Broadway run in 1911, and the show toured widely thereafter.
The piece contains some of Rubens's most tuneful music, and the production was mounted with spectacle in its settings, costumes and large chorus of beautiful girls. The show was much like Lonsdale's previous success King of Cadonia
, but with the sexes reversed. Famous songs from the show included "Wonderful World" and "Dear, Delightful Woman".
Hearing that the Duke frequents a certain Bohemian restaurant, she goes there, incognito. Almost the first man she sets eyes on is the Duke, but she doesn't know him. They fall in love with each other. At the end of a happy evening, Sergius proposes a toast, "The downfall of the Princess." The Princess is amazed. "I am the Princess; arrest that man!" Duke Sergius is taken to the Palace as a prisoner. Still, the Princess loves him, and rather than marry one of the remaining nobles she signs the document abdicating the throne of Balaria. Now she is only an ordinary woman, and not bound by the matrimonial laws as a Princess. She is free to marry whom she pleases. Duke Sergius, however, having seen how noble and good she is, destroys the document, takes his stand with the others, and the curtain falls upon the happy couple.
ACT I - Reception Room at the Palace
ACT II - The "Bohemian Restaurant," the next evening
ACT III - The Garden of the Palace, a week later
Addendum
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musical in three acts by Frederick Lonsdale
Frederick Lonsdale
Frederick Lonsdale was an English dramatist.-Personal life:Lonsdale was born Lionel Frederick Leonard in St Helier, Jersey, the son of Susan and John Henry Leonard, a tobacconist. He began as a private soldier and worked for the London and South Western Railway...
and Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon
Frank Curzon was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, leasing the Royal Strand Theatre, Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, among others....
, with lyrics by Paul Rubens
Paul Rubens (composer)
Paul Alfred Rubens was an English songwriter and librettist who wrote some of the most popular Edwardian musical comedies of the early twentieth century. He contributed to the success of dozens of musicals....
and Arthur Wimperis
Arthur Wimperis
Arthur Harold Wimperis was an English illustrator, playwright, lyricist and Academy Award-winning screenwriter....
, and music by Paul Rubens
Paul Rubens (composer)
Paul Alfred Rubens was an English songwriter and librettist who wrote some of the most popular Edwardian musical comedies of the early twentieth century. He contributed to the success of dozens of musicals....
. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
on 19 February 1910. The cast included Isabel Jay
Isabel Jay
Isabel Jay was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in musical comedies...
and Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis
Bertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.-Early years:Wallis was born in London...
. There was a successful Broadway run in 1911, and the show toured widely thereafter.
The piece contains some of Rubens's most tuneful music, and the production was mounted with spectacle in its settings, costumes and large chorus of beautiful girls. The show was much like Lonsdale's previous success King of Cadonia
King of Cadonia
King of Cadonia is an English musical in two acts with a book by Frederick Lonsdale, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Arthur Wimperis and music by Sidney Jones and Frederick Rosse. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on 3 September 1908, produced by Frank Curzon, and ran for 333...
, but with the sexes reversed. Famous songs from the show included "Wonderful World" and "Dear, Delightful Woman".
Roles and original cast
- The Grand Duke Sergius – Bertram WallisBertram WallisBertram Wallis was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later appeared in several film roles.-Early years:Wallis was born in London...
- Count Boethy (Prime Minister of Balaria) – William LuggWilliam LuggWilliam Lugg was a British actor and singer of the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. He had a long stage career beginning with roles in several Gilbert and Sullivan operas and continuing for over four decades in drama, comedy and musical theatre...
- Captain Radomir – Ridgwell Cullum
- Lieutenant Varna – C. Morton HorneC. Morton HorneC. Morton Horne was an Irish writer and musical comedy performer who lost his life on a battlefield in France during the First World War.-Biography:...
- Max Hein (Alias "Prince Boris of Ma'alia") – Charles Brown
- Blatz (His confederate) – Lauri de Frece
- Lounger at the "Bohemian Restaurant" – Norman Blumé
- Emile (Proprietor of the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Peter Blunt
- Hermann (Commissionaire at the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Barry Neame
- Henri (A waiter) – James Blakeley
- Magda (Charwoman at the palace) – Mabel Sealby
- Olga (Maid of honour) – Hazel Dawn
- Sofia (A habituée of the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Mabel Green
- Paula, Tessa, Carmen, Margherita, Teresa (Other habituées) – Margaret Ismay, Madge Kirkham, Peggy Lorraine, Babs Capelle and Sylvia Beresford
- Cashiers at the "Bohemian Restaurant" – Marjorie Blythe and Alethea Allardyce
- Princess Stephanie of Balaria – Isabel JayIsabel JayIsabel Jay was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in musical comedies...
Synopsis
Princess Stephanie of Balaria is bound by the laws of her country to marry one of six nobles, or abdicate. When the time comes to select her husband she finds that only five have arrived. Count Boethy, the Prime Minister, tells her that Grand Duke Sergius, the missing noble, has refused to enter the palace. That misguided person prefers to write socialistic articles in the press with such headlines as "Why the people of Balaria could dispense with their Princess." The Princess is piqued at these treasonable insults, but admires the Duke's independence. She thinks out a scheme very quickly. She will find him and compel him to come to the Palace.Hearing that the Duke frequents a certain Bohemian restaurant, she goes there, incognito. Almost the first man she sets eyes on is the Duke, but she doesn't know him. They fall in love with each other. At the end of a happy evening, Sergius proposes a toast, "The downfall of the Princess." The Princess is amazed. "I am the Princess; arrest that man!" Duke Sergius is taken to the Palace as a prisoner. Still, the Princess loves him, and rather than marry one of the remaining nobles she signs the document abdicating the throne of Balaria. Now she is only an ordinary woman, and not bound by the matrimonial laws as a Princess. She is free to marry whom she pleases. Duke Sergius, however, having seen how noble and good she is, destroys the document, takes his stand with the others, and the curtain falls upon the happy couple.
Musical numbers
- Overture
ACT I - Reception Room at the Palace
- No. 1 - Opening Chorus of Debutantes and Soldiers - "Here in stately queue, close we press..."
- No. 2 - Song - Olga and Chorus - "Now the Court is over and our work is done..."
- No. 3 - Prince's Chorus - "Way for the Prince, make way, make way!"
- No. 4 - Duet - Max Hein and Blatz - "It is sometimes shown that money alone..."
- No. 5 - Song - Princess and Chorus of Dukes - "Gentlemen, I thank you for the honour you are doing me!"
- No. 6 - Song - Magda - "When I first made up my mind into service I would go..."
- No. 7 - Finale Act I - "Understand that from today I will not be dictated to..."
ACT II - The "Bohemian Restaurant," the next evening
- No. 8 - Act II Introduction
- No. 9 - Song - Sofia and Chorus - "In a Balkan village lived a Montenegrin maid..."
- No. 10 - Entrance of Grand Duke
- No. 11 - Song - Grand Duke and Chorus - "Women are really most beautiful things..." (three verses)
- No. 12 - Duet - Princess and Grand Duke - "We've had a very pleasant chat..."
- No. 13 - Duet - Magda and Blatz - "Now you must confess I always, more or less..."
- No. 14 - Song - Princess - "Wicked old world, you've been slighted for years..."
- No. 15 - Sextet - Henri, Hein, Blatz, Sofia, Magda, and Carmen - "When you're feeling blue..."
- No. 16 - Finale Act II
ACT III - The Garden of the Palace, a week later
- No. 17 - Song - Princess - "Last night a lovely dream I dreamed..."
- No. 18 - Song - Grand Duke - "There are some men born to be led..." (three verses)
- No. 19 - Song - Henri and Chorus - "People say that the world's all fat..." (three verses)
- No. 20 - Finale Act III (identical to No. 16 - Finale Act II)
Addendum
- Song - Princess - "I have rank, I have treasure, I've a court of my own..."