The Earl and the Girl
Encyclopedia
The Earl and the Girl is a musical comedy in two acts by Seymour Hicks
, with lyrics by Percy Greenbank
and music by Ivan Caryll
. It was produced by William Greet
and opened at the Adelphi Theatre
in London on 10 December 1903. It transferred to the Lyric Theatre
on 12 September 1904, running for a total of 371 performances. It also ran at the Casino Theatre in New York beginning on 4 November 1905 for 148 performances (with some added music and lyrics by Jerome Kern
and others), starring Eddie Foy
and W. H. Denny
. A production toured Australia in 1906 and 1907. A revival in London in 1914 ran for a total of 107 performances, and there were later revivals and tours.
The original London cast included a number of performers who had recently appeared in productions of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
, which was no longer performing at the Savoy Theatre
at the time of the premiere of The Earl and the Girl, including Walter Passmore
, Henry Lytton
, Robert Evett
, M. R. Morand, Reginald Crompton, Powis Pinder, Charles Childerstone, Alec Fraser, Ernest Torrence, Rudolph Lewis, Agnes Fraser, and Louie Pounds
. Lytton later used the song "My Cosy Corner" from the show in his music hall acts with much success, and made a recording of it. Kern's song interpolated into the New York production, "How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?" also became a hit.
The Hon. Crewe Boodel believes himself to be the heir to the earldom of Hole. He and a party of his friends are on their way to a fancy dress ball at Hole Hall, but their vehicle breaks down, and they take refuge in a country inn, the Fallowfield Arms. Jim Cheese, the owner of a troupe of performing dogs, and his coster sweetheart, Liza Shoddam, have walked from London to attend the local fair. They are at first mistaken by Boodel's party for two more guests for the fancy dress party. Jim and Liza are in debt to the landlord of the inn, who threatens to turn them out or have them arrested.
The real heir to the Hole property is Dick Wargrave, a friend of Boodel's. He has eloped from Paris with a schoolgirl, Elphin Haye, who is an American heiress masquerading as a penniless orphan. They arrive at the inn, preceded by four people who are in pursuit of them. A. Bunker Bliss is after Dick for eloping with his niece, and, being a good republican, Bliss is not impressed by Dick's earldom. Mrs. Shimmering Black is after Dick because the Earl of Hole has jilted her daughter (in fact it is Boodel who has done so). Mr. Talk and Mr. Downham are both lawyers; the first is English and the second American. They are both in search of the missing heir and after the reward for finding him. Dick is unaware that these two are bearing him good news, and when he learns from the landlord that some strangers have been asking about him, he concludes that there is trouble brewing.
Dick persuades Jim Cheese to exchange identity with him, taking his name and even his girfriend, and entrusting Elphin to Jim's care. The American lawyer finds Jim and tells him that he is an earl, and advances him money on the strength of his title. Elphir runs across a friend, Daisy Fallowfield, at the inn, and the whole party go off to the ball, where Elphir has to introduce Jim to her aunt, Miss Virginia Bliss, as her fiancé.
Act II
All the characters turn up at the ball at Hole Hall. Boodel brings Dick and passes him off as another guest. Liza slips in after Jim, who is announced as the Earl of Hole. The four pursuers gatecrash the party. Jim has a rough time with Bunker Bliss and Mrs. Black when they find him – the former is intent on shooting him, and the latter, a circus strongwoman, is a terrifying prospect – but when he tells them the truth about who is who, everyone is satisfied. Mrs Black's wrath subsides when she realises that the man who jilted her daughter is not, in fact, an earl, Bunker Bliss is appeased, and all ends happily.
Act II
prefaced its review with a lament for the bygone days of Savoy opera
, and for the defection of Savoy stars to the new genre of Edwardian musical comedy
. As to the show, the paper thought "the merits of the piece are neither great nor new … pointless, often tasteless." The music was pronounced "cheap in form and old-fashioned in its kind." The journal Judy thought the production overdone: "the stage is too crowded, and the restlessness of the chorus becomes irritating." The reviewer praised the principal performers and singled out Louie Pounds in particular: "a voice which is worthy of better things."
Of the Broadway production, The New York Times
wrote, "a veritable frolic from start to finish, light, tuneful, and full of color, and engaging a company of exceptionally clever people. Reviewing the Australian production, The Morning Bulletin, wrote, "Mr. J. F. Sheridan has surely produced few comedies in which the fun was so fast and furious."
Seymour Hicks
Sir Arthur Seymour Hicks , better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, screenwriter, theatre manager and producer. He married the actress Ellaline Terriss in 1893...
, with lyrics by Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank was an English lyricist, best known for his contribution of lyrics to a number of successful Edwardian musical comedies in the early years of the 20th century. His older brother, lyricist Harry Greenbank, had a brilliant career in the 1890s that was cut short by his death at the...
and music by Ivan Caryll
Ivan Caryll
Félix Marie Henri Tilkin , better known by his pen name Ivan Caryll, was a Belgian composer of operettas and Edwardian musical comedies in the English language...
. It was produced by William Greet
William Greet
William Greet was a British theatre manager from the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. Originally a business manager for other theatre licensees in the 1880s, he branched out as an independent manager in the 1890s and was associated with various London theatres, principally the...
and opened at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London on 10 December 1903. It transferred to 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...
on 12 September 1904, running for a total of 371 performances. It also ran at the Casino Theatre in New York beginning on 4 November 1905 for 148 performances (with some added music and lyrics by Jerome Kern
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
and others), starring Eddie Foy
Eddie Foy
Eddie Foy, Sr. , was an actor, comedian, dancer and vaudevillian.-Early years:...
and W. H. Denny
W. H. Denny
W. H. Denny was an English singer and actor best remembered for his portrayal of baritone roles in the Savoy Operas.-Early years:...
. A production toured Australia in 1906 and 1907. A revival in London in 1914 ran for a total of 107 performances, and there were later revivals and tours.
The original London cast included a number of performers who had recently appeared in productions of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company was a professional light opera company that staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas. The company performed nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere, from the 1870s until it closed in 1982. It was revived in 1988 and...
, which was no longer performing at the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
at the time of the premiere of The Earl and the Girl, including Walter Passmore
Walter Passmore
Walter Henry Passmore was an English singer and actor best known as the first successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
, Henry Lytton
Henry Lytton
Sir Henry Lytton was an English actor and singer who was the leading exponent of the comic patter-baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas in the early part of the twentieth century...
, Robert Evett
Robert Evett
Robert Evett was an English singer, actor, theatre manager and producer.-Acting career:In 1892 Evett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on tour in The Vicar of Bray, playing the Reverend Henry Sandford, the tenor lead. In 1893, Evett added the role of Oswald in Haddon Hall...
, M. R. Morand, Reginald Crompton, Powis Pinder, Charles Childerstone, Alec Fraser, Ernest Torrence, Rudolph Lewis, Agnes Fraser, and Louie Pounds
Louie Pounds
Louisa Emma Amelia "Louie" Pounds was an English singer and actress, known for her performances in musical comedies and in mezzo-soprano roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
. Lytton later used the song "My Cosy Corner" from the show in his music hall acts with much success, and made a recording of it. Kern's song interpolated into the New York production, "How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?" also became a hit.
Roles and original cast
thumb- Jim Cheese (A Dog Trainer) – Walter PassmoreWalter PassmoreWalter Henry Passmore was an English singer and actor best known as the first successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
- Dick Wargrave (The Real Heir) – Henry A. Lytton
- The Hon. Crewe Boodle (The Supposed Heir) – Robert EvettRobert EvettRobert Evett was an English singer, actor, theatre manager and producer.-Acting career:In 1892 Evett joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company on tour in The Vicar of Bray, playing the Reverend Henry Sandford, the tenor lead. In 1893, Evett added the role of Oswald in Haddon Hall...
- A. Bunker Bliss (Elphin Haye's Uncle) – John C. Dixon
- Downham (An American Solicitor) – M. R. Morand
- Mr. Talk (An English Solicitor) – Frank Elliston
- Mr. Hazell (Host of the Fallowfield Arms) – Reginald Crompton
- Friends of Crewe Boodle
- Dudley Cranbourne – Powis Pinder
- George Bellamy – Chas. Childerstone
- Hugh Wallander – Alec Fraser
- Rossiter – Ernest Torrence
- Footmen at Stole Hall
- George – Rudolph Lewis
- Charles – J. Gordon
- Elphin Haye (An American Heiress) – Agnes Fraser
- Liza Shoddam (Jim Cheese's Sweetheart) – Florence Lloyd
- Mrs. Shimmering Black (A Strong Lady) – Helen Kinnaird
- Daisy Fallowfield (Elphin Haye's Friend) – Louie PoundsLouie PoundsLouisa Emma Amelia "Louie" Pounds was an English singer and actress, known for her performances in musical comedies and in mezzo-soprano roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company....
- Miss Virginia Bliss (Elphin Haye's Aunt) – Phyllis Broughton
- Ladies of Crewe Boodle's Party: L. Leibrandt, Olive Rae, G. Thornton, Miss Standen and Winifred Hart-Dyke
- Guests at the Hall: Florrie Sutherland, Rosie Edwards, Lily Mcintyre, L. Montez and the misses Hammerton, Taylor, Glenn, Williams, Ricards, Francis, Ohmead, Beresford and Harris
Synopsis
Act IThe Hon. Crewe Boodel believes himself to be the heir to the earldom of Hole. He and a party of his friends are on their way to a fancy dress ball at Hole Hall, but their vehicle breaks down, and they take refuge in a country inn, the Fallowfield Arms. Jim Cheese, the owner of a troupe of performing dogs, and his coster sweetheart, Liza Shoddam, have walked from London to attend the local fair. They are at first mistaken by Boodel's party for two more guests for the fancy dress party. Jim and Liza are in debt to the landlord of the inn, who threatens to turn them out or have them arrested.
The real heir to the Hole property is Dick Wargrave, a friend of Boodel's. He has eloped from Paris with a schoolgirl, Elphin Haye, who is an American heiress masquerading as a penniless orphan. They arrive at the inn, preceded by four people who are in pursuit of them. A. Bunker Bliss is after Dick for eloping with his niece, and, being a good republican, Bliss is not impressed by Dick's earldom. Mrs. Shimmering Black is after Dick because the Earl of Hole has jilted her daughter (in fact it is Boodel who has done so). Mr. Talk and Mr. Downham are both lawyers; the first is English and the second American. They are both in search of the missing heir and after the reward for finding him. Dick is unaware that these two are bearing him good news, and when he learns from the landlord that some strangers have been asking about him, he concludes that there is trouble brewing.
Dick persuades Jim Cheese to exchange identity with him, taking his name and even his girfriend, and entrusting Elphin to Jim's care. The American lawyer finds Jim and tells him that he is an earl, and advances him money on the strength of his title. Elphir runs across a friend, Daisy Fallowfield, at the inn, and the whole party go off to the ball, where Elphir has to introduce Jim to her aunt, Miss Virginia Bliss, as her fiancé.
Act II
All the characters turn up at the ball at Hole Hall. Boodel brings Dick and passes him off as another guest. Liza slips in after Jim, who is announced as the Earl of Hole. The four pursuers gatecrash the party. Jim has a rough time with Bunker Bliss and Mrs. Black when they find him – the former is intent on shooting him, and the latter, a circus strongwoman, is a terrifying prospect – but when he tells them the truth about who is who, everyone is satisfied. Mrs Black's wrath subsides when she realises that the man who jilted her daughter is not, in fact, an earl, Bunker Bliss is appeased, and all ends happily.
Musical numbers
Act I- 1. Opening Chorus - (After A Capital Day)
- 2. Song (Daisy) and Chorus - "The Sporting Girl" (Some Girls I Know Like Living In A Town)
- 3. Duet (Jim and Liza) "Celebrities" (Oh, The Public Don't Appreciate Them Dogs)
- 4. Concerted Number "Little Ladies In Distress" (Oh, Dear Me, What On Earth Are We To Do?)
- 5. Song (Daisy) and Chorus "Shopping" (When My Ship Comes In)
- 6. Song (Crewe Boodle) "Thou Art My Rose" (In The Hush Of Silver Morning)
- 7. Song (Downham) "I Haven't A Moment To Spare" (I'm Sure I Shall Always Remember)
- 8. Quartet (Talk, Bunker Bliss, Mrs. Black, and Downham) "When We Get Hold Of Him" (I Know Somebody I Want To Meet)
- 9. Duet (Elphin and Dick) "We Were So Happy, You And I" (The First Time That We Met)
- 10. Song (Elphin) and Chorus "When A Maiden Leaves School " (When A Maiden Leaves School)
- 11. Song (Dick) and Chorus "By The Shore Of The Mediterranean" (Away, Come Away From The Gray Land)
- 12. Quartet (Dick, Elphin, Jim, and Liza) "For One Night Only" (To-Night You'll Be A Bloomin' Swell)
- 13. Finale (Fancy His Getting The Earldom!)
Act II
- 14. Opening Chorus (Madly and Merrily Here We Go)
- 15. Song (Daisy) "The Prettiest Girl In Town" (There's A Girl Who Is Always So Busy)
- 16. Song (Elphin) "Careless Kate" (Simple Little Maiden Once I Used To Know)
- 17. Chorus "Hail! Your Lordship" (Hail! The Heir So Long Expected)
- 18. Song (Jim) And Chorus "I'm A Lord, What Ho!" (Behold In Me A Belted Earl)
- 19. Vocal Gavotte "To And Fro" (To And Fro, Dignified And Slow)
- 20. Song (Dick) "My Cosy Corner Girl" (Beside The Murmuring Sad Sea Waves)
- 21. Song (Daisy) "Sammy" (Did You Ever Meet The Fellow Fine And Dandy)
- 22. Song (Crewe Boodle) and Chorus "The Grenadiers" (There's A Far-Off Hum)
- 23. Song (Crewe Boodle) "The Queen Of June" (Out In The Garden Closes)
- 24. Finale (By The Shore Of The Mediterranean)
Critical reception
The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
prefaced its review with a lament for the bygone days of Savoy opera
Savoy opera
The Savoy Operas denote a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte built to house...
, and for the defection of Savoy stars to the new genre of Edwardian musical comedy
Edwardian Musical Comedy
Edwardian musical comedies were British musical theatre shows from the period between the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the American musicals by Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin and Cole Porter following World War I.Between...
. As to the show, the paper thought "the merits of the piece are neither great nor new … pointless, often tasteless." The music was pronounced "cheap in form and old-fashioned in its kind." The journal Judy thought the production overdone: "the stage is too crowded, and the restlessness of the chorus becomes irritating." The reviewer praised the principal performers and singled out Louie Pounds in particular: "a voice which is worthy of better things."
Of the Broadway production, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote, "a veritable frolic from start to finish, light, tuneful, and full of color, and engaging a company of exceptionally clever people. Reviewing the Australian production, The Morning Bulletin, wrote, "Mr. J. F. Sheridan has surely produced few comedies in which the fun was so fast and furious."
External links
- Includes biographies of many of the members of this cast
- Midi files, lyrics and other information
- Information about the New York production at the IBDB database
- Opening night review of the New York production
- List of London shows opening in 1903
- http://www.rainfall.com/posters/Theatrical/2218.htmA poster for the New York production starring Eddie FoyEddie FoyEddie Foy, Sr. , was an actor, comedian, dancer and vaudevillian.-Early years:...
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