This article is about the musical. For the French film that translates as "The Girl from Paris", see Une hirondelle a fait le printemps

Une hirondelle a fait le printemps

Une hirondelle a fait le printemps is a 2001 French film directed by Christian Carion. The film is also known in English as The Girl From Paris.-Plot:...

The Gay Parisienne is an 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...

 in two acts with a libretto by George Dance

George Dance

George Dance may refer to:* George Dance the Elder, English architect* George Dance the Younger, English architect, son of George Dance the Elder* George Dance , Canadian politician* George Dance , English lyricist and librettist...

. It premiered at the Opera House in Northampton

Northampton

Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...

, England, in October 1894, with music by Ernest Rousden. It was revived in London (after a tryout in a smaller London theatre in March 1896) on 4 April 1896, with 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...

, where it ran for 369 performances at the Duke of York's Theatre

Duke of York's Theatre

The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End Theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre, until her death in 1935. It opened on 10 September 1892 as the Trafalgar Square Theatre, with Wedding...

, starring 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:...

 as Major Fossdyke and Ada Reeve

Ada Reeve

Ada Reeve was an English actress of both stage and film. Reeve began to perform in pantomime and music hall as a child. She gained fame in Edwardian musical comedies in the 1890s....

 as Julie.

The piece toured internationally, playing in New York as The Girl from Paris, opening on 8 December 1896, at the Herald Square Theatre and running for 266 or 281 performances (sources differ) and then touring. It was later revived at Wallack's Theatre in New York. It played on the European continent and Australia under the name The Gay Parisienne.

Roles

• Ethel, The Major's daughter
• Angela, The Major's daughter
• Violet, The Major's daughter
• Anna, A servant
• Mr. Ebenezer Honeycomb
• Amos Dingle, Honeycomb's friend
• Mrs. Honeycomb
• Tom Everleigh, A barrister
• May, The Major's daughter
• Ruth, Honeycomb's servant
• Edith, The Major's daughter
• Mr. Auguste Pompier, A French spy
• Blatterwater, A gendarme
• Gretchen
• Mlle. Julie Bon Bon, The Gay Perisienne
• Hans, Proprietor of the Spa Hotel, Schoffenburgen
• Mabel, Norah's friend
• Fritz, A servant
• Gladys, The Major's daughter
• Cecil Smyth, Ducle's friend
• Norah Honeycomb
• Major Fossdyke, of the Battersea Butterfly Shooters
• Percy Tooting, Ducle's friend
• Algernon P. Ducle, An American
• Maud, The Major's daughter
• Rose, The Major's daughter

Synopsis

Mr. Honeycomb is restrained and decorous while in England but abroad, he is unfettered, including on a trip to Paris. Mlle. Julie Bon-Bon of Paris sues him for breach of promise. Afraid of his wife’s wrath, Honeycomb flees to Switzerland and is reported drowned. His supposed widow seeks his remains, accompanied by her friend, Major Fossdyke. Meanwhile, Honeycomb sees them together in Switzerland, and pretending righteous anger, he turns the tables.

Musical numbers

Act I

• Hail for the Thames on a Summer's Day -- Chorus
• So Take You a Warning -- Ebenezer Honeycomb and Chorus
• Somebody -- Tom Everleigh and Norah Honeycomb
• The Battersea Butterfly Shooters -- Major Fossdyke and Chorus
• I'm All the Way from Gay Paree -- Mlle. Julie Bon Bon and Auguste Pompier
• Then Off We Go
• Tweedledum and Tweedledee -- Ebenezer and Julie
• Cock-a-doodle -- Julie, Auguste, Mrs. Honeycomb and Ebenezer
• Hail, the Hero of the Day -- Chorus

Act II

• Isn't It Wonderful -- Chorus
• The Festive Continong -- Tom, Percy Tooting, Cecil Smyth and Algernon P. Ducle
• First and Third -- Ebenezer and Julie
• Sister Mary Jane's Top Note -- Ruth and Chorus
• Oh, Tender Remembrance -- Norah Honeycomb and Chorus
• Tootle, Tootle -- Mrs. Honeycomb, Major Fossdyke, Ruth and Auguste
• Ding-Dong
• Upon the Stage Let's Have a Fling -- Ruth and Major Fossdyke
• Carnival -- Chorus
• Just for a Kiss
• The Girl from Paris
• He Took It In a Good-natured Way

External links

• Information about the Broadway production