Theodore & Co
Encyclopedia
Theodore & Co is an English musical comedy
in two acts with a book by H. M. Harwood and George Grossmith, Jr.
(based on the French comedy by Paul Gavault), with music by Ivor Novello
and Jerome Kern
and lyrics by Adrian Ross
and Clifford Grey
. It was produced by Grossmith and Edward Laurillard
, opening at the Gaiety Theatre
on 19 September 1916 and running for 503 performances. It starred Grossmith, Fred Leslie and Leslie Henson
.
Theodore & Co opened during World War I
in the same year as two other tremendously successful shows in London: Chu Chin Chow
and The Bing Boys are Here
, and the successful The Happy Day
. Audiences wanted light and uplifting entertainment during the war, and these shows delivered it.
This show established Ivor Novello as a theatrical composer and was Kern's first show in London. Novello's songs from the show include "What A Duke Should Be" and "Oh, How I Want To Marry".
Act II
Supplementary Song
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...
in two acts with a book by H. M. Harwood and George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies...
(based on the French comedy by Paul Gavault), with music by Ivor Novello
Ivor Novello
David Ivor Davies , better known as Ivor Novello, was a Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. Born into a musical family, his first successes were as a songwriter...
and 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 lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross
For the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and Clifford Grey
Clifford Grey
Clifford Grey was an English songwriter, actor, librettist and Olympic medalist. His birth name was Percival Davis, and he was also known as Clifford Gray, Tippi Gray, Tippi Grey, Tippy Gray and Tippy Grey.As a writer, Grey contributed prolifically to West End and Broadway shows, as librettist and...
. It was produced by Grossmith and Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard
Edward Laurillard was a cinema and theatre producer in London and New York during the first third of the 20th century...
, opening at the Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
on 19 September 1916 and running for 503 performances. It starred Grossmith, Fred Leslie and Leslie Henson
Leslie Henson
Leslie Lincoln Henson was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comedian who enjoyed a long stage career...
.
Theodore & Co opened during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the same year as two other tremendously successful shows in London: Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow
Chu Chin Chow is a musical comedy written, produced and directed by Oscar Asche, with music by Frederic Norton, based on the story of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves...
and The Bing Boys are Here
The Bing Boys Are Here
The Bing Boys Are Here, styled "A Picture of London Life, in a Prologue and Six Panels," is the first of a series of revues which played at the Alhambra Theatre, London during the last two years of World War I. The series included The Bing Boys on Broadway and The Bing Boys are There. The music...
, and the successful The Happy Day
The Happy Day
The Happy Day is an English musical comedy in two acts by Seymour Hicks, with music by Sidney Jones and Paul Rubens, and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Rubens. It was produced by George Edwardes's company and was directed by Evett. The musical opened at Daly's Theatre in London on 13 May 1916 and ran...
. Audiences wanted light and uplifting entertainment during the war, and these shows delivered it.
This show established Ivor Novello as a theatrical composer and was Kern's first show in London. Novello's songs from the show include "What A Duke Should Be" and "Oh, How I Want To Marry".
Roles and original cast
- Bompas, 24th Duke of Shetland – Davy Burnaby
- Pony Twitchen (of the "Crimson Comics") – Leslie Henson
- Rt. Hon. George Wye (Minister of Movies) – Fred Leslie
- Mr. Blissett (A Husband) – Frederick Morant
- Cosmo Legallos – Henri Leoni
- Mr. Satterthwaite (of Dowton) – Victor Gouriet
- Crump – Robert Nainby
- Delatour (Manager of the New Casino) – Frank Hector
- A Man with a Blue Envelope – Ralph Roberts
- The Emir of Baluchistan – J. Grande
- His Interpreter – Fred Raynham
- Sir Basil Bowlwell, R.H.G. – James Thomas
- Lord Theodore Wragge – George Grossmith, Jr.
- Lady Theresa Wye – Gladys Homfrey
- Lady Pansy (the Duke's daughter) – Madge Saunders
- Hon. Sapphire Blissett – Julia James
- Fudge Robinson (of the "Crimson Comics") – Peggy Kurton
- Alma, "The Statute of Liberty " – Irene Richards
- Cleo, "The Tiptoe Queen" – Adrah Fair
- Lady Diana Camden – Ivey Collette
- Lady Moya – Violet Ashton
- Molly Pershore – Barbara Dunbar
- Marjorie Carstairs – Connie Guy
- Lady Lilly – Vera Davis
- Lady Billy – Lilian Caldicott
- Elizabeth Anne – Margaret Gamble
- Mary Ellen – Maudie Dunham
- Ethel Emily (Mr. Satterthwaite's daughter) – Joyce Barbour
- Rosa Maud (Mr. Satterthwaite's daughter) – Dorothy King
- Matilda Kate – Cherry Constant
- Harriett Jane – Mercia Swinburne
- Charwoman – Muriel Barney
Musical numbers
Act I- Chorus – "Isn't there a crowd everywhere" (Words by Adrian Ross. Music by Ivor Novello)
- Song – "What a Duke should be" (Words by Clifford Grey. Music by Novello)
- Duet – "I'll make myself at home" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
- Song – "I'm getting such a big girl now" (Words by Grey. Music by Philip Braham)
- Song & Dance – "Ev'ry little girl can teach me something new" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
- Song – "The Candy Girls" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
- Sextet – "You'd better not wait for him" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
- Finale, Act I. – "He's going to call on Baby Grand" (Music by Novello)
Act II
- Chorus – "We are Theodore & Co." (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
- Song – "Three Hundred and Sixty-five days" (Words by Grey. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
- Song – "That 'Come hither' look" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
- Song " Any old where" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
- Song & Chorus – "The Casino Music Hall" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
- Dance – "Valse Saracenne" (Music by Novello)
- Song – "My friend John" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
- Duet – "All that I want is somebody to love me" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
- Finale (Music by Novello)
Supplementary Song
- "My Second Childhood" (Words by David Burnaby & Eric Blore. Music by Braham)