The Belle of Mayfair
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The Belle of Mayfair is a musical comedy composed by Leslie Stuart with a book by Basil Hood, Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton. It opened at the Vaudeville Theatre in London in 1906, produced by Charles Frohman. It ran for 431 performances and starred Edna May, Louie Pounds, Camille Clifford and Courtice Pounds. Phyllis Dare later took over the lead role. It also had successful Broadway and Australian runs.
The show is inspired by the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet. Hood withdrew his name from the original production after Frohman started altering the text to suit casting changes that occurred during the run. Some of these changes resulted from disputes between the female leads and the management, one of which resulted in court action. Edna May stormed out of the production, and the role later made Phyllis Dare a star.
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[edit] Roles
- Julia Chaldicott
- Hon. Raymond Finchley
- Princess Carl
- Sir John Chaldicott
- Lady Chaldicott
- Hugh Meredith
- Perrier
- Lord Mount Highgate
- Countess of Mount Highgate
- Duchess of Dunmow
- Captain Theobald
- Lady Violet
- Lady Rosaline
[edit] Synopsis
A young couple, Julia and Raymond, fall madly in love during a sham auction taking place at a bazaar held in a London private park. This causes alarm to Julia's father who does not like Raymond's family. Raymond's friends advise him not to worry about marriage and to enjoy himself instead, while Julia's high powered friends try to get him sent overseas as a diplomat. Julia's father tries to end the match by announcing that his daughter is going to become engaged to a conductor of a foreign band that is touring in the vicinity, and he is paid to become an admirer of Julia. As a result, Raymond threatens to elope with Julia. Much confusion ensues, with Raymond disguised as the bandleader, and Julia's friends advise her not to elope as the shock to her farther would be too much. As a result, Julia calls off the elopement but pleads with her farther to let her marry Raymond. Finally, the father gives his consent, and every one lives happily ever after.
[edit] Musical numbers
Act 1
- Bells in the Morning -- The Belle of Mayfair
- Eight Little Debutantes Are We -- Debutantes
- I'm a Duchess -- Duchess of Dunmow
- In Gay Mayfair -- Julia
- Welcome to Princess -- Chorus
- Said I to Myself -- H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein
- Where You Go Will I Go -- Julia
- Come to St. George's -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein, Honorable Raymond Finchley and Hugh Meredith
- Finale -- Chorus
Act 2
- My Lady Fair -- Stall-holder and Chorus
- My Little Girl is a Shy Little Girl -- The Belle of Mayfair and Comte de Perrier
- Hello, Come Along Girls -- Hugh Meredith, Debutantes and Little Buds
- We've Come from Court -- Julia, H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein, Lady Chaldicott, Comte de Perrier, Sir George Cheatham, K.C. and Guests
- And the Weeping Willow Wept -- H.S.H. Princess Carl of Ehbreneitstein
- The Little Girl at the Sweet Shop -- Julia
- What Makes the Woman? -- Honorable Raymond Finchley
- Why Do They Call Me a Gibson Girl -- Duchess of Dunmow, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Debutantes
- I Know a Girl -- Honorable Raymond Finchley, Hugh Meredith, Comte de Perrier, The Earl of Mount Highgate and Sir John Chaldicott, Bart, M.P.
- Come to St. George's (Finale) -- Chorus
