After All!
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After All! is a one-act comic opera with a libretto by Frank Desprez and music by Alfred Cellier. It was first performed at the Savoy Theatre along with the H.M.S. Pinafore and another short piece, Cups & Saucers, from December 1878 to February 1880. Later it played with the children's Pinafore (with In the Sulks), from February to March 1880; with The Mikado from November 1895 to March 1896; with The Grand Duke from April to July 1896; with The Mikado from July to August 1896; and with The Yeomen of the Guard from May to June 1897. It was also performed on tour on numerous occasions through at least 1909.
The piece contains only 4 songs, all of which were separately published (by Metzler) and are in the British Library.
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[edit] Synopsis
Selworthy returns from many years in the Americas to seek his youthful sweetheart Perdita, and calls upon his old pal Pennyfather only to discover that Perdita is now Mrs. Pennyfather. He is heartbroken, but on learning from his friend what a henpecking, overbearing and overweight woman his sweetheart has now become, realises that he has had a lucky escape and that he really can forgive Pennyfather After All!
[edit] Song list
- No. 1. True, True Love!
- No. 2. The Solicitor's Song — Up A Little Early
- No. 3. It's Missus
- No. 4. Strictly Proper
[edit] Original cast
| Pennyfather | Rutland Barrington |
| Selworthy | Richard Temple |
| Maria | Jessie Bond |
| Offstage voice | J. Hervey |
The offstage voice was originally played by Jennie Sullivan (under the name J. Hervey), who was the composer's cousin. The role is not mentioned after the first few weeks or months of the run. Jessie Bond in her autobiography mentions her spoonerism "The missus is having such a cow with the rabman", which comes from this piece. C. H. Workman played Pennyfeather in the 1895-97 revivals. Emmie Owen played Maria in the 1895-96 revivals.
