The Girl Behind the Counter

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The Girl behind the Counter is an English musical by Arthur Anderson and Leedham Bantok, with music by Howard Talbot and lyrics by Arthur Anderson (and additional lyrics by Percy Greenbank), produced by Frank Curzon. It opened at Wyndham's Theatre on April 21, 1906. It starred Isabel Jay, C. Hayden Coffin and Lawrence Grossmith (son of George Grossmith and brother of George Grossmith, Jr.) Though the musical only ran for 141 performances in the original London production, it had a very successful Broadway run, and toured successfully thereafter in the British provinces, the U.S. and elsewhere.

[edit] Roles

Charlie Chetwynd
General Sir Wilkie Willoughby
Viscount Gushington ("Gussie")
Monsieur Duval (Proprietor of the "Maison Duval")
Adolphus Dudd (Office Boy at the "Maison Duval")
Millie Mostyn (Manageress of the "Maison Duval")
Ninette (Head of the Millinery Department)
Susie (Cashier at the "Maison Duval")
Winnie Willoughby

[edit] Musical numbers

Act I - The "Maison Duval."

No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Hurry, scurry, to and fro..."
No. 2 - Song - Duval and Chorus - "Oh! ze managère discreet, 'e is very 'ard to beat..."
No. 3 - Song - Gussie - "It's jolly nice to be as deuced popular as I am..."
No. 4 - Song - Winnie - "Why should a maid bestow her hand..."
No. 5 - Duet - Dudd and Susie - "I mean to start a fancy shop..."
No. 6 - Concerted Number - Customers and Chorus - "They've been shopping till they're dropping..."
No. 7 - Song - Charlie and Chorus - "A land there is o'er the ocean wide..."
No. 8 - Duet - Winnie and Charlie - "Won't you buy a spray, or a choice bouquet..."
No. 9 - Song and Dance - Ninette and Chorus - "I'm a little lady who is rather fascinating..."
No. 10 - Finale Act I - "Here's a situation! If her tale be true..."

Act II - The Baron's Court Exhibition. "The Rose Carnival."

No. 11 - Opening Chorus Act II - "The Exhibition buildings are en fête tonight..."
No. 12 - Song - Millie and Chorus of Girls - "In a sleepy country hamlet, in the drowsy vale of Kent..."
No. 13 - Duet - Susie and Dudd - "We are orthodox types of an era gone by..."
No. 14 - Duet - Ninette and Duval, with Chorus - "We paid our fares and climbed the stairs..."
No. 15 - Song - General Sir Wilkie Willoughby,and Chorus - "In good Queen Bess's glorious time..."
No. 16 - Duet - Winnie and Charlie - "When you are by my side a king am I..."
No. 17 - Song - Charlie - "My heart is yours alone, dear..." (composed by Leslie Stuart under the name of Augustus Barratt)
No. 18 - Duet - Millie and Gussie - "When you're my little wife..."
No. 19 - Song - Dudd and Chorus - "If there hadn't been an apple on the tree." (by A. J. Mills and Bennett Scott)
No. 20 - Song - Ninette and Chorus - "Come with me, if you are melancholic..."
No. 21 - Finale Act II - "So come along, and join the merry throng..."
Addendum No. 23 - Duet - Millie and Gussie - "I'm glad you take my wooing in this unromantic way..."