Theodore & Co

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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 September 19, 1916 and ran for 503 performances. It starred Grossmith.

Theodore & Co opened during World War I in the same year as two other tremendously successuful 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 Sould Be" and "Oh, How I Want To Marry".

[edit] Roles and original cast

Bompas, 24th Duke of Shetland - DAVY BURNABY
Pony Twitchen (of the "Crimson Comics") - LESLIE HENSON
Right 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. - JAMESON THOMAS AND
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

[edit] Musical numbers

ACT I

OPENING 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 Ivor Novello)
DUET - "I'll make myself at home " (Words by ADRIAN Ross. Music by Ivor Novello)
SONG - "I'm getting such a big girl now " (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Philip Braham)
SONG & DANCE - "Ev'ry little girl can teach me something new " (Words by ADRIAN Ross. Music by Ivor Novello)
SONG - "The Candy Girls" (Words by ADRIAN Ross.Music by Ivor Novello)
SEXTETTE - "You'd better not wait for him" (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Ivor Novello)
FINALE — ACT I. - "He's going to call on Baby Grand" (Music by Ivor Novello)

ACT II

OPENING CHORUS - "We are Theodore & Co." (Words by ADRIAN Ross. Music by Ivor Novello)
SONG - "Three Hundred and Sixty-five days" (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
SONG - "That "Come hither" look " (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
SONG " Any old where " (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Ivor Novello)
SONG & CHORUS - "The Casino Music Hall" (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
DANCE - "Valse Saracenne " (Music by Ivor Novello)
SONG - "My friend John " (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Ivor Novello)
DUET "All that I want is somebody to love me" (Words by CLIFFORD GREY. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
FINALE (Music by Ivor Novello)
SUPPLEMENTARY SONG - "My Second Childhood" (Words by DAVID BURNABY & ERIC BLORE. Music by Philip Braham)