Sweethearts (musical)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For information about the film version of this stage work, see Sweethearts (film)
- For information about the W. S. Gilbert play of the same name, see Sweethearts (play)
| Sweethearts | |
 |
|
| Sheet music for the title song | |
|---|---|
| Music | Victor Herbert |
| Lyrics | Robert B. Smith |
| Book | Harry B. Smith Fred DeGrésac |
| Productions | 1913 Broadway 1929 Broadway Revival 1938 film 1947 Broadway Revival |
Sweethearts is an operetta or musical play in two acts with music by Victor Herbert, lyrics by Robert B. Smith and book by Harry B. Smith and Fred De Gressac.
Contents |
[edit] Productions
The first performance of the work was at the Academy of Music in Baltimore in March 1913, after which the show was overhauled and shortened before spending five weeks in Philadelphia and another five in Boston tryouts.
The original Broadway production opened at the New Amsterdam Theater on September 8, 1913 and transferred to Liberty Theatre on November 10, 1913 running for a total of 136 performances. The original cast included Christie MacDonald as Princess Jeanne/Sylvia, Thomas Conkey as Prince Franz, Edwin Wilson as Lieutenant Karl, Frank Belcher as Petrus Von Trump, Tom McNaughton as Mikel Mikeloviz, Ethel Du Fre Houston as Dame Paula, and Hazel Kirk as Liane.
There was a brief revival at Jolson's 59th Street Theatre, opening on September 21, 1929 and closing on October 5, 1929. Gladys Baxter played Sylvia.
MGM made the musical into a film in 1938 with a considerably altered screenplay, directed by W. S. Van Dyke and starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy. This was the first All-TECHNICOLOR film of MGM Studio.
A Broadway revival opened at the Shubert Theater on January 21, 1947 and ran for 288 performances. It featured a revised book by John Cecil Holm and musical direction by Robert Russell Bennett. The cast included Bobby Clark as Mikel, Marjorie Gateson as Dame Lucy, Gloria Story as Princess Sylvia.
[edit] Synopsis
Mikel Mikeloviz, disguised as a monk, transports Princess Jeanne, the infant daughter of King René of the little kingdom of Zilinia, to Bruges to wait in safety during the war. Dame Paula runs the Laundry of the White Geese and is known as Mother Goose. Mikeloviz gives the princess tp Paula in secret to raise as her own daughter under the name of Sylvia. Paula later has six daughters of her own.
Mikel is conspiring to restore Princess Jeanne to the throne, which is about to be offered to Franz, the heir presumptive, who, while travelling in disguise, has fallen in love with Sylvia. But Sylvia, who does not know that she is really a princess, is bethrothed to Lieutenant Karl, a military lothario. Mikel's plans are hindered by the schemes of three villains. Mikel also mistakes Liane, a milliner who has sought temporary employment in the Laundry of the White Geese, for the lost princess. After all the complications are combed out, Franz and Sylvia marry, vowing to rule together.
[edit] Recording
RCA Victor issued an album using studio singers and Al Goodman's orchestra on 78-RPM records. These highlights were issued on Lp by RCA Victor in 1951 and on their budget label RCA Camden in 1958 but have been unavailable in any format since 1960.
[edit] Songs
|
|
[edit] Roles
- Dame Paula (Mezzo-soprano) - Owner of the White Goose Laundry
- Karl (Tenor) - A Lieutenant in the local military
- Liane (Soprano) - A hatshop girl mascarading as one of Paula’s
- daughters
- Mikel (Tenor) - A diplomat from Zenovia
- Sylvia (Coloratura Soprano) - An adopted daughter of Dame Paula
- Franz (Baritone) - Prince of Zenovia
- Van Tromp (Baritone) - A diplomat from Germany
- Slingsby (Baritone) - A diplomat from France
- Chorus
