The Circus Girl
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| The Circus Girl | |
 |
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| Ellaline Terriss as Dora | |
|---|---|
| Music | Ivan Caryll Lionel Monckton |
| Lyrics | Harry Greenbank Adrian Ross |
| Book | James T. Tanner Walter Apllant (Palings) |
| Productions | 1896 West End 1897 Broadway |
The Circus Girl is a musical comedy in two acts by James T. Tanner and Walter Apllant (Palings), with lyrics by Harry Greenbank and Adrian Ross, music by Ivan Caryll, and additional music by Lionel Monckton.
The musical was produced at George Edwardes's, Gaiety Theatre, beginning 5 December 1896, and ran for a very successful 497 performances. It also had a successful New York run at two theatres for a total of 172 performances. It starred Seymour Hicks as Dick Capel and his wife Ellaline Terriss as Dora Wemyss. Edmund Payne and Arthur Williams also appeared. Nancy McIntosh played La Favorita in the New York production in 1897.
Set in Paris, the plot concerns a group of English tourists who get mixed up with a circus troupe. Two of the famous songs from the show are "A Little Bit of String" and "The Way to Treat a Lady".
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[edit] Background
Ellaline Terriss wrote:
- One night Sir Arthur Sullivan came to see The Circus Girl and was good enough to come round after the play to my dressing-room. I was a little afraid that he might be contemptuous of our gay, light-hearted trifle, but no, not at all, he said he had been delighted with everything, the comedy, the charm, the setting — it is true that the play was beautifully mounted. Edwardes had caught the atmosphere of the circus ring and the last scene, "The Artists' Ball," was one of the finest The Guv'nor had ever staged. It got rounds of applause when the curtain went up, at every performance. Sullivan was loud in his praises of the music, too — there was no criticism from him. And he expressed great pleasure in my own performance, going so far as to say that he hoped I would be able to create a part in one of his next works.[1]
[edit] Roles and original cast
- Sir Titus Wemyss – Harry Monkhouse
- Dick Capel – Seymour Hicks
- Drivelli (proprietor of circus) – Arthur Williams
- Hon. Reginald Gower – Lionel Mackinder
- Albertoni (ring master) – Colin Coop
- Commissaire of Police – Robert Nainby
- Biggs (an American bar tender) – Edmund Payne
- Lucille (a slack wire walker) – Katie Seymour
- La Favorita – Ethel Haydon
- Mme. Drivelli – Connie Ediss
- Lady Diana Wemyss – Marie Davis
- Dora Wemyss – Ellaline Terriss
[edit] Musical numbers
- No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "We're taking advantage..."
- No. 2 - Song - Biggs and Chorus - "Supposing you should suffer..."
- No. 3 - Trio - Dick, Reggie, and Biggs - "Oh, I am in love..."
- No. 4 - Chorus and Song - Drivelli - "What is this attraction..." and "The Uses of Advertisement"
- No. 5 - Song - La Favorita - "What queen holds prouder sway..."
- No. 6 - Duet - Lucille and Biggs - "If the combat you win..."
- No. 7 - Song - Dora - "In the dreary days of school..."
- No. 8 - Duet - Dora and Dick - "The charms of a circus..."
- No. 9 - Song - Gaston and Chorus - "When strolling down a boulevard..."
- No. 10 - Song - Dick and Chorus - "When you rise at early dawn..."
- No. 11 - Finale - Act I - "With feet ever moving..."
- No. 12 - Act II Opening Chorus - "In eager expectation..."
- No. 13 - Song - Albertoni and Chorus - "If you really wish to hear..."
- No. 14 - Song - La Favorita and Chorus - "A life to be envied by all..."
- No. 15 - Song - Dick - "There was once a little maiden..."
- No. 16 - Chorus - "When pretty cheeks are all aglow..."
- No. 17 - Song - Gaston and Chorus - "Now, comrades, have a glass with me..."
- No. 18 - Song - Dora - "I was a little baby..."
- No. 19 - Duet - Lucille and Biggs - "Pets of the circus ring..."
- No. 20 - Song - Mrs. Drivelli and Chorus - "I think that it's behaving very shabby..."
- No. 21 - Dance des Polichinelles
- No. 22 - Finale - Act II - "As round the ring..."
