''Betty'' is an

Edwardian musical comedy Edwardian musical comedy was a form of British musical theatre that extended beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions, beginning in the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the A ...

in three acts, with a book by

Frederick Lonsdale Frederick Lonsdale (5 February 1881 – 4 April 1954) was a British playwright known for his librettos to several successful musicals early in the 20th century, including '' King of Cadonia'' (1908), ''The Balkan Princess'' (1910), ''Betty'' (1 ...

and Gladys Unger, music by Paul Rubens and , and lyrics by

Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 11 September 1933), better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...

and Rubens. It was first produced at the

Prince's Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was d ...

in Manchester, opening on December 24, 1914, then at

Daly's Theatre Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937. The theatre was built for and named after the American impresar ...

in London, managed by

George Edwardes George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond. Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...

, opening on April 24, 1915

W. J. MacQueen-Pope Walter James MacQueen-Pope (11 April 1888 – 27 June 1960), known familiarly as Popie, was an English theatre historian and publicist. From a theatrical family which could be traced back to contemporaries of Shakespeare, he was in management for ...

, ''Nights of Gladness'' (1956), p. 192 and running for 391 performances. It also played at the Globe Theater in New York, opening on October 3, 1916. The show then enjoyed various tours and revivals.

Gabrielle Ray Gabrielle Ray (born Gabrielle Elizabeth Clifford Cook, 28 April 1883 – 21 May 1973), was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies. Ray was considered one of the most beautiful actresse ...

joined the cast in 1915 as Estelle.

Roles and original cast

*Gerard, The Earl of Beverley -

Donald Calthrop Donald Esme Clayton Calthrop (11 April 1888 – 15 July 1940) was an English stage and film actor. Born in London, Calthrop was educated at St Paul's School and made his first stage appearance at eighteen years of age at the Comedy Theatr ...

*The Duke of Crowborough - C. M. Lowne *The Hon. Victor Halifax - Arthur Wellesley *Charles Otway - Alfred S. Barber *Lathers - Frank Perfitt *Hillier - Charles F. Cooke *Cedric - Cecil Fletcher *Alf - Cyril Doughty *Achille Jotte (Court Dressmaker) - W. H. Berry *Lord Playne - G. P. Huntley *Chicquette - Isabel Delorme *Estelle - Mabel Sealby *Lady Playne - Madeline Seymour *David Playne (Lord Playne's Nephew) -

Daisy Burrell Daisy Burrell (born Daisy Isobel Eaglesfield Ratton; 16 June 1892 – 10 June 1982) was a British stage actress and Edwardian musical comedy performer who also appeared as a leading lady in silent films and in pantomime. In 1951 she appeared i ...

*Mrs. Rawlins - Kate Welch *Jane - Modesta Daly *Betty - Winifred Barnes

Synopsis

Gerard, the Earl of Beverley, a philanderer, has pushed his father, The Duke of Crowborough, to the limit. The Duke storms into his son's home demanding that the younger man settle down with a wife and take on some responsibility. The young Earl, drunk and embarrassed in front of his friends, proposes to Betty, a kitchen maid, to spite his father. Gerard has no intention of following his father's wishes and makes plans to send Betty away and to continue with his profligate lifestyle. But the Duke is a step ahead of his son: He gives Gerard's allowance to his wife, Betty, so that Gerard must depend upon her. The charming Betty manages to become accepted by the society into which she has married and eventually charms her way into the heart of her wayward husband. He returns to her of his own accord and they find happiness.

Musical numbers

;Act I - The Earl of Beverley's House in Regent's Park *No. 1 - Chorus - "Oh, his Lordship rather keeps things up, they come to sup, lots of ladies and of noblemen..." *No. 2 - Betty & Alf - "Let's pretend some fairy has granted our wishes..." *No. 3 - Gerard, Chicquette & Dolly - "Oh, girls, isn't it a score ... Isn't it a score? ... I'm a bachelor! ..." *No. 4 - Jotte, with Alf - "I started bus'ness on six bob a week ..." *No. 5 - Finale Act I - Betty - "It was a little kitchen-maid, beside the fire one night she stayed..." ;Act II - The Garden of the Earl of Beverley's House (next morning) *No. 6 - Introduction & "Betty" Barcarolle. *No. 7 - Unaccompanied Madrigal - Eight Household Servants - "All day long I roll the lawn, and a very long roll it is..." *No. 8 - Gerard - "It's a funny thought, how often in my life I've had breakfast all alone..." *No. 9 - Jotte & Chorus - "Though you find me a bit severe when I am in my shop..." *No. 10 - Gerard, David, Victor, Cedric & Men's Chorus - "Marriage is a thing that makes me nervous..." *No. 11 - Betty & Chorus - "I have dream'd of the wonder of love, like a rainbow that arches above..." *No. 12 - Estelle & Jotte - "When a fellow goes out walking with a dear delightful pet..." *No. 13 - Betty & Gerard - "Suppose it was true that you loved me and I loved you..." *No. 14 - David, Jotte & Playne - "A woman's too much for a man all alone..." *No. 15 - Finale Act II - "What! You cannot really, truly mean to send her off so cruelly..." ;Act III - Lord Playne's House, Farnham Towers *No. 16 - Chorus & Dance - "Come away, have one more waltz with us now..." *No. 17 - Jotte & Chorus - "If you'd have the fashionable figure in the very latest taste..." *No. 18 - Estelle & Jotte - "There is a right side and a wrong to ev'rything, it seems to me..." *No. 19 - Betty & Gerard - "It's a month since we parted; aren't you quite broken-hearted? ..." *No. 20 - Finale Act III (includes a quiet section for dialogue)

References

External links

Information from the Guide to Musical TheatreInformation about the Broadway productionSheet music from ''Betty''
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