Eileen (musical)

''Eileen'' is a comic opera (sometimes described as a musical) with music by Victor Herbert and lyrics and book by Henry Blossom, based loosely on the 1835 novel '' Rory O'Moore'' by Herbert's grandfather, Samuel Lover.Clarke, Kevin
"The Irish Have a Great Day Tonight: “Eileen” on New World Records"
Operetta Research Center September 4, 2014 Set in 1798, the story concerns an Irish revolutionary arrested by the British for treason. Eileen, his nobly born sweetheart, helps him to escape by disguising him as a servant.

After two Cleveland performances at the Colonial Theatre on January 1–2, 1917 titled ''Hearts of Erin'', the musical moved on to Boston, changing its name to ''Eileen''. It then opened at the Shubert Theatre on March 19, 1917 and ran for only 64 performances. It was produced by Joe Weber, formerly of the comedy duo Weber and Fields. It then toured, but a fire destroyed its sets and costumes three months into the tour.Theatre program, Landmark on the Park, NYC, Light Opera of New York, March 16–17, 2012 The show was not revived in New York until the end of the 20th century. In 1982, a single on-book concert performance was given at Manhattan's Town Hall, featuring E. G. Marshall as O'Day, Judy Kaye as Lady Maude and Roderick Cook as Sir Reginald. In 1997, it was produced and recorded by the Ohio Light Opera. In 2012, a small-scale production was given by the Light Opera of New York.

Herbert was eager to write an "Irish" musical to celebrate the land of his birth. His score was well received by the critics, but the libretto received some harsh reviews. Alexander Woollcott wrote: "Mr Blossom ust havegathered his material and atmosphere by reading for quite half an hour in some public library."

Roles and original cast

*Eileen Mulvaney, niece of Lady Maude (soprano) – Grace Breen
*Captain Barry O'Day, a fine Irish Rebel ( tenor) – Walter Scanlan
*Lady Maude Estabrooke, Eileen's Aunt – Olga Roller
*Colonel Lester, the local British authority – Edward Martindel
*Shaun Dhu, Barry's steadfast mate – Greek Evans
*Sir Reginald Stribling, a British Knight – Algernon Grieg
*Rosie Flynn – Louise Allen
*Biddy Flynn – F. Josie Claflin
*"Humpy" Grogan, the British tax collector – John B. Cooke
*Lanty Hackett – Harry Crosby
*Mickey O'Brien – Joseph Dillon
*Dinny Doyle – Scott Welsh
*Chorus of Villagers

Synopsis

;Act I
It is 1798, the year of the brutal uprisings of the United Irishmen, who seek to reclaim their lands from the British. Lady Maude, the attractive widow of Lord Estabrook, an English lady, is the mistress of Castle Sligo, once held by the O'Day family, creating resentment among the Irish locals. Her niece, Eileen, has returned to Ireland after schooling at a convent in France; she is accompanied by the bumbling Sir Reginald. Shaun Dhu leads a band of smugglers and revolutionaries on the Western coast of Ireland that includes Barry O'Day, son of a legendary Irish rebel. The band stores its loot at Biddy's Black Bull Inn in an effort to avoid nasty British tax collector Humpy Grogan. Lady Maude and Eileen stop at the Inn when their carriage breaks down. Barry protects them from some village drunks and flirts with Maude, although it is really Eileen who has caught his eye; Maude is sympathetic to the rebels' cause. Colonel Lester, the local British authority, comes to arrest Barry for treason, but Lady Maude keeps the Colonel at bay, and Barry escapes disguised as Lady Maude's groom.

;Act II
Later, at Castle Sligo, Lady Maude has developed affection for Barry. Eileen explains that Barry is a rogue. Nevertheless, Maude decides to help Barry escape again from the Colonel by putting a coachman's uniform on her guest, Sir Reggie, making him a decoy. Sir Reggie is arrested and sentenced to death before the Colonel learns that he has been fooled and that Barry has gotten away again.

;Act III
By the time of Lady Maude's birthday, Eileen and Barry have fallen in love. Learning that Barry is there, the Colonel has his men surround the castle. Barry surrenders, and he is about to be shot, when news arrives that the King has pardoned the rebels. The arrest is reversed, various couples are united, including Barry and Eileen, and it is declared that "Ireland shall stand among all nations of the world."

Recordings

The show's hit song, "Thine Alone", has been frequently recorded. Al Goodman's orchestra and soloists recorded eight highlights from ''Eileen'' on a set of 78 RPM records. These selections were later reissued by RCA Camden on one side of a 12-inch LP (selections from ''Polonaise'' are on the reverse). This album has been out-of-print since the late 1950s. The Ohio Light Opera revived and recorded the musical in 1997, adapted by Quade Winter from Herbert's manuscripts, held in the collection of the Library of Congress. In 2012, New World Records released a recording of the full score with the Orchestra of Ireland conducted by David Brophy "in a genuinely vital, colorful reading of this luscious score."Hurwitz, David
"Victor Herbert’s Splendid Eileen"
ClassicsToday.com, accessed December 7, 2014

Songs

;Act I
* Free Trade and a Misty Moon – Shaun Dhu and Smuggler Chorus
* My Little Irish Rose – Rosie Flynn
* Ireland, My Sireland – Captain Barry O'Day
* Glad, Triumphant Hour – Barry O'Day and Chorus

;Act III
* In Erin's Isle – Lady Maude and Ensemble
* Thine Alone – Eileen and Barry O'Day
* The Irish Have a Great Day Tonight – Dinny and Men
* When Ireland Stands Among the Nations of the World – Barry O'Day and Ensemble

;Act II
* Too-re-loo-re – Eileen and Chorus
* Eileen, Alanna Asthore – Barry O'Day
* If Eve Had Left the Apple on the Bough – Sir "Reggie"
* I'd Love to be a Lady – Dinny Doyle and Rosie
* When Love Awakes! – Eileen and Girls
* Life's a Game at Best – Lady Maude and Colonel Lester
* Finale – Ensemble

References

External links

*
*"''Eileen'' Brim Full of Rich Melodies", ''The New York Times'', March 20, 1917, p. 9

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Broadway musicals
1917 musicals
1917 operas
English-language operettas
Musicals based on novels
Operas by Victor Herbert
Operas based on novels