''Glamorous Night'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

with a book and music by

Ivor Novello Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

and lyrics by

Christopher Hassall Christopher Vernon Hassall (24 March 1912 – 25 April 1963) was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after work ...

, Novello's collaborator in six of the eight Novello musicals staged between 1935 and 1951. ''Glamorous Night'' was the first of several Novello musicals in the 1930s given an expensive, spectacular production, with several scene changes and a large cast, including many extras and dancers. Scenes included villas on a suburban street where a horse-drawn carriage was driven, the set of an operetta performed in the fictional country of Krasnia, shipboard skating and assassination scenes, the sinking of the ship, a bustling gypsy wedding and a Royal ballroom. The musical was first performed in London in 1935. In 1937 it was adapted as a film of the same name starring

Mary Ellis Mary Ellis (born May Belle Elsas, June 15, 1897 – January 30, 2003) was an American actress and singer appearing on stage, radio, television and film, best known for her musical theatre roles, particularly in Ivor Novello works. After appea ...

and

Otto Kruger Otto Kruger (September 6, 1885 – September 6, 1974) was an American actor, originally a Broadway matinee idol, who established a niche as a charming villain in films, such as Hitchcock's ''Saboteur''. He also appeared in CBS's ''Perry Mason'' a ...

Productions

''Glamorous Night'' was produced by Ivor Novello. The musical opened at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

in London on 2 May 1935 to robust ticket sales, but had a limited run due to the pre-booking of a

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...

at the theatre. It then toured in the British provinces before re-opening at the

London Coliseum The London Coliseum (also known as the Coliseum Theatre) is a theatre in St Martin's Lane, Westminster, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Opened on 24 December 1904 as the London Coliseum Theatre ...

in May 1936 for another short run, for a total of 234 London performances. The role of Anthony Allen was played by Novello, and that of the gypsy (Militza Hajos) was played by

. It was directed by Leontine Sagan, with choreography by

Ralph Reader William Henry Ralph Reader (25 May 1903 – 18 May 1982), known as Ralph Reader, was a British actor, theatrical producer and songwriter, known for staging the original Gang Show, a variety entertainment presented by members of the Scouti ...

. The plot echoed current events in Rumania, where the king was willing to give up his reign to marry a Romany actress, Mme. Lupesco. A movie was made of ''

Glamorous Night ''Glamorous Night'' is a musical with a book and music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Christopher Hassall, Novello's collaborator in six of the eight Novello musicals staged between 1935 and 1951. ''Glamorous Night'' was the first of severa ...

'' in 1937, with Barry MacKay taking the role of Anthony Allen,

as King Stephen and Mary Ellis reprising her stage role of Militza. The show was briefly revived in November 1975 at the

New London Theatre The Gillian Lynne Theatre (formerly New London Theatre) is a West End theatre located on the corner of Drury Lane and Parker Street in Covent Garden, in the London Borough of Camden. The Winter Garden Theatre formerly occupied the site until 196 ...

, and was part of a UK tour. It was directed by Alexander Bridge and starred

John Hanson John Hanson ( – November 15, 1783) was an American Founding Father, merchant, and politician from Maryland during the Revolutionary Era. In 1779, Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress after serving in a variety o ...

and Pamela Field.Parsons, Ian
"''Glamorous Night'' (Revival)"
Overthefootlights.com, London musicals:1975, p. 6

Synopsis

A young inventor, Anthony Allen, has created a working television. The head of a radio broadcasting company fears competition and pays Allen to suppress his invention. Allen journeys to the "

Ruritanian Ruritania is a fictional country, originally located in central Europe as a setting for novels by Anthony Hope, such as ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' (1894). Nowadays the term connotes a quaint minor European country, or is used as a placeholder name f ...

" kingdom of Krasnia in Central Europe. There he meets a gypsy princess, Militza, but she is betrothed to the King of Krasnia. Allen saves her life in a shipwreck and soon falls in love with her. But brokenhearted, he gives her up, for the good of the kingdom. Meanwhile, the gypsies side with the King to overcome a revolution. Back in England, Allen watches the king's wedding to Militza on his television.

Principal characters

* Anthony Allen, ''an inventor'' – Novello, and later Barry Sinclair * Militza Hajos, ''a Gypsy princess'' –

* Phoebe, ''her maid'' –

Minnie Rayner Minnie Rayner (2 May 1869 – 13 December 1941) was a British stage and film actress. In 1889, while in South Africa, she acted in the comic opera '' Falka'' as Edwige, the fiery Gipsey girl and sister of the brigand chief. The play was staged ...

* Stephen, ''King of Krasnia'' – Barry Jones * Nico, ''a footman'' –

Peter Graves Peter Graves (born Peter Duesler Aurness; March 18, 1926 – March 14, 2010) was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Jim Phelps in the CBS television series '' Mission: Impossible'' from 1967 to 1973 (original) and from 1988 to ...

Replacements included Robert Andrews,

Olive Gilbert Olive Sarah Gilbert (22 November 1898 – 19 February 1981) was a British singer and actress, who, in a career spanning seven decades, performed first in opera and then in many of Ivor Novello's musicals in London's West End. After the First Wor ...

Elisabeth Welch Elisabeth Margaret Welch (February 27, 1904July 15, 2003) was an American singer, actress, and entertainer, whose career spanned seven decades. Her best-known songs were " Stormy Weather", " Love for Sale" and "Far Away in Shanty Town". She was ...

and Muriel Barron.

Musical numbers

* Glamorous Night * Fold your wings * Shine through my Dreams * When a Gypsy Played * Far Away in Shanty Town * Why Isn't It You? * The Girl I Knew

References

* ''Guinness Who's Who of Stage Musicals'', Colin Larkin (ed), Guinness Publications. * Lowe, Leslie. ''Directory of Popular Music'', Music Master.

Notes

External links

''Glamorous Night''
at the Guide to Musical Theatre

{{Authority control 1935 musicals West End musicals Musicals by Ivor Novello Fictional representations of Romani people British musicals