''Pretty Polly'' is a one-act playlet by
Basil Hood
Basil Willett Charles Hood (5 April 1864 – 7 August 1917) was a British dramatist and lyricist, perhaps best known for writing the libretti of half a dozen Savoy Operas and for his English adaptations of operettas, including ''The Merry Wi ...
, with music composed by
François Cellier
François Arsène Cellier (14 December 1849 – 5 January 1914), often called Frank, was an English conductor and composer. He is known for his tenure as musical director and conductor of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company during the original runs ...
. The ten-minute long piece concerns the difficulties of a shy fellow who tries to use a talking parrot as a matrimonial agent.
The piece was first produced at the Theatre Royal,
Colchester
Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian.
Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colches ...
, 26 April 1900, and then at the
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre was designed by C. J. Phipps for Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened on 10 October 1881 on a site previously occupied by the Savoy Pala ...
, from 19 May 1900 to 28 June 1900 as a companion piece to Hood and
Sir Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 operatic collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinafore'', ''The Pirates of Penzance' ...
's ''
The Rose of Persia
''The Rose of Persia''; ''or, The Story-Teller and the Slave'', is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 29 November 1899, closing on 28 June 1900 after a profitabl ...
'', a run of 26 performances. It then played from 8 December 1900 to 20 April 1901, together with the first revival of
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
's 1881 hit, ''
Patience
(or forbearance) is the ability to endure difficult circumstances. Patience may involve perseverance in the face of delay; tolerance of provocation without responding in disrespect/anger; or forbearance when under strain, especially when faced ...
'', a run of 102 performances.
No printed libretto or vocal score is found in British Library, although the licence copy of the libretto is there. The music appears to have been added for the Savoy Theatre production, as it is not indicated in the licence copy.
Background
When the
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
partnership disbanded after the production of ''
The Gondoliers
''The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria'' is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 7 December 1889 and ran for a very successful 554 performances (at that time the ...
'' in 1889, impresario
Richard D'Oyly Carte
Richard D'Oyly Carte (; 3 May 1844 – 3 April 1901) was an English talent agent, theatrical impresario, composer, and hotelier during the latter half of the Victorian era. He built two of London's theatres and a hotel empire, while also establi ...
filled the Savoy Theatre with a combination of new works (several of which were composed by
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...
) and revivals of the
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian era, Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ...
operas. The fashion in the late
Victorian era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...
was to present long evenings in the theatre, and so producer
Richard D'Oyly Carte
Richard D'Oyly Carte (; 3 May 1844 – 3 April 1901) was an English talent agent, theatrical impresario, composer, and hotelier during the latter half of the Victorian era. He built two of London's theatres and a hotel empire, while also establi ...
preceded his
Savoy opera
Savoy opera was a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which impr ...
s with
curtain raisers
A curtain raiser is a short performance, stage act, show, actor or performer that opens a show for the main attraction. The term is derived from the act of raising the stage curtain. The first person on stage has "raised the curtain".
The fashio ...
.
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 ...
commented, concerning such curtain raisers:
:This was a one-act play, seen only by the early comers. It would play to empty boxes, half-empty upper circle, to a gradually filling stalls and dress circle, but to an attentive, grateful and appreciative pit and gallery. Often these plays were little gems. They deserved much better treatment than they got, but those who saw them delighted in them. ...
hey
Hey or Hey! may refer to:
Music
* Hey (band), a Polish rock band
Albums
* ''Hey'' (Andreas Bourani album) or the title song (see below), 2014
* ''Hey!'' (Julio Iglesias album) or the title song, 1980
* ''Hey!'' (Jullie album) or the title s ...
served to give young actors and actresses a chance to win their spurs ... the stalls and the boxes lost much by missing the curtain-raiser, but to them dinner was more important.
The creators of ''Pretty Polly'' were two artists who Carte knew could deliver a good piece. Hood was also the librettist for the main item on the bill, ''
The Rose of Persia
''The Rose of Persia''; ''or, The Story-Teller and the Slave'', is a two-act comic opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by Basil Hood. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 29 November 1899, closing on 28 June 1900 after a profitabl ...
'', and Cellier was the long-time music director of the Savoy Theatre and had produced other works for Carte. The little curtain raiser was warmly received. ''
The Pall Mall Gazette
''The Pall Mall Gazette'' was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood. In 1921, '' The Globe'' merged into ''The Pall Mall Gazette'', which itself was absorbed int ...
'' wrote: "''Pretty Polly,'' which preceded ''The Rose of Persia'' for the first time on Saturday night, is a little duologue by Mr. Basil Hood, which almost reconciles one to the curtain-raiser superfluity. If such things must be, this one is a model; only about ten minutes, and each one of them full of hearty laughter. Miss Louie Pounds is very charming in her part, and Mr. Henry Lytton acquits himself well in his; while a special word is due for the voice behind the scenes which talks for the live parrot on the stage."
['']The Pall Mall Gazette
''The Pall Mall Gazette'' was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood. In 1921, '' The Globe'' merged into ''The Pall Mall Gazette'', which itself was absorbed int ...
'', 21 May 1900
Sir
Arthur Sullivan
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (13 May 1842 – 22 November 1900) was an English composer. He is best known for 14 comic opera, operatic Gilbert and Sullivan, collaborations with the dramatist W. S. Gilbert, including ''H.M.S. Pinaf ...
died shortly before the opening of the revival of ''Pretty Polly'', and both Richard D'Oyly Carte and
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...
died during the revival. As a mark of respect, the Savoy Theatre was kept dark for a period of time after each of these sad events.
Synopsis
A good-hearted young man, Charlie Brown, has been abroad for some time. He wants to propose to pretty Polly Grey, but he is shy. He brings a talking parrot to her apartment to say the words "Pretty Polly! I wonder if she ever thinks of me!", which he hopes will "break the ice" for him, but he hides the parrot until he can determine whether or not she likes parrots. The lady sees the parrot and overhears his planning. She mischievously plays hard-to-get, claiming to hate parrots, but she happily accepts a bouquet of flowers from Brown (although the flowers had actually been sent by a rival, Percy Green). Brown hopes to sneak out without letting her know that he has brought the parrot, but Polly gives him a large dose of quinine to drink (as he had tried to excuse himself on account of tropical fever) and begs him to tell of his travels.
Just then the bird squawks out "Pretty Polly!" and Brown tries to cover again, saying that he has learnt the skill of ventriloquism in India. As Brown tries to put the parrot's cage outside the window surreptitiously, Polly "notices" the parrot. Brown, thinking quickly, ties Percy Green's card to the cage and says that the parrot must have come from Mr Green. Polly exclaims that poor Freen must have sent it to her "to break the ice for him! What a clever idea!" Gathering his courage, Brown makes the following speech:
:''Before I leave you for South Africa I must tell you as an honourable man that I have misled you. That is my parrot. Mr Percy Green’s card was tied to it by - by mistake. The voice you heard was not my voice, but my parrot's. The bird can talk, and I wanted it to say something which I was too shy to say myself. I meant it to break the ice for me. The clever idea was mine, not Mr Percy Green’s. Farewell!''
Polly then asks what else he taught the bird to say. Brown replies, "I wonder if she ever thinks of me!". Polly admits that the answer is "Yes". As Brown happily moves to kiss his pretty tormenter, she stops him: "One moment!" she covers up the parrot. "Parrots talk, you know!" They kiss.
Cast information
The first Savoy Theatre cast was:
*Charlie Brown –
Henry Lytton
Sir Henry Lytton (born Henry Alfred Jones; 3 January 1865 – 15 August 1936) was an English actor and singer who was the leading exponent of the starring comic patter-baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas from 1909 to 1934. He also sta ...
(who also played the Sultan in ''The Rose of Persia'')
*Polly Grey –
Louie Pounds
Louisa Emma Amelia "Louie" Pounds (12 February 1872 – 6 September 1970) was an English singer and actress, known for her performances in musical comedies and in mezzo-soprano roles with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.
Originally intended for ...
From December 1900, the cast was:
*Charlie Brown –
Robert Evett
Robert Evett (16 October 1874 – 15 January 1949) was an English singer, actor, theatre manager and producer. He was best known as a leading man in Edwardian musical comedies and later managed the George Edwardes theatrical empire.
In 1892, at ...
(who also played the Duke of Dunstable in ''Patience'')
*Polly Grey – Louie Pounds
Notes
{{Reflist
References
''Pretty Polly''at The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive
of
Savoy opera
Savoy opera was a style of comic opera that developed in Victorian England in the late 19th century, with W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan as the original and most successful practitioners. The name is derived from the Savoy Theatre, which impr ...
curtain raisers
Profile of Hoodin ''The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post'' (Bristol, England), June 4, 1900, p.3.
(London, England), May 21, 1900
(London, England), May 20, 1900
Licence copy of the script of the play
External links
English-language operas
English comic operas
Operas
1900 operas
Operas by François Cellier