''The Balkan Princess'' 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 ...

in three acts 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

Frank Curzon Frank Curzon (17 September 1868 – 2 July 1927) was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, leasing the Royal Strand Theatre, Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre and Wyndham's Theatre, am ...

, with lyrics by Paul Rubens and

Arthur Wimperis Arthur is a common male given name of Brittonic languages, Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. An ...

, and music by Paul Rubens. It opened at London's

Prince of Wales Theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre in Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in London. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner. The theatre ...

on 19 February 1910. The cast included

Isabel Jay Isabel Emily Jay (17 October 1879 – 26 February 1927) was an English opera singer and actress, best known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and in Edwardian musical comedies. During ...

and

Bertram Wallis Bertram Wallis (22 February 1874 – 11 April 1952) was an English actor and singer known for his performances in plays, musical comedies and operettas in the early 20th century, first as leading men and then in character roles. He also later a ...

. There was a successful Broadway run in 1911 that used a libretto by

Leonard Liebling Leonard Liebling (February 7, 1874 – October 28, 1945) was an American music critic, writer, librettist, editor, piano, pianist, and composer. He is best remembered as the long time editor-in-chief of the ''Musical Courier'' from 1911 to 1945. ...

, and the show toured widely thereafter. The piece contains some of Rubens's most tuneful music, and the production was mounted with spectacle in its settings, costumes and large chorus of beautiful girls. The show was much like Lonsdale's previous success ''

King of Cadonia ''King of Cadonia'' is an English musical in two acts with a book by Frederick Lonsdale, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Arthur Wimperis and music by Sidney Jones and Frederick Rosse. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on 3 September 19 ...

'', but with the sexes reversed. Famous songs from the show included "Wonderful World" and "Dear, Delightful Woman".

Roles and original cast

*The Grand Duke Sergius –

*Count Boethy (Prime Minister of Balaria) –

William Lugg William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

*Captain Radomir – Ridgwell Cullum *Lieutenant Varna – C. Morton Horne *Max Hein (Alias "Prince Boris of Ma'alia") – Charles Brown *Blatz (His confederate) –

Lauri de Frece Lauri de Frece (3 March 1880 – 25 August 1921) was an English actor and singer who appeared in musical theatre and in films of the silent era. His original name was Maurice de Frece. He was the younger brother of Walter de Frece and the husban ...

*Lounger at the "Bohemian Restaurant" – Norman Blumé *Emile (Proprietor of the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Peter Blunt *Hermann (Commissionaire at the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Barry Neame *Henri (A waiter) – James Blakeley *Magda (Charwoman at the palace) – Mabel Sealby *Olga (Maid of honour) – Hazel Dawn *Sofia (A habituée of the "Bohemian Restaurant") – Mabel Green *Paula, Tessa, Carmen, Margherita, Teresa (Other habituées) –

Margaret Ismay Margaret Ismay was an opera singer. While a student at the Royal Academy of Music, she was awarded the Academy's Gilbert Betjemann Prize "for operatic singing" in 1909. She later had the medal converted into a coin watch by Cartier. She appear ...

, Madge Kirkham, Peggy Lorraine, Babs Capelle and Sylvia Beresford *Cashiers at the "Bohemian Restaurant" – Marjorie Blythe and Alethea Allardyce *Princess Stephanie of Balaria –

Synopsis

Princess Stephanie of Balaria is bound by the laws of her country to marry one of six nobles, or

abdicate Abdication is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the succession procedures of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societ ...

. When the time comes to select her husband she finds that only five have arrived. Count Boethy, the Prime Minister, tells her that Grand Duke Sergius, the missing noble, has refused to enter the palace. That misguided person prefers to write

socialist Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the e ...

ic articles in the press with such headlines as "Why the people of Balaria could dispense with their Princess." The Princess is piqued at these treasonable insults, but admires the Duke's independence. She thinks out a scheme very quickly. She will find him and compel him to come to the Palace. Hearing that the Duke frequents a certain Bohemian restaurant, she goes there,

incognito Incognito is an English adjective meaning "in disguise", "having taken steps to conceal one's identity". Incognito may also refer to: Film and television * ''Incognito'' (1937 film), a Danish film * ''Incognito'' (1997 film), an American crime ...

. Almost the first man she sets eyes on is the Duke, but she doesn't know him. They fall in love with each other. At the end of a happy evening, Sergius proposes a toast, "The downfall of the Princess." The Princess is amazed. "I am the Princess; arrest that man!" Duke Sergius is taken to the Palace as a prisoner. Still, the Princess loves him, and rather than marry one of the remaining nobles she signs the document abdicating the throne of Balaria. Now she is only an ordinary woman, and not bound by the matrimonial laws as a Princess. She is free to marry whom she pleases. Duke Sergius, however, having seen how noble and good she is, destroys the document, takes his stand with the others, and the curtain falls upon the happy couple.

Musical numbers

*Overture ACT I - Reception Room at the Palace *No. 1 - Chorus of Debutantes and Soldiers - "Here in stately queue, close we press" *No. 2 - Olga and Chorus - "Now the Court is over and our work is done" *No. 3 - Chorus - "Way for the Prince, make way, make way!" *No. 4 - Max Hein and Blatz - "It is sometimes shown that money alone" *No. 5 - Princess and Chorus of Dukes - "Gentlemen, I thank you for the honour" *No. 6 - Magda - "When I first made up my mind into service I would go" *No. 7 - Finale Act I - "Understand that from today I will not be dictated to" ACT II - The "Bohemian Restaurant," the next evening *No. 8 - Act II Introduction *No. 9 - Sofia and Chorus - "In a Balkan village lived a Montenegrin maid" *No. 10 - Entrance of Grand Duke *No. 11 - Grand Duke and Chorus - "Women are really most beautiful things" *No. 12 - Princess and Grand Duke - "We've had a very pleasant chat" *No. 13 - Magda and Blatz - "Now you must confess I always, more or less" *No. 14 - Princess - "Wicked old world, you've been slighted for years" *No. 15 - Henri, Hein, Blatz, Sofia, Magda, and Carmen - "When you're feeling blue" *No. 16 - Finale Act II ACT III - The Garden of the Palace, a week later *No. 17 - Princess - "Last night a lovely dream I dreamed" *No. 18 - Grand Duke - "There are some men born to be led" *No. 19 - Henri and Chorus - "People say that the world's all fat" *No. 20 - Finale Act III (identical to Finale Act II) Addendum *Princess - "I have rank, I have treasure, I've a court of my own"

References

External links

Midi files and cast listInformation about the Broadway production
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balkan Princess, The 1910 musicals West End musicals Original musicals Musicals by Frederick Lonsdale Fictional princesses British musicals