''The Dancing Mistress'' is a musical comedy with music by

Lionel Monckton Lionel John Alexander Monckton (18 December 1861 – 15 February 1924) was an English composer of musical theatre. He became Britain's most popular composer of Edwardian musical comedy in the early years of the 20th century. Life and career ...

, book by

James T. Tanner James Tolman Tanner (17 October 1858 – 18 June 1915) was an English stage director and dramatist who wrote many of the successful musicals produced by George Edwardes. Life and career Tanner began his theatre career as a set-painter and actor ...

and lyrics by Adrian Ross and

Percy Greenbank Percy Greenbank (24 January 1878 – 9 December 1968) was an English lyricist and librettist, best known for his contribution of lyrics to a number of successful Edwardian musical comedies in the early years of the 20th century. His older brothe ...

. It depicts the fortunes of a school dancing mistress who is dismissed and finds fortune and happiness in Switzerland. The piece ran in the West End of London in 1912 and 1913, and toured the British provinces in 1914.

History

''The Dancing Mistress'' was presented by the impresario George Edwardes at the Royal Adelphi Theatre, opening on 19 October 1912. The piece, which followed the same composer's and authors' immensely successful '' The Quaker Girl'', featured many of the performers from the earlier show, including the romantic leads,

Gertie Millar Gertrude Ward, Countess of Dudley ( Millar; 21 February 1879 – 25 April 1952), known as Gertie Millar, was an English actress and singer of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Beginning her care ...

and

Joseph Coyne Joseph Coyne (27 March 1867 – 17 February 1941), sometimes billed as Joe Coyne, was an American-born vaudevillian and musical comedy actor whose career spanned nearly 50 years, from 1883-1931. A popular performer in the U.S., he achieved major s ...

. It ran at the Adelphi until 21 June 1913. A touring company presented the piece in the British provinces, with Adele Crispin, John T. MacCallum and Laura Wright in the leading roles of Nancy, Teddy and Virginie."New Theatre", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 27 January 1914, p. 16

Cast

*Widdicombe (butler at "Down House") – James Blakeley *Lord Lyndale (otherwise Mr. Viner) – F. Pope Stamper *Dubois (an adventurer financing the Baron) – D. J. Williams *Baron Montalba – G. Carvey *Berchili (manager of Grand Hôtel des Alpes) – Ivan Berlyn *M. Rosemblum (a Banker) – Ernest A. Douglas *Teddy Cavanagh (an aeroplanist) –

*Jeanie McTavish ("tuckwoman" at "Down House") – Gracie Leigh *Mlle. Virginie Touchet (French mistress at "Down House") – Mlle. M. Caumont *Bella Peach (daughter of an Argentine millionaire) –

Elsie Spain Elsie Spain (1879 – 28 May 1970), born Elsie Rickets, 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 from 1908 to 1910 and in operettas and Edwa ...

*Miss Pindrop (Principal of "Down House") – Agnes Thomas *Lady Margrave – Maud Cressall *Lili (a Parisienne) – Gina Palerme *Nancy Joyce (dancing mistress of "Down House") –

Synopsis

;Act I At a girls' school in

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

on the south coast of England, the French mistress, Virginie Touchet, when not teaching French, surreptitiously indulges in an irresistible and ruinous addiction to gambling. She has befriended the young dancing teacher, Nancy Joye, under her wing. When Nancy uses her modest savings to help Virginie out, the latter promises her a huge reward if she wins the enormous cash prize with her latest "investment", a ticket for the Panama Lottery. The ticket wins, but nobody discovers the fact except for Widdicombe, the school butler, who throws over his previous lady-friend, Jeanie, the school's tuckwoman, and pursues Virginie. Teddy Cavanagh is an aviator. In the course of his travels an Indian woman has given him a strange stone. In its normal state it is green, but when it is brought into contact with anyone who is passionately in love, it changes to red. When Teddy meets Nancy the stone rapidly goes from green to red. The austere headmistress, Miss Pindrop, does not like Nancy, and, finding her teaching her pupils a

ragtime Ragtime, also spelled rag-time or rag time, is a musical style that flourished from the 1890s to 1910s. Its cardinal trait is its syncopated or "ragged" rhythm. Ragtime was popularized during the early 20th century by composers such as Scott ...

dance, she uses that as a pretext for dismissing her. Nancy is offered a post as teacher of dancing at a winter sports hotel in the Swiss mountains. ;Act II Teddy follows Nancy to Switzerland. His friend, Lord Lyndale travels out to join him. Virginie has also travelled out, pursued by Widdicombe, who is pursued by Jeanie. Also at the hotel is the villain of the piece, Baron Montalba, an old enemy of Teddy, and much enamoured of Nancy. To get Teddy out of the way, the Baron bets him that he cannot fly his aeroplane to London in two days, starting immediately. Teddy, taking Widdicombe as a witness, sets out, having sent the Indian jewel to Nancy, with a message asking her to wear it before he takes off, to show that his love for her is reciprocated. The Baron intercepts the jewel and substitutes for it a gorgeous necklace of diamonds. ;Act III At the Hotel Bristol in London, celebrations are in full swing for Virginie's (and Nancy's) windfall from the Panama Lottery. All misunderstandings are cleared up, the wicked Baron is foiled, and the lovers are united. The stone glows red for both of them.

Musical numbers

;Act I * No. 1. Chorus of Girls – "When Spring comes dancing over the hills..." * No. 2. Bella and Chorus – "In girlhood's happy hours your fancy wanders gaily..." * No. 3. Widdicombe and Chorus of Girls – "There's a wonderful fascination in the game of speculation..." * No. 4. Bella, Jeanie, Lyndale and Widdicombe – "Oh, who will over the downs..." * No. 5. Nancy – "When I was a little lass, being educated..." * No. 6. The Dancing Lesson * No. 7. Chorus – "Oh, it's so pleasant that you and we can meet at present for talk and tea..." * No. 8. Nancy and Teddy – "As Fly-Away Jack soars up aloft upon his airy flight..." * No. 9. Finale Act I – "Bella, you be bold now, have your fortune told now..." ;Act II * No. 10. Chorus of Skaters and Skiers – "Oh, it's ripping in Switzerland now..." * No. 11. Jeanie – "I packed my wee bit bag and started awa' from Dover..." * No. 12. Nancy and Teddy – "I'm busy here, and so I fear I can't spare you a minute..." * No. 13. Lili and Chorus – "We've come to this country unknown..." * No. 14. Baron and Chorus – "When you are in love, all the world is fair..." * No. 15. Lynale, Teddy, Widdicombe, Baron and Dubois – "Though with rage and indignation you're aglow..." * No. 16. Nancy – "Dear little snowflake, soft and white..." * No. 17. Bella, Jeanie, Virginie, Lyndale, Widdicombe and Dubois – "I must go and pack now..." * No. 18. Finale Act II – "We're coming tonight to look at the flight..." ;Act III * No. 19. Bella and Lyndale, with Chorus – "While we're dancing together..." * No. 20. Teddy and Chorus – "Supposing a girl should drop me, and fancy another man..." * No. 21. Jeanie and Widdicombe – "When I have married you, my dear, and you have married me..." * No. 22. Cotillon – Polka and Two-Step * No. 23. Finale Act III

Critical reception

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' thought the piece too long, and commented, "Mr. Lionel Monckton's songs call for no special comment, but they fulfil their purpose; and ''The Dancing Mistress'', when trimmed and shaped, will make a very pleasant entertainment.""Royal Adelphi Theatre", ''The Times'', 21 October 1912, p. 10 ''

The Illustrated London News ''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May 1842, as the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. Founded by Herbert Ingram, it appeared weekly until 1971, then less frequently thereafter, and ceased publication in ...

'' thought more highly of Monckton's score, rating "that master of light melody … at his very best." The reviewer thought the show "full of gaiety and fun and colour." ''

The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...

'', like other papers, praised the performers ("so strong a combination as that is quite sure to fill the Adelphi for many months") and, like ''The Times'', called for cuts."New Piece at the Adelphi", ''The Observer'', 20 October 1912, p. 9 Reviewing the touring production, ''

The Manchester Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' wrote, "There is no affectation about ''The Dancing Mistress'' … A waltz refrain, some dallying with rag-time, and a joke or two about Mr.

Lloyd George David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1922. He was a Liberal Party (United Kingdom), Liberal Party politician from Wales, known for lea ...

help to assure the audience that they are not being trifled with and that nothing serious is intended."

Notes

External links

Photo of Millar in costume for the roleTraubner on ''The Dancing Mistress''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dancing Mistress 1912 musicals West End musicals British musicals