''The Girl from Kays'' is a

musical comedy Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

in three acts, with music by

Ivan Caryll Félix Marie Henri Tilkin (12 May 1861 – 29 November 1921), better known by his pen name Ivan Caryll, was a Belgian-born composer of operettas and Edwardian musical comedies in the English language, who made his career in London and later N ...

and book and lyrics by

Owen Hall Owen Hall (10 April 1853 – 9 April 1907) was the principal pen name of the Irish-born theatre writer, racing correspondent, theatre critic and solicitor, James "Jimmy" Davis, when writing for the stage. After his successive careers in law ...

. Additional songs were by Paul Rubens,

Howard Talbot Richard Lansdale Munkittrick, better known as Howard Talbot (9 March 1865 – 12 September 1928), was an American-born, English-raised conductor and composer of Irish descent. He was best known for writing the music to several hit Edwardian musi ...

Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes (23 December 1859 – 11 September 1933), better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries ...

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 ...

and others. The farcical story concerns a misguided kiss. The original London production, from 1902 to 1903, played for a long run of 432 performances and was followed by provincial tours. A successful New York run of 223 performances began in 1903, and successful Australian runs followed. The musical was later revised as ''The Belle of Bond Street''.

Productions

The musical was produced by

George Edwardes George Joseph Edwardes (né Edwards; 8 October 1855 – 4 October 1915) was an English theatre manager and producer of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond. Edwardes started out in theatre ma ...

at the

Apollo Theatre The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.

in London, opening on 15 November 1902 and moving to the

Comedy Theatre The Harold Pinter Theatre, known as the Comedy Theatre until 2011,

on 14 December 1903 to finish its run of 432 performances. Florence Young replaced Ethel Irving in the title role,

Gabrielle Ray Gabrielle Ray (born Gabrielle Elizabeth Clifford Cook, 28 April 1883 – 21 May 1973), was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies. Ray was considered one of the most beautiful actresse ...

took over

Letty Lind Letitia Elizabeth Rudge (21 December 1861 – 27 August 1923), known professionally as Letty Lind, was an English actress, singer, dancer and acrobat, best known for her work in burlesque at the Gaiety Theatre, and in musical theatre at Daly's ...

's role during the original run, and Kitty Gordon also appeared in the musical. Despite its long run, the expensive production lost money, which had to be recouped in provincial tours.Ganzl, Kurt. ''The British Musical Theatre'' Vol. 1, 1865–1914 (1987), Macmillan Press, pp. 802–19 ''The Girl from Kays'' had a successful New York run of 223 performances at the

Herald Square Theatre The Herald Square Theatre was a Broadway theatre in Manhattan, New York City, built in 1883 and closed in 1914. The site is now a highrise designed by H. Craig Severance. History The Park Theatre opened in 1883 (also known as the New Park The ...

, beginning 3 November 1903, and successful Australian runs.

Elsie Ferguson Elsie Louise Ferguson (August 19, 1883 – November 15, 1961) was an American stage and film actress. Early life Born in New York City, Elsie Ferguson was the only child of Hiram and Amelia Ferguson. Her father was a successful attorney. Raise ...

starred in New York. It was later revised as ''The Belle of Bond Street''.

Synopsis

Norah and Harry are just about to leave on their honeymoon, when Nora's new hat is delivered by Winnie, the girl from Kays hat shop. Winnie is an old friend of Harry's, and she congratulates him with a kiss. Nora and her family see this and misunderstand. The honeymoon proceeds, but in separate rooms, with further complications added by bridesmaids, shopgirls from Kays, hotel staff, relatives and mis-steps of the booby Percy Fitzthistle. An American millionaire named Hoggenheimer takes a liking to Winnie. Eventually, Nora understands the truth, and forgives Harry at the restaurant of the

Savoy Hotel The Savoy Hotel is a luxury hotel located in the Strand in the City of Westminster in central London, England. Built by the impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan opera productions, it opened on 6 August 188 ...

Roles and original cast

*Norah Chalmers –

Kate Cutler Kate Ellen Louisa Cutler (14 August 1864 – 14 May 1955) was an English singer and actress, known in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as an ''ingénue'' in musical comedies, and later as a character actress in comic and dramatic ...

*Ellen (Her Maid) –

*Mrs. Chalmers – Marie Illington *Nancy Lowley, Mary Methuen, Cora Paget, Mabel Macdonald and Hilda French (Assistants at Kay's) – Ella Snyder, Kitty Gordon, Georgie Read,

Nellie Souray Eleanor "Nellie" Souray (1880 – 8 December 1931), later styled as Eleanor Byng, Viscountess Torrington, was an English actress known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies, pantomime and light opera. Early life Souray was born Ellen Mary S ...

and Marie Billing *Rhoda Leslie, Ella Wyly, Maud Racine, Gertrude Hildesley, Olive Whitney and Joan Mayen (Norah's Bridesmaids) – Delia Beresford, Vashti Earle, Evelyn Corry, Rosie Chadwick, Edith Neville and Irene Allen *Jane – Kitty Ashmead *Winnie Harborough (The Girl from Kay's) –

Ethel Irving Ethel Irving (1869–1963) was a British stage actress. She also appeared in five films. She was the daughter of stage actor Joseph Irving (died 1870) and the wife of actor Gilbert Porteous (died 1928)W. Louis Bradfield Walter Louis Bradfield (13 June 1866 – 12 August 1919), was an English actor and singer who starred in Edwardian musical comedy and other theatrical works. Biography The son of William Bradfield, a civil servant, Bradfield was born on 13 Ju ...

*The Hon. Percy Fitzthistle –

Aubrey Fitzgerald Aubrey Fitzgerald (1874–1968) was a British actor. In 1909 he played El Tabloid in '' A Persian Princess'' at the Queen's Theatre in London. Selected filmography * ''One Arabian Night'' (1923) * '' Little Miss Nobody'' (1923) * ''Hutch Stirs ...

*Theodore Quench, K.C. – W. Cheeseman *Mr. Chalmers – E. W. Garden *Joseph (Hall Porter at Flacton Hotel) – William Wyes *Archie Pembridge – J. Thompson *Frank (Waiter at Savoy Restaurant) – Ernest Lambart *Pepper (Page Boy of Flacton Hotel) – Master Bottomley *Scavvin (Proprietor of Flacton Hotel) – E. Fence *Max Hoggenheimer –

Willie Edouin Willie Edouin (1 January 1846Edouin's ''New York Times'' obituary says 1841 – 14 April 1908) was an English comedian, actor, dancer, singer, writer, director and theatre manager. After performing as a child in England, Australia and elsewher ...

Musical numbers

Act I - Chalmers' Flat *No. 1 - Chorus of Bridesmaids, with Norah - "We're the bright and bridal bevy who have recently attended..." *No. 2 - Norah and Bridesmaids - "As I came up the aisle, supported by dear father..." *No. 3 - Norah and Chorus - "We've come for you ladies, no pretty bridesmaid is allowed to be absent by stealth..." *No. 4 - Winnie - "When a girl of commonsense wants to make a competence..." *No. 5 - Harry - "Oh, when a young man takes a wife, his bachelor chrysalis shedding..." *No. 6 - Finale Act I - "Now we see the carriage stand before the door ... it will take the wedded couple to the station..." ACT II - Grand Hotel, Flacton-on-Sea *No. 7 - Chorus - "Sunday at Flacton-on-Sea, isn't it jolly in summer? Who isn't happy to be here..." *No. 8 - Norah & Harry - "We're married, I cannot deny ... Then what are we going to do?..." *No. 9 - Mary & Chorus - "We are good little girls, very worldly and wise, and we can teach you just a few things..." *No. 10 - Winnie & Chorus - "If you'd like to know the ways of the customers at Kay's..." *No. 11 - Ellen & Chorus of Bridesmaids - "Oh, the fine folk with their marriages too fussy always are..." *No. 12 - Norah - "I dreamed my husband's love was pure as snow, Papa! ..." *No. 13 - Nancy - "Sambo was a coffee colour'd coon ..." *No. 14 - Harry - "Women are extraordinary beings! Upon my word, I don't know what to think! ..." *No. 15 - Finale Act II - "He has gone his ways with a girl from Kay's, but why should you weep, and why sigh? ..." ACT III - The Savoy Restaurant *No. 16 - Act III Introduction *No. 17 - Winnie and Harry - "Wife and I have had a quarrel, she believes me far from moral..." *No. 18 - Mary, with Chorus - "When love stands at the heart's door of a maiden..." *No. 19 - Harry, with Chorus - "Supposing things look black in town, and you feel rather blue..." *No. 20 - Winnie & Chorus - "It's very nice to be a dame of high degree, with blood and reputation beautifully blue..." *No. 21 - Finale - "She'll marry Hoggenheimer of Park Lane..." Additional numbers *No. 22 - Percy - "When I gaze in this glass my reflections go back to the time when I was a boy..." *No. 23 - Harry - "There was a little builder once to build a house began..." *No. 24 - Nancy, Ellen, Fitzthistle, & Frank - "I want to give a birthday party here..."

In popular culture

The comic character Max Hoggenheimer was selected by the South African cartoonist

Daniël Cornelis Boonzaier Daniël Cornelis Boonzaier (11 November 1865 – 20 March 1950), more commonly known as D.C. Boonzaier, was a South African cartoonist. He was famous for his caricatures of Cape politicians and celebrities at the turn of the century, and later f ...

to symbolise the avaricious and oppressive

Randlord Randlords were the capitalists who controlled the diamond and gold mining industries in South Africa in its pioneer phase from the 1870s up to World War I. A small number of European financiers, largely of the same generation, gained control of th ...

and mining capitalism, and frequently featured in Boonzaier's work.Shain, Milton
''The roots of antisemitism in South Africa''
University Press of Virginia, 1994

References

External links

Photos from the showInternet Broadway Database Listing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Girl from Kays 1902 musicals West End musicals