''The Spring Chicken'' is an

Edwardian musical comedy Edwardian musical comedy was a form of British musical theatre that extended beyond the reign of King Edward VII in both directions, beginning in the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the A ...

adapted by

George Grossmith, Jr. George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was an English actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also an important inn ...

from ''Coquin de Printemps'' (1897) by Jaime and Duval, with music by Ivan Caryll and

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 ...

and lyrics by Adrian Ross,

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 Grossmith.Howarth, Paul and Colin Johnson
"''The Spring Chicken''"
British Musical Theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, 2 November 2016Gillan, Don

Stage Beauty, accessed 15 April 2022 Produced by George Edwardes at the Gaiety Theatre in London, it opened on 30 May 1905. It ran for a very successful 401 performances. The London production starred Grossmith, Harry Grattan, and

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 ...

, with

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 ...

later joining the cast. ''The Spring Chicken'' had a Broadway run in 1906 and toured in Britain and America.

Roles

* Gustave Babori (Advocate) –

* Boniface (His Head Clerk) – Lionel Mackinder * Baron Papouche (His Client) – Harry Grattan * Félix (Head Waiter at "The Crimson Butterfly") – Robert Nainby * Stephen-Henry (Girdle's Son) – William Spray * Proprietor of "The Crimson Butterfly" – Arthur Hatherton * Alexis and Ferdinand (Babori's Clerks) – George Gregory and Harry Taylor * Waiter – Leigh Ellis * Napoleon (Office Boy) – Master Cross * Joseph Boniface (An Artist) – Charles Brown * Inspector of Police – R. Tremayne * Mr. Girdle (Babori's Father-in-Law) – Edmund Payne * Mrs. Girdle – Connie Ediss * Baroness Papouche – Kate Cutler * Dulcie Babori (Babori's Wife) – Olive Morrell * Emmy-Lou (Girdle's Niece) –

Olive May Olive May (November 17, 1871 – July 24, 1938) was an American stage actress. She appeared in the popular play ''Arizona'' and appeared in Maude Adams's company. Personal life May was married to playwright Henry Guy Carleton from 1894 to 1898.( ...

* La Modiste – Isabelle Lidster * Sylvana, Thérèse and Henriette (Clients of Babori) –

Gaynor Rowlands Gaynor Rowlands (3 April 1883 – 18 July 1906), was an English actress, singer, and dancer, born in London, of Welsh parents. In Wales she became known as ''"Eos Gwalia"'': The Nightingale of Wales. Rowlands began her career in the ballet of The ...

, Gertrude Glyn and Marguerite Gray * Yvonne, Yvette and Céleste ( Grisettes) – Kitty Mason, Fanny Dango (one of the

Rudge Sisters The Rudge Sisters were British actresses and dancers from Birmingham. Their father, Henry Rudge, was a brass founder and chandelier maker. Their mother, Elizabeth, had a brief acting career in the Birmingham area. They also had two brothers wh ...

), Ethel Oliver * Rosalie –

Musical numbers

ACT I - Office of M. Babori at his Residence, Paris * No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "If we live in the land we love, we must love in the land we live..." * No. 2 - Song - Baron & Chorus - "As one of the Old Noblesse, I'm eager to seek redress..." * No. 3 - Trio - Baroness, Babori & Baron - "Were you my client, Baroness, I boldly should assert you..." * No. 4 - Song - Dulcie - "When sun and showers awake the flowers to venture forth..." * No. 5 - Quartet - Mr. & Mrs. Girdle, Emmy-Lou & Stephen-Henry - "It seemed a dreadful bore to leave our native shore..." * No. 6 - Song - Girdle & Chorus - "I'm slightly past the age of thirty-one, and all the many foolish things I've done..." * No. 7 - Song - Rosalie - "I'm a country lass, you know, fresh to all the streets and houses..." * No. 8 - Concerted Piece - " Open windows, open doors, sprinkle tea-leaves on the floors..." * No. 9 - Quartet - Rosalie, Emmy-Lou, Boniface & Stephen-Henry - " The swallow's a dear little bird..." * No. 10 - Song - Mrs. Girdle & Chorus - " I don't say that husbands are all of them bad..." * No. 11 - Concerted Number - "A modiste modeste, she has done her best to make us look all most exquisitely dressed! ..." * No. 12 - March Song - Babori & Chorus - "When the Autumn leaves are falling, I can hear my conscience calling..." * No. 13 - Duet - Rosalie & Girdle - "I'd like to go on a London spree ... Then come with me! ..." (four verses) * No. 14 - Finale Act I - "Here is news that's really very unpleasant! We've been patiently waiting all the day..." ACT II - Scene 1 - The Crimson Butterfly Restaurant, Malmaison. Scene 2 - A Studio at Malmaison * No. 15 - Opening Chorus - "If you're tired of having your meals 'mid the noise and the traffic of town..." * No. 16 - Song - Felix & Chorus - "If the mysteries you're eager to unravel, of the world and all the doings of the day..." * No. 17 - Duet - Rosalie & Boniface, with Chorus - "When I was a child about so high, and feeding the ducks and chickens..." * No. 18 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "There once was a dear little girl you must know; you've heard of such girls, I think..." * No. 19 - Song - Dulcie & Chorus - "When Gustave proposed to me, he went down on bended knee..." (six verses) * No. 20 - Song - Boniface & Chorus - "Do you know the jolly student band who come in joyous train? ..." * No. 21 - Song - Baroness & Chorus - "I wanted to obtain advice from a lawyer at his leisure..." * No. 22 - Duet - Babori & Girdle - "When a man is young, under thirty-five, he is handsomer, stronger and sounder..." * No. 23 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "Here we are you see, in our dear Paris; all is love and laughter..." * No. 24 - Recit. and Song - Babori & Chorus - "I am the manager of the National Theatre / The drama of Britain is limping..." * No. 25 - Finale Act II - "So come to France when you've a chance..." (reprise of parts of nos. 23 & 12)

References

External links

Vocal score

Information about the Broadway production

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spring Chicken 1905 musicals West End musicals Musicals based on films British musicals