''The Earl and the Girl'' is a musical comedy in two acts by

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

, with lyrics by

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 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 ...

. It was produced by

William Greet William Greet (1851 – 25 April 1914) was a British theatre manager from the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. Originally a business manager for other theatre licensees in the 1880s, he branched out as an independent manager ...

and opened at the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

in London on 10 December 1903. It transferred to the Lyric Theatre on 12 September 1904, running for a total of 371 performances. It also ran at the Casino Theatre in New York beginning on 4 November 1905 for 148 performances (with some added music and lyrics by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over ...

and others), starring

Eddie Foy Edwin Fitzgerald (March 9, 1856 – February 16, 1928Cullen, Frank; Hackman, Florence; and McNeilly, Donald. ''Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America''. Routledge Press, September 2006, . pp. 406–410), ...

and

W. H. Denny W. H. Denny (22 October 1853 – 31 August 1915) was an English singer and actor in comic operas, operettas and musical theatre. He is best remembered for his portrayal of baritone roles in the Savoy operas. Life and career Early years Denny ...

. A production toured Australia in 1906 and 1907. A revival in London in 1914 ran for a total of 107 performances, and there were later revivals and tours. The original London cast included a number of performers who had recently appeared in productions of the

D'Oyly Carte Opera Company The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company is a professional British light opera company that, from the 1870s until 1982, staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas nearly year-round in the UK and sometimes toured in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Th ...

, which was no longer performing 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 ...

at the time of the premiere of ''The Earl and the Girl'', including

Walter Passmore Walter Henry Passmore (10 May 1867 – 29 August 1946) was an English singer and actor best known as the first successor to George Grossmith in the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Passmo ...

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 ...

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 ...

, M. R. Morand,

Reginald Crompton Reginald Crompton (14 July 1870 – 10 September 1945) was a British solicitor, stage actor and silent film screenwriter. A bass-baritone, he created several minor roles in the Savoy Operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company.Stone, DavidReg ...

Powis Pinder Powis Pinder (6 September 1872 – 25 July 1941) was an operatic baritone who created a number of minor roles in the Savoy Operas and played a range of more important parts in Gilbert and Sullivan operas and other works during a two decade l ...

Charles Childerstone Charles Childerstone (3 July 1872 – 29 May 1947) was an English operatic tenor and actor who after a career on the stage including a period with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1896 to 1903 later had a career on the music halls and in f ...

, Alec Fraser, Ernest Torrence, Rudolph Lewis,

Agnes Fraser Agnes Fraser Elder Fraser-Smith (8 November 1876 – 22 July 1968) was a Scottish actress and soprano, known as Agnes Fraser, who appeared in the later Savoy Operas and in Edwardian musical comedy. She married the Gilbert and Sullivan perfor ...

, and

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 ...

. Lytton later used the song "My Cosy Corner" from the show in his music hall acts with much success, and made a recording of it. Kern's song "How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?" was interpolated into the New York production, and it also became a hit.

Roles and original cast

*Jim Cheese (A Dog Trainer) –

*Dick Wargrave (The Real Heir) –

Henry A. 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 ...

*The Hon. Crewe Boodle (The Supposed Heir) –

*A. Bunker Bliss (Elphin Haye's Uncle) – John C. Dixon *Downham (An American Solicitor) – M. R. Morand *Mr. Talk (An English Solicitor) – Frank Elliston *Mr. Hazell (Host of the Fallowfield Arms) –

*Friends of Crewe Boodle :*Dudley Cranbourne –

:*George Bellamy –

:*Hugh Wallander –

Alec Fraser Alec Fraser ( Fraser-Smith; 16 February 1884 – 20 June 1956) was a British actor. Alec Fraser was born Alec Fraser-Smith in Cupar, Scotland. He died on 20 June 1956, aged 72, in London. His sister was actress/singer Agnes Fraser.Stone, Da ...

:*Rossiter – Ernest Torrence *Footmen at Stole Hall :*George – Rudolph Lewis :*Charles – J. Gordon *Elphin Haye (An American Heiress) –

*Liza Shoddam (Jim Cheese's Sweetheart) – Florence Lloyd *Mrs. Shimmering Black (A Strong Lady) – Helen Kinnaird *Daisy Fallowfield (Elphin Haye's Friend) –

*Miss Virginia Bliss (Elphin Haye's Aunt) – Phyllis Broughton *Ladies of Crewe Boodle's Party: Lena Leibrandt,

Olive Rae The olive, botanical name ''Olea europaea'', meaning 'European olive' in Latin, is a species of small tree or shrub in the family Oleaceae, found traditionally in the Mediterranean Basin. When in shrub form, it is known as ''Olea europaea'' 'M ...

, G. Thornton, Miss Standen and

Winifred Hart-Dyke Winifred Hart-Dyke (2 December 1881 – March 1976) was an English dancer and actress associated with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and Edwardian Musical Comedy. Her surname appears with and without the hyphen. Early life Winifred Amy Hart Dyke ...

*Guests at the Hall: Florrie Sutherland, Rosie Edwards, Lily Mcintyre, L. Montez and the misses Hammerton, Taylor, Glenn, Williams, Ricards, Francis, Ohmead, Beresford and Harris

Synopsis

;Act I The Hon. Crewe Boodel believes himself to be the heir to the earldom of Hole. He and a party of his friends are on their way to a fancy dress ball at Hole Hall, but their vehicle breaks down, and they take refuge in a country inn, the Fallowfield Arms. Jim Cheese, the owner of a troupe of performing dogs, and his coster sweetheart, Liza Shoddam, have walked from London to attend the local fair. They are at first mistaken by Boodel's party for two more guests for the fancy dress party. Jim and Liza are in debt to the landlord of the inn, who threatens to turn them out or have them arrested. The real heir to the Hole property is Dick Wargrave, a friend of Boodel's. He has eloped from Paris with a schoolgirl, Elphin Haye, who is an American heiress masquerading as a penniless orphan. They arrive at the inn, preceded by four people who are in pursuit of them. A. Bunker Bliss is after Dick for eloping with his niece, and, being a good republican, Bliss is not impressed by Dick's earldom. Mrs. Shimmering Black is after Dick because the Earl of Hole has jilted her daughter (in fact it is Boodel who has done so). Mr. Talk and Mr. Downham are both lawyers; the first is English and the second American. They are both in search of the missing heir and after the reward for finding him. Dick is unaware that these two are bearing him good news, and when he learns from the landlord that some strangers have been asking about him, he concludes that there is trouble brewing. Dick persuades Jim Cheese to exchange identities with him, taking his name and even his girlfriend, and entrusting Elphin to Jim's care. The American lawyer finds Jim and tells him that he is an earl, and advances him money on the strength of his title. Elphir runs across a friend, Daisy Fallowfield, at the inn, and the whole party go off to the ball, where Elphir has to introduce Jim to her aunt, Miss Virginia Bliss, as her fiancé. ;Act II All the characters turn up at the ball at Hole Hall. Boodel brings Dick and passes him off as another guest. Liza slips in after Jim, who is announced as the Earl of Hole. The four pursuers gatecrash the party. Jim has a rough time with Bunker Bliss and Mrs. Black when they find him – the former is intent on shooting him, and the latter, a circus strongwoman, is a terrifying prospect – but when he tells them the truth about who is who, everyone is satisfied. Mrs Black's wrath subsides when she realises that the man who jilted her daughter is not, in fact, an earl, Bunker Bliss is appeased, and all ends happily.

Musical numbers

Act I *1. Opening Chorus - (After A Capital Day) *2. Song (Daisy) and Chorus - "The Sporting Girl" (Some Girls I Know Like Living In A Town) *3. Duet (Jim and Liza) "Celebrities" (Oh, The Public Don't Appreciate Them Dogs) *4. Concerted Number "Little Ladies In Distress" (Oh, Dear Me, What On Earth Are We To Do?) *5. Song (Daisy) and Chorus "Shopping" (When My Ship Comes In) *6. Song (Crewe Boodle) "Thou Art My Rose" (In The Hush Of Silver Morning) *7. Song (Downham) "I Haven't A Moment To Spare" (I'm Sure I Shall Always Remember) *8. Quartet (Talk, Bunker Bliss, Mrs. Black, and Downham) "When We Get Hold Of Him" (I Know Somebody I Want To Meet) *9. Duet (Elphin and Dick) "We Were So Happy, You And I" (The First Time That We Met) *10. Song (Elphin) and Chorus "When A Maiden Leaves School " (When A Maiden Leaves School) *11. Song (Dick) and Chorus "By The Shore Of The Mediterranean" (Away, Come Away From The Gray Land) *12. Quartet (Dick, Elphin, Jim, and Liza) "For One Night Only" (To-Night You'll Be A Bloomin' Swell) *13. Finale (Fancy His Getting The Earldom!) Act II *14. Opening Chorus (Madly and Merrily Here We Go) *15. Song (Daisy) "The Prettiest Girl In Town" (There's A Girl Who Is Always So Busy) *16. Song (Elphin) "Careless Kate" (Simple Little Maiden Once I Used To Know) *17. Chorus "Hail! Your Lordship" (Hail! The Heir So Long Expected) *18. Song (Jim) And Chorus "I'm A Lord, What Ho!" (Behold In Me A Belted Earl) *19. Vocal Gavotte "To And Fro" (To And Fro, Dignified And Slow) *20. Song (Dick) "My Cosy Corner Girl" (Beside The Murmuring Sad Sea Waves) *21. Song (Daisy) "Sammy" (Did You Ever Meet The Fellow Fine And Dandy) *22. Song (Crewe Boodle) and Chorus "The Grenadiers" (There's A Far-Off Hum) *23. Song (Crewe Boodle) "The Queen Of June" (Out In The Garden Closes) *24. Finale (By The Shore Of The Mediterranean)

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 ...

'' prefaced its review with a lament for the bygone days 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 ...

, and for the defection of Savoy stars to the new genre of

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 ...

. As to the show, the paper thought "the merits of the piece are neither great nor new … pointless, often tasteless." The music was pronounced "cheap in form and old-fashioned in its kind.""Adelphi Theatre", ''The Times'', 11 December 1903, p. 6 The journal ''Judy'' thought the production overdone: "the stage is too crowded, and the restlessness of the chorus becomes irritating." The reviewer praised the principal performers and singled out Louie Pounds in particular: "a voice which is worthy of better things." Of the Broadway production, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' wrote, "a veritable frolic from start to finish, light, tuneful, and full of color, and engaging a company of exceptionally clever people."A rollicking show opens new Casino"
''The New York Times'', 5 November 1905. Reviewing the Australian production, ''The Morning Bulletin'', wrote, "Mr. J. F. Sheridan has surely produced few comedies in which the fun was so fast and furious.""Theatre Royal"
''The Morning Bulletin'', 23 October 1907, p. 5

Notes

References

* * *

External links

*
Opening night review of the New York production
starring

A 1907 photograph showing handbills for a production in Atlantic City, NJ
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earl and the Girl 1903 musicals West End musicals British musicals