''Yvonne'' is a musical comedy with a book and 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

Jean Gilbert Jean Gilbert (11 February 1879 – 20 December 1942), born Max Winterfeld, was a German operetta composer and conductor. Life and career Gilbert was born in Hamburg into a family of musicians; his ancestors were cantors of the Jewish communi ...

and

Vernon Duke Vernon Duke ( 16 January 1969) was a Russian-born American composer/songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for "Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940), "I Can't ...

(at that time still using his birth name of Dukelsky). It was adapted by Greenbank from an Austrian musical of the same name. Some additional songs were written by the show's conductor, Arthur Wood. The story concerns an engaged young lady, Yvonne Savigny, the daughter of old professor who loves riotous gaiety. To avoid trouble, she impersonates an absent

music hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

star at the Scala Music Hall. A young man has fallen in love with Yvonne and disguises himself as a servant in her father's house. After various complications, Yvonne leaves her silly fiancé for the amorous suitor and all ends happily. ''Yvonne'' was first played in the British provinces before premiering at

Daly's Theatre Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937. The theatre was built for and named after the American impresar ...

, London, in May 1926, directed by

Herbert Mason Samuel George Herbert Mason (1891 – 20 May 1960) was a British film director, producer, stage actor, army officer, presenter of some revues, stage manager, theatre director, stage director, choreographer, Production manager (theatre), produc ...

and produced by the company originally created by impresario

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 ...

.Chapman, Gary
"Yvonne: A musical comedy"
Jazz Age Club, accessed 4 August 2019

Ivy Tresmand Ivy Tresmand (15 December 1898 – 2 November 1980) was an English soubrette who appeared mostly in musical theatre. Tresmand was born in London. Her earliest appearances were in the chorus of the revue '' Shell Out'' (1915), in the musicals ''Ho ...

took the title role, and

Arthur Pusey Arthur Pusey (July 1896 – 1965) was a British stage and film actor. He was born in Watford, Hertfordshire, and died in London. Selected filmography * '' The Barton Mystery'' (1920) * ''The Bachelor's Club'' (1921) * '' The Other Person'' ...

co-starred as Yvonne's suitor. Other cast members included Maria Minetti, who played the music hall star; Mark Lester as Professor Savigny, Horace Percival and later

Gene Gerrard Gene Gerrard (31 August 1892 – 1 June 1971) was an English film and stage actor, and occasional film director. He starred in light musical comedies but returned to his stage career by the 1930s. He was born Eugene O'Sullivan and began as ...

as the hapless fiancé, and American dancer Hal Sherman as a comic waiter and gardener. After its London run of 280 performances, the company again toured the productionin the UK. The musical did not go down well with critics;

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

was one of those who disliked it, referring to it as "Yvonne the Terrible". It was Greenbank's last major work for the West End stage.

References

1926 musicals Musical comedy plays British musicals West End musicals {{musical-theatre-stub