Afgar
Encyclopedia
Afgar, or the Andalusian Leisure is a musical with lyrics by Douglas Furber
, music by Charles Cuvillier
and book by Fred Thompson
and Worton David. It is based on Cuvillier's 1909 French operetta of the same name, with words by André Barde
and Michel Carré
.
The London
production opened at the London Pavilion
on September 17, 1919 and ran for 300 performances. It featured Marie Burke, Alice Delysia, John Humphries, Lupino Lane
and Leon Morton, and its cast recording was the first original cast recording of a musical at the Pavilion. The Broadway
production, directed by Frank Collins, opened on November 8, 1920 at the Central Theatre and ran for 168 performances. It starred Irving Beebee as Don Juan, Jr. and Alice Delysia as Zaydee.
Act II
Douglas Furber
Douglas Furber was a British lyricist and playwright.Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song The Lambeth Walk and the libretto to the musical Me and My Girl, composed by Noel Gay, from which it came. This show made broadcasting history when in 1939 it became the first full length...
, music by Charles Cuvillier
Charles Cuvillier
Charles Cuvillier was a French composer of operetta. He won his greatest successes with the operettas La reine s'amuse and with The Lilac Domino, which became a hit in 1918 in London.-Biography:Cuvillier was born in Paris, and studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Gabriel Fauré and...
and book by Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson (writer)
Frederick A. Thompson, usually credited as Fred Thompson was an English writer, best known as a librettist for about fifty British and American musical comedies from World War I to World War II. Among the writers with whom he collaborated were George Grossmith Jr., P. G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton and...
and Worton David. It is based on Cuvillier's 1909 French operetta of the same name, with words by André Barde
André Barde
André Barde was the pseudonym of André Bourdonneau , a French writer best known for his librettos for operettas. He was active from 1899-1936. He frequently collaborated with Charles Cuvillier - Son petit frère , Afgar , La Reine joyeuse , Florabella , and Nonnette being some examples...
and Michel Carré
Michel Carré
Michel Carré was a prolific French librettist.He went to Paris in 1840 intending to become a painter but took up writing instead. He wrote verse and plays before turning to writing libretti. His libretto for Mirette was never performed in France but was later performed in English adaptation in...
.
The London
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production opened at the London Pavilion
London Pavilion
The London Pavilion is a building located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Coventry Street on the north-east side of, and facing, Piccadilly Circus in London...
on September 17, 1919 and ran for 300 performances. It featured Marie Burke, Alice Delysia, John Humphries, Lupino Lane
Lupino Lane
Lupino Lane was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family. Lane started out as a child performer, known as 'Little Nipper', and went on to appear in a wide range of theatrical, music hall and film performances...
and Leon Morton, and its cast recording was the first original cast recording of a musical at the Pavilion. The Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, directed by Frank Collins, opened on November 8, 1920 at the Central Theatre and ran for 168 performances. It starred Irving Beebee as Don Juan, Jr. and Alice Delysia as Zaydee.
Synopsis
Don Juan, Jr. has been imprisoned within sight of a Moorish harem to punish him for being too flirtatious. The favorite harem girl, Zaydee, who likes Don, organizes a strike of the harem girls, demanding his release and one husband for each girl. The strike succeeds, and all ends happily.Song list
Act I- Give the Devil His Due - Don Juan, Jr.
- Rose of Seville - Isilda
- Live for Love - Zaydee
- Man from Mexico - Coucourli
- Caresses - Zaydee
- Why Don't You? (Lyrics By Joseph McCarthy, music By Harry Tierney) - Zaydee
Act II
- United We Stand - Coucourli, Houssain and Chorus
- We're the Gentlemen of the Harem - Coucourli, Lord Afgar, Don Juan, Jr. and Chorus
- Sunshine Valley - Isilda
- Where Art Thou, Romeo? (Lyrics By Joseph McCarthy; music By Harry Tierney) - Zaydee
- Garden of Make Believe - Zaydee
- I Hate the Lovely Women (Lyrics By Joseph McCarthy; music By Harry Tierney) - Coucourli
- Ceremony of Veils - Zaydee, Isilda, Houssain and Chorus
- 'Neath Thy Casement - Don Juan, Jr.