Peggy (musical)
Encyclopedia
Peggy is a musical comedy in two acts, written by British composer Leslie Stuart
, with a book by George Grossmith, Jr.
and lyrics by C. H. Bovill, based on Xanroff and Guérin's L'Amorçage. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre
under the management of George Edwardes
, on 4 March 1911 and ran for 270 performances, starring Grossmith, Edmund Payne
, Phyllis Dare
and Gabrielle Ray
in the title role. Ray left the production early in the run, to be replaced by Gladys Guy. It also had a run in New York.
Songs included "Friville", "The Lass with the Lasso", "Three Little Pebbles" and "Ladies, Beware! (When the Lights are low)". Critics praised Stuart's score but observed that the plot of the piece was thin. But they concluded that this did not matter:
In a luxurious lounge at the New Hotel, London, the lovely Peggy Barrison heads a dainty band of manicurists, and Albert Umbles, a charming hairdresser, is an immense favourite with the ladies. Peggy finds herself hopelessly smitten with him, and he is also in love with her. They are engaged to be married, much to the consternation of the frequenters of the hotel in general and of the Hon. Mr. James Bendoyle, M.P., M.F.H., in particular. Bendoyle is the richest of all of Peggy's numerous admirers. Determined to marry her himself, he hatches a plot to obtain her affections. Learning that Umbles has a rich Uncle in South America who has not been heard of for some years, but whose return is confidently expected, he bribes a former friend named Auberon Blow, who, having fallen on hard times is employed as a hawker, to impersonate "Uncle Monty" and to excite Peggy with a life of luxury to such an extent, that the supply cut off, she will turn to anyone who can afford her the means of continuing it.
This seems to be working splendidly, but the real uncle and his daughter arrive and realize immediately that there is an imposter. Bendoyle invites everyone to Friville. Here everything is resolved: the gallant hairdresser forsakes Peggy for vaudeville artist Polly; Bendoyle marries Doris, the daughter of the real uncle, while "Uncle Monty" (actually Blow) and Peggy have become so fond of each other that they decide never to part.
Leslie Stuart
Leslie Stuart was an English composer of early musical theatre, best known for the hit show Florodora and many popular songs. Stuart began writing songs in the late 1870s, including songs for blackface performers, such as "Lily of Laguna"; songs for musical theatre; and ballads such as "Soldiers...
, with a book by George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies...
and lyrics by C. H. Bovill, based on Xanroff and Guérin's L'Amorçage. It opened at the Gaiety Theatre
Gaiety Theatre, London
The Gaiety Theatre, London was a West End theatre in London, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. The theatre was established as the Strand Musick Hall , in 1864 on the former site of the Lyceum Theatre. It was rebuilt several times, but closed from the beginning of World War II...
under the management of George Edwardes
George Edwardes
George Joseph Edwardes was an English theatre manager of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond....
, on 4 March 1911 and ran for 270 performances, starring Grossmith, Edmund Payne
Edmund Payne
Edmund Payne , was an actor, comedian, singer and dramatist best known for his comic appearances in Edwardian Musical Comedy. His father was Edmund Payne, a master cabinet builder and his mother was Eliza Payne née Ince....
, Phyllis Dare
Phyllis Dare
Phyllis Dare born Phyllis Constance Haddie Dones was an English singer and actress who was famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre in the first half of the 20th century....
and Gabrielle Ray
Gabrielle Ray
Gabrielle Ray , was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies....
in the title role. Ray left the production early in the run, to be replaced by Gladys Guy. It also had a run in New York.
Songs included "Friville", "The Lass with the Lasso", "Three Little Pebbles" and "Ladies, Beware! (When the Lights are low)". Critics praised Stuart's score but observed that the plot of the piece was thin. But they concluded that this did not matter:
- [T]here is "Teddy" Payne with his quaint twists of the eye and his delightful lisp. ... Then there is that superlatively dressed young man, Mr. George Grossmith, jun. ... Are we interested in what he does? Of course not. We are interested in his airy, flamboyant manner of doing it. As for those charming ladies, Miss Phyllis Dare and Miss Olive May, que voulez vous? We know they are going to fall in love with one or the other of the cast. ... They will sing sweetly and dance deliciously, and we shall gaze on their beautiful faces and listen to their enticing voices and ... there are the beauteous houriHouriIn Islam, the ḥūr or ḥūrīyah are commonly translated as " companions of equal age ", "lovely eyed", of "modest gaze", "pure beings" or "companions pure" of paradise, denoting humans and jinn who enter paradise after being recreated anew in the hereafter...
s. ... What charms they possess and what charms they reveal! … What care for a plot when such visions of delight are about? Plot, indeed – be hanged...! And that is just what Mr. George Grossmith, jnr. said to himself when he was concocting the mélange which Mr. George Edwardes, with the assistance of Mr. Edward Royce, scene painters, costumiers, wig makers, and so forth, has served up in such a magnificent and costly manner at the Gaiety. 'Do you think I wanted to trouble about such commonplace things as a plot? ... I was well assured that my ear would be saluted with tuneful melodies and bright songs, for is not Mr. Leslie Stuart the composer?
Synopsis
This seems to be working splendidly, but the real uncle and his daughter arrive and realize immediately that there is an imposter. Bendoyle invites everyone to Friville. Here everything is resolved: the gallant hairdresser forsakes Peggy for vaudeville artist Polly; Bendoyle marries Doris, the daughter of the real uncle, while "Uncle Monty" (actually Blow) and Peggy have become so fond of each other that they decide never to part.
Roles and original cast
- Auberon Blow – George Grossmith, Jr.George Grossmith, Jr.George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies...
- Hon. James Bendoyle, M.P. – Robert Hale
- Montagu Bartle of Buenos Ayres – Herbert Jarman
- Aristide Picot – Arthur Atherton
- 'Phonso – Ernest Mahar
- Marquis of Didsbury – Guy Struthers
- Emil – Harry B. Burcher
- Albert Umbles – Edmund PayneEdmund PayneEdmund Payne , was an actor, comedian, singer and dramatist best known for his comic appearances in Edwardian Musical Comedy. His father was Edmund Payne, a master cabinet builder and his mother was Eliza Payne née Ince....
- Polly Polino – Gabrielle RayGabrielle RayGabrielle Ray , was an English stage actress, dancer and singer, best known for her roles in Edwardian musical comedies....
(replaced by Gladys Guy when Ray left the production to marry) - Doris Bartle – Olive May
- Peggy Barrison – Phyllis DarePhyllis DarePhyllis Dare born Phyllis Constance Haddie Dones was an English singer and actress who was famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre in the first half of the 20th century....
- Diamond – Enid Leslie
- Lady Florence Alister – Nancy Moore
- Mrs. Ware-Wills – Ruby Kennedy
- Miss Vooch – Madge Melbourne
- Manicurists, Harem Girls, etc.