The Quaker Girl
Encyclopedia
Edwardian Musical Comedy
Edwardian musical comedies were British musical theatre shows from the period between the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the American musicals by Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin and Cole Porter following World War I.Between...
in three acts with a book by James T. Tanner
James T. Tanner
James Tolman Tanner was an English stage director and dramatist who wrote many of the successful musicals produced by George Edwardes.-Life and career:...
, lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross
For the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank was an English lyricist, 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 brother, lyricist Harry Greenbank, had a brilliant career in the 1890s that was cut short by his death at the...
, and music by Lionel Monckton
Lionel Monckton
Lionel John Alexander Monckton was an English writer and composer of musical theatre. He was Britain's most popular musical theatre composer of the early years of the 20th century.-Early life:...
. In its story, The Quaker Girl contrasts dour Quaker morality with Parisienne high fashion. The protagonist, Prudence, is thrown out of her house by her quaker parents for drinking a glass of champagne. Later, in Paris, her grey dress and bonnet become the height of fashion.
The musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
in London on 5 November 1910 and ran for an extremely successful 536 performances. It starred Gertie Millar
Gertie Millar
Gertrude "Gertie" Millar was one of the most famous English singer-actresses of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies....
and C. Hayden Coffin
C. Hayden Coffin
Charles Hayden Coffin was an English actor and singer known for his performances in many famous Edwardian musical comedies, particularly those produced by George Edwardes....
. 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....
starred in the Paris production in 1911. It then opened at the Park Theatre on 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...
on 23 October 1911, running for a successful 240 performances. A revised version was produced at the London Coliseum on 25 May 1944, but the run was interrupted by bombing. The piece then toured the British provinces and soon re-opened in London at the Stoll Theatre in February, 1945, followed by extensive touring until December, 1948. The piece was popular with amateur theatre groups, particularly in Britain, from the 1920s until 1990, receiving over 250 UK productions during that period, but it has been produced only sporadically since then.
Of the musical numbers in the score, only "Come to the Ball" continues to be well known, but "Tony from America" and "When a bad bad Boy" are also key numbers. Selections from the score were recorded in 2004 by Theatre Bel-Etage chorus and orchestra, conductor Mart Sander
Mart Sander
Martin Laurent Sander is an Estonian singer, actor, director, author and television host.-Life and career:...
. The complete show, including dialog, was revived in a staged concert with piano in July 2007 by Lyric Theatre of San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
.
Roles
- Prudence Pym, A Quaker Girl – Gertie MillarGertie MillarGertrude "Gertie" Millar was one of the most famous English singer-actresses of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies....
- Tony Chute, Naval Attache to U.S. Embassy, Paris – Joseph CoyneJoseph CoyneJoseph Coyne , sometimes billed as Joe Coyne, was an American-born singer and actor, known for his appearances in leading roles in Edwardian musical comedy in London.-Life and career:...
- Captain Charteris, Kings Messenger , Princess Mathilde's Fiance – Hayden Coffin
- Jeremiah, The Quaker's Manservant – James Blakely
- Monsieur Duhamel, Minister of State – Herbert Ross
- Prince Carlo, Once engaged to Princess Mathilde – G. Carvey
- Monsieur Larose, Chief of Police, Paris – D. J. Williams
- Jarge, Town Crier – George Bellamy
- Princess Mathilde, An exiled Bonapartist Princess – Elsie Spain
- Phoebe, Maid to Princess Mathilde – Gracie Leigh
- Madame Blum, of Maison Blum, Paris – Mlle. Caumont
- Mrs. Lukyn, Proprietress of "The Chequers" – Luna Love
- Toinette, Shop Girl at Maison Blum, Paris – Gina Palerme
- Diane, A Parisian Actress – Phyllis LeGrand
- Nathaniel Pym, A Quaker – Henry Kills
- Rachel Pym, A Quaker – Jennie Richards
Synopsis
Nathaniel and Rachel Pym are the prim and proper pair rulers of an early 19th century Quaker community of an English village. Their niece, Prudence, longs for a more exciting life and someone to love. A mysterious French lady arrives who is, in fact, the exiled Princess Mathilde of France. She is followed by Captain Charteris , whom she intends to marry in the village church despite her previous engagement. Charteris has his best man with him, Tony Chute, of the American Embassy in Paris, as well as Madame Blum, a famous Parisian dressmaker. Prudence meets Tony, and they are attracted to one another. Madame Blum, struck by Prudence's charmingly simple grey Quaker dress, tries to persuade her to accompany her back to Paris. The marriage ceremony takes place and Prudence, carried away by the gaiety of the scene, is induced to take a sip of champagne. At this moment, with the wine to her lips, her aunt and uncle and the other Quakers appear on the scene. They sternly command her to leave these sinful people. Prudence decides to leave the dull life behind and to follow Madame Blum and the Princess to Paris. She is disowned by her family.Employed as a mannequin in Madame Blum's establishment in Paris, Prudence's simple costume becomes all the rage among the women, and she herself becomes extremely popular with the young men, including Prince Carlo (who had been engaged to Princess Mathilde) and Monsieur Duhamel, a distinguished senator. This attention is most unwelcome to Tony Chute, who still has feelings for Prudence. The princess is disguised as one of Madame Blum's work girls, since she has been exiled for being a Bonapartiste. Tony's ex-girlfriend, Diane, a mercurial French actress, conspires to interfere with Tony and Prudence's budding romance. She has love letters from Duhamel, Carlo and Tony and intends to give Prudence the letters from Tony. At a costume fitting where Prudence is modeling a dress, Diane slips the letters into Prudence's pocket. But she inadvertently passes along Duhamel's letters, instead of Tony's.
Prince Carlo invites all of Blum's employees to a Ball, but Tony, knowing the Prince's reputation as a seducer, begs Prudence not to go. Prudence promises, and she receives her first kiss. Princess Mathilde is being pursued by Monsieur Larose, the Chief of Police, and the Prince has recognized Princess Mathilde. He threatens to reveal her identity to Larose unless Prudence accompanies him to the ball. For the sake of Mathilde, Prudence reluctantly agrees, breaking her promise to Tony. Tony is furious, believing her to be unfaithful. At the lavish ball, Prudence, evading the prince, finds herself alone with her other suitor, Duhamel. She shows him letters. Duhamel assumes she is trying to blackmail him into letting Mathide stay in France, but Prudence tells him she merely wants to return the letters to their rightful owner. Ashamed of his suspicion, and humbled by her simple honesty, Duhamel agrees to allow Mathilde to remain in Paris. Tony now learns the true story, and he begs forgiveness for having doubted her. All ends happily, with Prudence accompanying him back to the New World.
Musical numbers
music by Lionel MoncktonLionel Monckton
Lionel John Alexander Monckton was an English writer and composer of musical theatre. He was Britain's most popular musical theatre composer of the early years of the 20th century.-Early life:...
and lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross
For the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank was an English lyricist, 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 brother, lyricist Harry Greenbank, had a brilliant career in the 1890s that was cut short by his death at the...
, except as noted.
Act I
- We've such a tale to tell – Mrs. Lukyn
- While our worthy village neighbours – Chorus
- Wonderful – Princess Mathilde and Captain Cherteris
- A Runaway Match – Princess Mathilde, Phoebe, Cherteris and Tony Chute
- A Quaker Girl – Prudence
- A bad boy and a good girl – Prudence and Tony
- Tip-Toe – Princess Mathilde, Prudence, Madame Blum, Phoebe, Cherteris, Tony and Chorus
- Just As Father Used to Do – Jeremiah and Chorus
- It's the Wedding Day –
Act II
- In this Abode –
- Or Thereabouts! – Phoebe (Music by Hugo FelixHugo FelixHugo Felix was an Austrian-American composer of operettas. He was born in Vienna and produced several famous works such as Husarenblut , Rhodope and Mme Sherry . Felix later went to the USA where Mme Sherry met with resounding success...
) - On Revient de Chantilly – Chorus
- Come to the Ball – Prince Carlo and Chorus
- A Dancing Lesson – Prudence and Tony
- Barbizon – Princess Mathilde, Phoebe, Blum, Cherteris and Jeremiah
- Ah! Ha! Monsieur Larose! –
- Couleur de Rose –
- Mr. Jeremiah, Esquire! –
- Get Away, I'm a Married Man – Tony (Music and lyrics by Clifton Crawford)
Act III
- Tony, from America – Prudence (Music and lyrics by Monckton)
- Something to Tell – Tony (Music and lyrics by Crawford)
- The First Dance – Prudence and Tony
- Love, I have Met You –
The standard vocal scores also include:
- The Little Grey Bonnet
- Ah, Oui!
- Petticoats For Women
- A Wilderness and Thou
These songs are not found in the standard modern libretti or orchestra parts. Petticoats For Women was replaced by Or Thereabouts! which is a later interpolation not written by Lionel Monckton.
External links
- Libretto
- Vocal score, including original cast list
- MIDI files of the score, links and other information
- Photos of The Quaker Girl
- Reviews of the recording of Monckton works, including The Quaker Girl
- List of longest running plays in London and New York
- Guide to Musical Theatre - The Quaker Girl
- The Quaker Girl at the Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....