The Casino Girl is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts. The story concerns a former chorus girl at the Casino Theatre in New York, who flees to Cairo under an assumed name to escape amorous advances of an admirer.
The show was mounted at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London from 11 July 1900 to 22 January 1901 for a run of 193 performances, again with Gilman in the title role.[9] The production immediately ran into problems as Henry Lowenfield, the theatre's manager, assumed he had the right to rewrite the show and rename the characters, which brought him into conflict with Smith, the show's book writer. The two struck a deal, and Lowenfield purchased the rights to the show for £1,000.[10]
The London production then undertook a tour of the British provinces in 1901–1902, produced by Ben Greet, with a cast led by Isa Bowman as Laura Lee and Gabrielle Ray as Dolly Twinkle.[3][9] In 1902 it had a production at the Theatre Royal in Bolton in Greater Manchester in the UK.[11] There was a revival at the Illinois Theatre in Chicago in 1906.[citation needed]
Laura Lee, a former chorus girl from the Casino Theatre in New York, attempts to escape the amorous advances of Percy, an English earl, by going to Cairo in Egypt where she sets herself up as Mdlle. Estelle, a French milliner. Percy arrives in Egypt in pursuit of her. Laura Lee endures complications involving a comic Pasha and some clownish thieves before she realises that she loves Percy in return, and the two are united.[6]
After a rewrite for the London production, the Khedive became the Pasha, and Percy became a New York doctor.[citation needed]
Roles and original castedit
James E. Sullivan as PilsenerCyril Scott as PercyGabrielle Ray as Dolly Twinkle in the UK tour (1900)
Pilsener Pasha (a Brewer, whose introduction of beer into Egypt won him his title) – James E. Sullivan[12] / Frank Bernard[9]
J. Offenbach Gaggs (known as Signor Hasheemi, a grand opera tenor, who takes a company to Cairo) – Richard Carle[12] / Eric Thorne[9]
Percy Harold Ethelbert Van Stuyvesant (an Earl) – Cyril Scott / Thomas Whiffen / Andrew Higginson
Ben Muley (Chief of a gang of thieves, a deserter from the French Army) – Albert Hart
Potage (his Lieutenant) – Samuel Collins
1st Officer – William Black
2nd Officer – Joseph Sullivan
Laura Lee (formerly of the New York Casino Company, known in Cairo as Mdlle. Estelle, a French Milliner) – Mabelle Gilman / Marie George
Dolly Twinkle (leading dancer of the Comic Opera Company, managed by J. Offenbach Gaggs) – Marie George[12] / Eva M. Kelly[9]
Miss Roxana Rocks (an heiress from Chicago) – Ella Snyder
Variety – Fromage, Potage, Mrs. H. Malaprop Rocks and Roxy Rocks
The Casino Girl – Lotta Rocks
Society (music by William J. Accooe; lyrics by William J. Accooe) – Mrs. H. Malaprop Rocks
A Lesson in Acting
Money
In Disguise (music by Arthur Weld) – Dolly Twinkle
Annie More
Bygone Days Are Best (music by Will Marion Cook; lyrics by L. Lamprey
Whatever the Hue of Your Eyes (music by Will Marion Cook)
Romance (music by Will Marion Cook)
Love Has Claimed Its Own (music by William J. Accooe; lyrics by Stephen B. Cassin) – Percy Harold Ethelbert
Additional song:
Ma Blushin' Rosie – Laura Lee (London production)[3]
Receptionedit
The review in The New York Times noted the show's length: "When at 11:30 Virginia Earle said to Sam Bernard, 'Look here, old man, I'm tired of all this nonsense', a large part of the great audience that packed the theatre quietly sent up an echoing sentiment."[13] It mentioned that the show had no plot, but that audiences don't attend the Casino for plot, rather "for pretty and shapely girls". Virginia Earle came in for the most praise although Mabelle Gilman was also given compliments. The unnamed reviewer complimented both of them in the duet "How Actresses Are Made". In addition to praising the other leads, the reviewer said that composers Cook and McConnell had written good songs that will "improve upon acquaintance."[13] The unnamed critic of The Stage in London called the New York production a "distinct success," despite not ending until 12:30 am. The critic thought the book "most efficient" and in a "clever and satirical vein" though not up to the standard set by W. S. Gilbert due to its "heavy hand." The same critic found the music "on the whole, tuneful, though not quite up to the standard of excellence which one looks for at the Casino."[14]
Some London critics liked the libretto, which they found full of "pleasant jokes and business" and called the lyrics "for the most part really humorous in idea and execution".[10] The critic of The Times was less enthusiastic, commenting on, "its threadbare music, its partially intelligible dialogue, [and] the ineptitude of the way in which most of the female parts were played", while the critic for The Stage this time stated that it would have been "difficult to find a musical farce with a weaker or sillier plot".[9]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Casino Girl.
^Productions of The Casino Girl, broadwayworld.com
^ abcBen Greet’s Company on tour in The Casino Girl, 1901, Footlight Notes, accessed 21 April 2020
^Appelbaum, Stanley and James Camner (eds). Stars of the American Musical Theater in Historic Photographs, Dover Publications, Inc, New York (1981), p. 29 via Google Books
^ abcBernard L. Peterson Jr., A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage, Greenwood Press (1993), pp. 74–75 via Google Books
^Franceschina, John. Incidental and Dance Music in the American Theatre from 1786 to 1923: Volume 3, BearManor Media (2018) via Google Books
^Bordman, Gerald. American Musical Theater: A Chronicle], Oxford University Press (2001), [ p. 196 via Google Books
^ abcdefWearing, J. P., The London Stage 1900–1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, Rowman & Littlefield (2014), pp. 26–27 via Google Books
^ abFranceschina, John. Harry B. Smith: Dean of American Librettists, Routledge (2003), p. 126 via Google Books
^Bolton Theatre Royal - The Casino Girl - 1902 - Theatre Memorabilia website
^ abc"The Polite Lunatic at Close Quarters", The Sketch, 12 September 1900, p. 327
casino, girl, edwardian, musical, comedy, acts, story, concerns, former, chorus, girl, casino, theatre, york, flees, cairo, under, assumed, name, escape, amorous, advances, admirer, poster, opened, casino, theatre, york, city, 1900, same, year, shaftesbury, th. The Casino Girl is an Edwardian musical comedy in two acts The story concerns a former chorus girl at the Casino Theatre in New York who flees to Cairo under an assumed name to escape amorous advances of an admirer Poster for The Casino GirlIt opened at the Casino Theatre in New York City in 1900 and had a run in the same year at the Shaftesbury Theatre in the West End of London before having a Broadway revival in 1901 1 2 Contents 1 Productions 2 Synopsis 3 Roles and original cast 4 Musical numbers 5 Reception 6 References 7 External linksProductions edit nbsp The Casino Girl at the Illinois Theatre in Chicago 1906 The Casino Girl was billed as the twin sister of The Belle of New York 3 and was commissioned for the Casino Theatre in New York as a vehicle for Mabelle Gilman with a cast that included Virginia Earle in a breeches role as Percy Adele Ritchie 4 Lotta Faust 5 and Sam Bernard as Pilsener It ran at the Casino from 19 March 1900 to 9 June 1900 for a run of 51 performances and was revived at the same theatre on 6 August 1900 for 40 performances before going on a tour of the United States 6 It was produced by George Lederer with music by Ludwig Englander Will Marion Cook Will Accooe Harry Truman MacConnell and Arthur Nevin lyrics by Englander Cook and MacConnell and a book by Harry B Smith 7 and Arthur Nevin 6 8 The show had a revival at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York from 8 April 1901 starring Katie Seymour and James E Sullivan 2 The show was mounted at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London from 11 July 1900 to 22 January 1901 for a run of 193 performances again with Gilman in the title role 9 The production immediately ran into problems as Henry Lowenfield the theatre s manager assumed he had the right to rewrite the show and rename the characters which brought him into conflict with Smith the show s book writer The two struck a deal and Lowenfield purchased the rights to the show for 1 000 10 The London production then undertook a tour of the British provinces in 1901 1902 produced by Ben Greet with a cast led by Isa Bowman as Laura Lee and Gabrielle Ray as Dolly Twinkle 3 9 In 1902 it had a production at the Theatre Royal in Bolton in Greater Manchester in the UK 11 There was a revival at the Illinois Theatre in Chicago in 1906 citation needed Synopsis edit nbsp Mabelle Gilman as Laura LeeAct I A Street in Cairo Act II The Pasha s PalaceLaura Lee a former chorus girl from the Casino Theatre in New York attempts to escape the amorous advances of Percy an English earl by going to Cairo in Egypt where she sets herself up as Mdlle Estelle a French milliner Percy arrives in Egypt in pursuit of her Laura Lee endures complications involving a comic Pasha and some clownish thieves before she realises that she loves Percy in return and the two are united 6 After a rewrite for the London production the Khedive became the Pasha and Percy became a New York doctor citation needed Roles and original cast edit nbsp James E Sullivan as Pilsener nbsp Cyril Scott as Percy nbsp Gabrielle Ray as Dolly Twinkle in the UK tour 1900 Pilsener Pasha a Brewer whose introduction of beer into Egypt won him his title James E Sullivan 12 Frank Bernard 9 J Offenbach Gaggs known as Signor Hasheemi a grand opera tenor who takes a company to Cairo Richard Carle 12 Eric Thorne 9 Percy Harold Ethelbert Van Stuyvesant an Earl Cyril Scott Thomas Whiffen Andrew Higginson Ben Muley Chief of a gang of thieves a deserter from the French Army Albert Hart Potage his Lieutenant Samuel Collins 1st Officer William Black 2nd Officer Joseph Sullivan Laura Lee formerly of the New York Casino Company known in Cairo as Mdlle Estelle a French Milliner Mabelle Gilman Marie George Dolly Twinkle leading dancer of the Comic Opera Company managed by J Offenbach Gaggs Marie George 12 Eva M Kelly 9 Miss Roxana Rocks an heiress from Chicago Ella Snyder Lotta Rocks her Sister Eve M Kelly Carrie Rocks Dolly Wiggans Nelly McNaughton Ethel Norcross Grace Milburn Mrs H Malaprop Rocks a leader of Chicago society better half of Rocks amp Co Pork Packers of the Western Metropolis Carrie Perkins Selim a Page Rose Krohe Fatima Minnie Cline Odaliaka the Pasha s Favourite Caecelia Rhoda Errand Boy Rastus Wives Slaves etcMusical numbers editAct 1 Slave Dealer s Song Reuben Bey Song of the Drum Major Roxy Rocks My New York music by Ludwig Englander Laura Lee I ll Put a Tax The Khedive of Egypt How Actresses Are Made Frederick Cholmondeley and Laura LeeAct 2 Mam selle music by Arthur Nevin Laura Lee Down de Lovers Lane music by Will Marion Cook lyrics by Paul Laurence Dunbar Frederick Cholmondeley From Africa Chorus Chink Chink Fromage Variety Fromage Potage Mrs H Malaprop Rocks and Roxy Rocks The Casino Girl Lotta Rocks Society music by William J Accooe lyrics by William J Accooe Mrs H Malaprop Rocks A Lesson in Acting Money In Disguise music by Arthur Weld Dolly Twinkle Annie More Bygone Days Are Best music by Will Marion Cook lyrics by L Lamprey Whatever the Hue of Your Eyes music by Will Marion Cook Romance music by Will Marion Cook Love Has Claimed Its Own music by William J Accooe lyrics by Stephen B Cassin Percy Harold EthelbertAdditional song Ma Blushin Rosie Laura Lee London production 3 Reception editThe review in The New York Times noted the show s length When at 11 30 Virginia Earle said to Sam Bernard Look here old man I m tired of all this nonsense a large part of the great audience that packed the theatre quietly sent up an echoing sentiment 13 It mentioned that the show had no plot but that audiences don t attend the Casino for plot rather for pretty and shapely girls Virginia Earle came in for the most praise although Mabelle Gilman was also given compliments The unnamed reviewer complimented both of them in the duet How Actresses Are Made In addition to praising the other leads the reviewer said that composers Cook and McConnell had written good songs that will improve upon acquaintance 13 The unnamed critic of The Stage in London called the New York production a distinct success despite not ending until 12 30 am The critic thought the book most efficient and in a clever and satirical vein though not up to the standard set by W S Gilbert due to its heavy hand The same critic found the music on the whole tuneful though not quite up to the standard of excellence which one looks for at the Casino 14 Some London critics liked the libretto which they found full of pleasant jokes and business and called the lyrics for the most part really humorous in idea and execution 10 The critic of The Times was less enthusiastic commenting on its threadbare music its partially intelligible dialogue and the ineptitude of the way in which most of the female parts were played while the critic for The Stage this time stated that it would have been difficult to find a musical farce with a weaker or sillier plot 9 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Casino Girl Productions of The Casino Girl broadwayworld com a b The Casino Girl Playbill a b c Ben Greet s Company on tour in The Casino Girl 1901 Footlight Notes accessed 21 April 2020 Appelbaum Stanley and James Camner eds Stars of the American Musical Theater in Historic Photographs Dover Publications Inc New York 1981 p 29 via Google Books Applebaum and Camner p 35 a b c Bernard L Peterson Jr A Century of Musicals in Black and White An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Greenwood Press 1993 pp 74 75 via Google Books Franceschina John Incidental and Dance Music in the American Theatre from 1786 to 1923 Volume 3 BearManor Media 2018 via Google Books Bordman Gerald American Musical Theater A Chronicle Oxford University Press 2001 p 196 via Google Books a b c d e f Wearing J P The London Stage 1900 1909 A Calendar of Productions Performers and Personnel Rowman amp Littlefield 2014 pp 26 27 via Google Books a b Franceschina John Harry B Smith Dean of American Librettists Routledge 2003 p 126 via Google Books Bolton Theatre Royal The Casino Girl 1902 Theatre Memorabilia website a b c The Polite Lunatic at Close Quarters The Sketch 12 September 1900 p 327 a b The Casino Girl The New York Times March 20 1900 p 7 Chit Chat The Stage March 29 1900 p 13 External links edit The Casino Girl at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Casino Girl amp oldid 1167976105, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
