Valmouth (musical)
Valmouth is a 1958 musical by Sandy Wilson based on the novel of the same name by Ronald Firbank.[1]
It premiered in London at the Lyric Hammersmith, before transferring to the Saville Theatre.[2]
The production was directed by Vida Hope.[3] It made a star of Fenella Fielding as Lady Parvula de Panzoust.[4]
The musical has since been staged several times including twice at the Chichester Festival Theatre and several cast album recordings have been released.[5][6] The musical has also been performed on BBC radio, first broadcast in 1975.[7][8]
Original cast
- Captain Dick Thoroughfare - Alan L Edwards
- Cardinal Pirelli - Geoffrey Dunn
- Carry - Denise Hirst
- David Tooke - Peter Gilmore
- Dr Dee - Lewis Henry
- Father Colley-Mahoney - Robert Bernal
- Granny Tooke - Doris Hare
- Lady Parvula de Panzoust - Fenella Fielding
- Lady Saunter - Celia Helda
- Lt. Jack Whorwood - Aubrey Woods
- Madame Mimosa - Marcia Owen
- Mrs Hurstpierpoint - Barbara Couper
- Mrs Q. Comedy - Sally Alsford
- Mrs Thoroughfare - Betty Hardy
- Mrs Yajnavalkya - Bertice Reading (played by Cleo Laine at Saville Theatre)[9]
- Niri-Esther - Maxine Daniels
- Sir Victor Vatt - Roderick Jones
- Thetis Tooke - Patsy Rowlands[3]
Songs
- Opening / Valmouth - Company
- Magic Fingers - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
- Mustapha - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
- I Loved a Man - Thetis Tooke
- What Then Can Make Him Come So Low? - Niri-Esther
- All the Girls Were Pretty - Mrs Hurstpierpoint, Lady Parvula, Mrs Thoroughfare
- Just Once More - Lady Parvula
- Lady of the Manor - Niri-Esther
- What Do I Want With Love - David Tooke
- My Big Best Shoes - Mrs Vajnanalkaya, Grannie Tooke
- Niri-Esther - Jack Whorwood, Captain Dick
- The Cry of the Peacock - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
- Little Baby Girl - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
- The Cathedral of Clemenza - Cardianl Pirelli
- Only a Passing Phase - Lady Parvula
- Valmouth - Captain Dick
- Where the Trees Are Green With Parrots - Niri-Esther
- My Talking Day - Sister Ecclesia
- I Will Miss You - Grannie Tooke, Mrs Vajnanalkaya
- Finale / Valmouth - Company[1]
Critical reception
Plays and Players wrote "Sandy Wilson's lyrics include, by my reckoning, at least half a dozen potential hits beside 'Big Best Shoes'. Valmouth, in short, bewitches by its riches as the opening chorus swore it would."[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Valmouth". www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ Freedland, Michael; Coveney, Michael (27 August 2014). "Sandy Wilson obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
- ^ a b "Production of Valmouth | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "Obituary: Fenella Fielding". 11 September 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Cast list, Valmouth (1982) – Pass It On".
- ^ "Valmouth (The Chichester Festival Theatre Production) - Original Off-Broadway Cast | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Valmouth, BBC Radio Cast at CastAlbums.org
- ^ "The Monday Play". 24 April 1975. p. 31 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Valmouth Original West End Cast - 1958 West End". www.broadwayworld.com.