THE BELLE OF NEW YORK

A musical comedy in 2 acts, 6 scenes; Book and lyrics by Hugh Morton: Music by Gustave Kerker

First produced at the Casino Theatre, New York 28 September, 1897 (56 perfs)
Reopened 20 December for a further 8 performances.
Produced at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London 12 April, 1898 (697 perfs)

Synopsis

Violet Gray is a Salvation Army girl who becomes an heir to a fortune belonging to Ichabod Bronson. She has been chosen as the recipient of this windfall because Ichabod, although not averse to dallying with the odd chorus girl himself, is a firm believer in organisations such as the Young Men's Rescue League and the Anti-Cigarette Society. He has found out that his playboy son, Harry, intends to marry actress Cora Angelique. Violet, for her part, is intent on Harry getting the inheritance - and her as well! Her saucy performance of the "At Ze Naughty Folies Bergère"does the trick - Ichabod cannot possibly leave his fortune to someone who behaves like that, and Harry's name goes back in the will. Harry finally sees the error of his ways and falls in love with sweet, simple Violet.

Cast and performers

as presented by the George Lederer Casino Theatre Company, New York.

• ICHABOD BRONSON ...(President of the Young Men's Rescue League and Anti-Cigarette Society of Cohoes) ... MR. DAN DALY
• HARRY BRONSON ... (his Son, a Young Spendthrift) ... MR. HARRY DAVENPORT
• KARL VON PUMPERNICK ... (a Polite Lunatic) ... MR. J. E. SULLIVAN
• "Doc"SNIFKINS ... (the Father of the Queen of Comic Opera) ... MR. GEO. K. FORTESCUE
• "BLINNY BILL"MCGUIRR ... (a Mixed-Ale Pugilist) ... MR. FRANK LAWTON
• KENNETH MUGG ... (Low Comedian of the Cora Angelique Comic Opera Company) ... MR. GEO. A. SCHILLER
• COUNT RATSI RATTATOO ... (Twin Portuguese Brother) ... MR. WILLIAM H. SLOAN
• COUNT PATBI RATTATOO ... (Twin Portuguese Brother) ... MR. WILLIAM GOULD
• BILLY BREEZE ... (a Sailor) ... MR. EDWIN W. HOFF
• MR. TWIDDLES ... (Harry Bronson's Private Secretary) ... MR. FRANK TURNER
• MR. SNOOPER ... (a Newspaper Reporter) ... MR. LIONEL LAWRENCE
• MR. PEEPER ... (a Photographer) ... MR. D. T. MACDONALD
• WILLIAM ... (a Butler) ... MR. ALBERT WALLERSTEDT
• VIOLET GRAY ... (a Salvation Lassie) ... MISS EDNA MAY
• FIFI FRICOT ... (a Little Parisienne) ... MISS PHYLLIS RANKIN
• KISSIE FITZGARTER ... (a Music Hall Dancer) ... MISS MABEL HOWE
• CORA ANOELIQUE ... (the Queen of Comic Opera) ... MISS HELEN DUPONT
• MAMIE CLANCY ... (a Pell Street Girl) MISS PAULA EDWARDES
• PANSY PINNE ... (a Soubrette) ... MI88 HATTIE MOORE
• BETTY "THE BAT "... MISS MARTHA FRANKLIN

(Cora's Bridesmaids)

• MYRTLE MINCE ... Miss SYLVIA THORNE
• QUEENIE CAKE ... Miss ROBE WITT
• BIRDIE SEED ... MISS GRACE SPENCER
• GLADYS GLEE ... MISS IRENE BENTLEY
• DOROTHY JUNE ... MISS EMILY SANFORD
• MARJORIE MAY ... MISS ELLA SNYDER
• LITTLE MISS FLIRT ... MISS ROBE WITT
• (Drummer Boy) ... MISS NELLY LOOMIS
• (Drummer Boy) ... MISS DAISY THOMPSON

CHARACTERS

Ichabod Bronson, President of the Young Men's Rescue League and Anti Cigarette Society of Cohoes
Harry Bronson, his son
Karl von Pumpernick, a polite lunatic
Doc Snifkins
Cora Angélique, the Queen of Comic Opera, his daughter
Blinky Bill McGuire, a mixed ale pugelist
Mamie Clancy, his girl
Kenneth Mugg, low comedian of the Cora Angélique Opera Company
Count Ratsi and Patsi Rattatoo, the Portuguese Twins
Mr Twiddles, Harry's Private Secretary
Violet Gray, A Salvation Army Girl
Fifi Fricot, a little Parisienne
Kissy Fitzgarter, a music-hall dancer
Pansy Pinns, a soubrette
Billy, Breeze, Mr Snooper, Mr Peeper, William, Fricot, etc.

The original New York libretto underwent considerable changes during its Broadway run and there have been many changes subsequently at each revival of the show, with songs dropped, other songs interpolated, dropped songs reinstated, scenes changed, etc. The film version in 1952 with Fred Astaire and Vera Ellen replaced the original songs with a score by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren.

PRINCIPAL SONGS

They All Follow Me (Violet & Salvation Army Girls)
When We Are Married
Teach Me How To Kiss, Dear (Harry)
The Purity Brigade (Violet and girls)
La Belle Parisienne (Harry and Fifi)
My Little Baby (Ichabod)
On the Beach at Narragansett (Ichabod, Bill, Mamie and company)
She is the Belle of New York (Harry)
At Ze Naughty Folies Bergère (Violet)
I Do, So There (Violet)
Googan's Fancy Ball (Company)

Musical Numbers:

New York Presentation.

ACT I.

1. OPENING CHORUS ... "When a Man is Twenty-one"
2. SONG & CHORUS ... "When I was born, the stars stood still" - Cora & Chorus
3. SONG & DANCE ... "Little Sister Kissie" - Muggs, Kissie & Bill
4. SONG ... "Oh, Teach me how to kiss" - Fifi
5. MARCH & CHORUS ... "We come this way" - League and Others
6. SONG ... "The Anti-Cigarette Society" - Ichabod
7. SONG & CHORUS ... "Wine, Woman and Song" - Harry & Chorus
8. SONG ... "La Belle Parisienne" - Fifi and Bridesmaids
9. SONG ... "My little Baby" - Ichabod
10. CHORUS ... "Pretty little China Girl" - Chorus
11. SONG ... "They all follow me" - Violet
12. SONG & CHORUS ... "We'll stand and Die together" - Soloist & Chorus
13. SONG ... "She is the Belle of New York" - Blinky Bill
14. FINALE—ACT I. ... Your Life, my little Girl" - Ensemble

ACT II.

ENTR'ACTE ...

15. OPENING CHORUS ... "Oh! Sonny"
16. DUET ... "When we are Married" - Fifi and Harry
17. ENTRANCE OF BRASS BAND
18. SONG & CHORUS ... "The Purity Brigade" - Violet and Chorus
19. SONG & CHORUS ... "I do, so there!" - Violet
20. SONG ... "Googan's Fancy Ball" - Blinky Bill
21. SONG ... "On the beach at Narragansett" - Ichabod and Others
22. CHORUS ... "For the twentieth time we'll drink" - Chorus
23. SONG "At ze naughty Folies Bergere" - Violet
24. FINALE ... "For in the Field" - Company

SUPPLEMENTARY NUMBERS.

• SONG ... "You and I"
• DUET ... "Take me down to Coney Island" - Billy and Mamie
• DUET ... "Maiden of Gentle Grace" Harry and Violet
• SONG & CHORUS ... "Father of the Queen of Comic Opera" - Snifkins and Female Chorus
• SONG ... "Don't you know" or "The Languid Man" (Words by Edmund Vance Cooke; Music by Richard Stahl)
• PLANTATION SONG ... "O Dinah, de moon am shining" (Worss by Edgar Smith; Music by John Stromberg)