 BITTER SWEET
An Operetta by Noel Coward Produced at His Majesty's Theatre, London, 18 July, 1929 (673 perfs)
Revival - 23 February, 1988 - Sadler's Wells
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Cast and original players
Marchioness of Shayne (Sarah Millick)
- Peggy Wood.
Carl Linden - George Metaxa.
Manon - Ivy St. Helier.
Dolly Chamberlain - Dorothy Boyd.
Lord Henry Jekyll - William Ham.
The Hon. Hugh Devon - Robert Newton.
Mrs. Millick - Elaine Inescott.
Sir Arthur Fenchurch - Clifford Heatherley.
Herr Schlick - Clifford Heatherley.
Lady Devon - Winifred Davis.
The Marquis of Steere - Robert Algar.
Vincent Howard - Billy Milton.
Lord Edgar James (Rifle Brigade Officer) - Victor Robson.
Lord Sorrel (Artillery Officer) - Gerald Nodin.
Mr. Vale (Naval Officer) - Peter Gibson.
Mr. Bethel - John Gatrell.
Mr. Proutie (Scottish Officer) - Richard Cornish.
Victoria - José Fearon,
Harriet - Maie Drage.
Gloria - Rose Hignell.
Honor - Eva Sternroyd.
Jane - Eileen Carey.
Effie - Mary Pounds.
Gussi - Norah Howard.
Lotte - Millie Sim.
Freda - Betty Huntley Wright.
Hansi - Marjorie Rogers. |
Lieutenant Tranisch - Arthur Alexander.
Captain August Lutte - Austin Trevor.
Marquis of Shayne - Alan Napier.
Nita - Joan Panter.
Helen - Nancy Bevill.
Tackie - Maureen Moore.
Mrs. Devon - Keira Tuson.
Vernon Craft - Eric Lauriston.
Lord Henry Jade - Penryn Bannerman.
Cedric Ballantyne - William Ham.
Bertram Sellick - Hugh Cuenod.
Parker (Butler, Act I, Scene I) - Claude Farrow.
Burley (Butler, Act III, Scene I) - Anthony Brian.
Accompanist (Act III, Scene I) - Leonard Pearce.
Singer (Act I, Scene I)
Fritz, a waiter
Six Prater Girls, Four Footmen, Three Musicians,
Six Waiters, Four Cleaners, Two Charwomen,
Guests and Customers. |
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Everything that wealthy London society had to offer a properly brought-up
girl lay at the feet of little Sarah Millick in 1875; but she fell so
desperately in love with her handsome young singing master that she threw
it all away in order to be with him. In Vienna, five poverty-stricken
years later, her adored Carl is killed in a duel. But his music lives
on as the self-reliant Sarah earns fame throughout Europe with her singing.
Finally returning to England, she marries the elderly Marquis of Shayne
who has waited so patiently for her. Years later, at a madly bright party
in the late 1920s, she tells her story, winning the grudging admiration
of the smart young set. The Marchioness, they decide, must have been a
gay old bird.
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| For the Chorus
There are a number of opportunities for lively chorus work and part singing,
but the great attraction of this work is the opportunity it provides for
chorus members to develop characters. Not only are there many small roles,
complete with a share in their own musical number, but each member of
the general company must make clear distinction between sedate London
high society (1875), the gaiety of Vienna (1880), and the frenzied bright
young things of the twenties.
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Singing Principals
Sarah Millick.
Victoria, Harriet, Gloria, Honor, Effie and Jane, her closefriends.
Manon, a French cabaret entertainer in Vienna.
Gussi, Lotte, Freda and Hansi, Viennese ladies of the town.
Carl Linden.
Lieutenant Tranisch (named in the vocal score as Capt. Schensi).
Index of voices required for the singing roles
The Marchioness of Shayne (Sarah Millick) - Soprano.
Carl Linden - Tenor.
Manon - Mezzo-Soprano.
Marquis of Steere - Tenor.
Lord Edgar James - Baritone.
Lord Sorrel - Bass.
Mr. Vale - Baritone.
Mr. Bethel - Baritone.
Mr. Proutie - Top Tenor.
Victoria - High Soprano.
Harriet - Mezzo.
Gloria - Soprano.
Honor Deep Contralto.
Jane - Contralto.
Effie - Contralto.
Gussi - Mezzo.
Lotte - Mezzo.
Freda - Mezzo
Hansi - Mezzo.
Lieutenant Tranisch - Baritone.
Nita - Mezzo.
Helen - Mezzo.
Jackie - Mezzo.
Singer (Act I, Scene I) - Top Tenor.
Vernon Craft - Baritone.
Lord Henry Jade - Baritone.
Cedric Ballantyne - Baritone.
Bertram Sellick - Baritone.
The Footmen should consist of 2 Basses and 2 Baritones: The
Cleaners,
2 Sopranos and 2 Contraltos:
The Charwomen, 1 Soprano, 1 Contralto.:
The Waiters, 3 Tenors, 3 Basses.
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The Scenes and settings
Act 1
Lady Shayne's London house, 1929.
The music room at the Millicks' house, 1875 (inset).
The Millicks' ballroom
Act 2 Herr Schlick's café in Vienna, 1880
Act 3
Lord Shayne's house (as for Act 1, Scene 1 except for furniture
and decoration), 1895.
The same, 1929
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Musical Numbers:
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The Call of Life - Lady Shane & Chorus
- I'll See You Again - Carl, Sarah
- What Is Love? - Sarah and Chorus
- The Last Dance - Men and Girls
- Finale Act I - Company
- Opening Act II - "Life in the morning isn't too bright …" - Waiters,
Cleaners
- Ladies of the Town - Hansi, Freda, Gussi and Lotte
- If Love Were All - Manon
- Evermore and a Day - Sari and Carl
- Dear Little Café - Sari and Carl
- Officers' Chorus
- Tokay - Lieutenant Tranisch and Chorus
- Bonne Nuit, Merci - Manon
- Waltz Song " 'Tis time that we were parted …" - Manon
and Chorus
- Tarara Boom-de-ay - Double Chorus
- Alas, the Time is Past - Victoria, Harriet, Effie
- Quartette: We All Wore a Green Carnation - Vernon, Cedric, Henry,
Bertram
- Zigeuner - Sari
- Finale - company
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Orchestration
1st and 2nd Violins, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, 2 Clarinets,
Bassoon, 2 Horns, 2 Trumpets, Trombone, Drums, Harp. Stage Band (basic):
Piano, Violin, Accordion, Banjo/Guitar; plus Cello, Clarinet, Alto Sax
(one number each). Drums should also be included, although no set score
is provided
Musical Directors are advised to borrow the Conductor's score before
commencing rehearsals with the company |
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