DOROTHY

Music by Alfred Cellier: Written by B.C. Stephenson

Gaiety Theatre, London 25 September, 1886
Standard Theatre, Broadway 5 November, 1887.

THE STORY

(Rural Kent in 1740)

The plot surrounds the Squire's daughter, Dorothy and her cousin Lydia, who, tired of the social rounds, decide to pose as villagers during the festival of the Hop Pole, (An annual celebration occurring in the vicinity of the Hop Pole Inn), at the end of the Hop picking season. It so happens that Geoffrey, a "young English gentleman", and his friend Harry, under assumed names, are using the Hop Pole Inn as a hideout to escape Lurcher, a Sheriff's officer who has been chasing them with a bundle of writs. The men and girls are mutually attracted but neither pair knows the other's true identity. Lurcher arrives on the scene and is tricked into posing as a servant to the two men when they visit the house of the Squire. There is a faked burglary, Lurcher dines too well, identities are exposed, but the end is obvious and happy.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS (plus Chorus)

Dorothy (soprano)
Lydia (mezzo)
Geoffrey (tenor)
Sir John (baritone)
Lurcher (baritone)
Harry (baritone)
Phyllis (contralto)
Mrs Privett (non-singing)

 

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Be Wise In Time (Dorothy, Lydia, Phyllis)
To Bed
Are You Sure That They Are All in Bed?
I Hear the Quarter Chime
Under the Pump
Lads and Lasses
Hark For'ard! (Away) (Dorothy, Chorus)
Dorcas
I Am the Sherrif's Faithful Man
No Time Has Come When I Must Yield
Duke of Berkshire
A Father's Pride and Joy
What Joy Untold
We're Sorry to Delay You
Though Born a Man of High Degree
Contentment I Give You
With A Welcome To All (Sir John, Chorus)
Queen Of My Heart (Harry)
Dancing Is not What It Used to Be
Now Take Your Seats
The Time Has Come (Phyllis)
Who Swore to Be Good and True? (You Swear to Be Good and True)
What Noise Was That?
With Such a Dainty Dame

INSTRUMENTATION

(Total number of books = 17)

2 Violins I ; 1 Violin II ; 1 Viola ; 1 Cello/Double Bass ; 1 Flute I ; 1 Flute II ; 1 Oboe ; 1 Clarinet I ; 1 Clarinet II ; 1 Bassoon ; 1 Horn I ; 1 Cornet ; 1 Trombone ; 1 Drums ; 1 Timpani ; 1 Conductor Score annotated vocal score

Note

Three acts of one scene each should present little trouble for any company. Chroeography calls for many short dances in the period of the piece. In all, it is an easy show to stage and, despite its age, is a delightful musical.