 KING'S RHAPSODY
Devised, Written and Composed by Ivor Novello
Lyrics by Christopher Hassall Produced at the Palace Theatre, London, 15 September, 1949
IVOR NOVELLO has an unerring instinct for knowing
what the public wants in musical entertainment. King's Rhapsody, with
its mid-European royal romance, lavish decor, melodious songs and colourful
ballets, has been no exception, and however much the carping critic may
protest as he looks back over a decade and a half of Novello mammoth musicals,
that this is the mixture as before, the public continues to pack every
house.
Synopsis
King's Rhapsody tells the story of the king of
Murania (known as Nikki), who twenty years before the play begins had
renounced his succession to the throne for love of his mistress, Marta
Karillos, who, nevertheless, had been a good influence in his life. On
the death of his father, the King, Nikki is persuaded by his mother, Queen
Elana, to return from exile in Paris and marry the young Princess Cristiane
of Norseland, and so provide the throne with an heir. Characteristically
Nikki is not at the palace to greet his bride-to-be when she arrives,
and later, when he meets her for the first time, she is in her simple
national costume and he takes her to be a lady-in-waiting. She does not
disillusion him and they fall in love. Already Cristiane, whom Nikki believes
he has not met, has angered him by demanding that he shall banish his
mistress, and later outrages convention by inviting Marta Karillos to
the Court Ball, so that she may take stock of the woman who is likely
to be her enemy. Nikki revenges himself by opening the ball by dancing
with Marta.
Nikki awaits news of the birth of his son while making merry at Marta's
villa, but when an angry mob breaks in seeking Marta's life it is the
young queen who saves her by saying she is her dear friend. Once Murania
has an heir to the throne, the government is eager to be rid of Nikki,
who has never been popular with them,
and, with Queen Elana on their side, the King is prevailed upon to abdicate
in favour of his infant son. He bids farewell to his now much-loved young
wife, and goes into exile. Ten years later, in Paris, he is informed by
the Ambassador for Murania teat he must not set foot in his own country,
or make any attempt to see his son, who is about to be crowned king.
But Nikki is determined to witness his son's coronation and to see once
again his beloved wife, and returns from exile, risking death. During
the impressive ceremony in the Cathedral, Queen Cristiane, knowing secretly
that Nikki is there, drops a white rose on the altar steps. When all have
departed, Nikki picks up the rose, and is seen, a lonely figure, kneeling
at the High Altar as the curtain falls.
The Original Opening Cast
Princess Kirsten PAMELA HARRINGTON
Princess Hulda WENDY WARREN
Mr. Trontzen JOHN PALMER
Countess Vera Lemainken OLIVE GILBERT
Princess Cristiane VANESSA LEE
King Peter of Norseland VICTOR BOGGETTI
Manservant HARRY FERGUSSON
Jules MICHAEL ANTHONY
Queen Elana of Murania ZENA DARE
Vanescu ROBERT ANDREWS
Nikki IVOR NOVELLO
Marta Karillos PHYLLIS DARE
Olga Varsov ANNE PINDER
Madame Koska JACQUELINE LE GEYT
Count Egon Stanieff DENIS MARTIN
Major Domo ERIC SUTHERLAND
Tormas GORDON DUTTSON
Boy King JOHN YOUNG
with the Pauline Grant Ballet and Lady and Gentlemen Choristers Directed
by Murray MacDonald
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For the Chorus
There are birthdays to celebrate, a King to greet, a betrothal to honour,
a bride to serenade, royal amateur theatricals to rehearse and perform,
a revolution to incite and a coronation to attend, all set to music by
Novello at the height of his powers. General company appear as Norseland
village peasants, mannequins, serenaders, palace guards and servants,
ladies and gentlemen of the Court, dancers and singers of the Muranian
Royal Ballet Company, coronation dignitaries and the people of Murania.
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