 THE QUAKER GIRL
by James T. Tanner, Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank and
Lionel Monckton Adelphi Theatre, London 5th November, 1910 - (536
perfs)
Park Theatre, Broadway - 23 October, 1911 (240 perfs)
The text was revised and the play revived at the London Coliseum on 25th
May, 1944. This production closed owing to flying bombs, went on tour,
and later opened again in London, this time at the Stoll Theatre in February,
1945
"THE QUAKER GIRL" then toured England and Scotland continuously from
the Summer of 1945, until December, 1948, being received everywhere with
great enthusiasm.
Original Version
Story
Prudence is the niece of Nathaniel and Rachel Pym, a prim
and proper pair, who rule the Quaker Community of a
pic-turesque English village. Into the serene atmosphere of
this Community there arrives a certain exiled French Lady of
great distinction, the Princess Mathilde, followed by
Captain Charteris, to whom she is to be married. Charteris
has armed himself with a special marriage licence and even
more special 'best man' in the person of Tony Chute, of the
American Embassy in Paris. The ceremony duly takes place in
the village church in the presence of all the rustics who
join in the festivities on the village green, among their
number being Prudence who quickly attracts the attention of
the highly susceptible Tony. Prudence, carried away by the
life and gaiety of the scene, is induced to take a sip of
wine by her wayward cousin, Jeremiah, but alas, at this
moment, with the wine to her lips, Nathaniel, Rachel and
other Quakers appear on the scene. They sternly command her
to leave these sinful people and follow them.
But life as a Quaker is so dull that she prefers to
entrust herself to the care of, Madame Blum of the "Maison
Blum", Paris, who is in attendance on the Princess. Madame
Blum, with a practical eye to business, sees possibilities
in the alluring simplicity of the Quaker dress, and thus we
next see Prudence as a Mannequin in Madame's establishment
in Paris where she herself becomes all the rage with the
men, and her simple costume with the women. Princess
Mathilde in company with. her maid Phoebe has also returned
to France disguised as one of Madame's work girls.
Among Prudence's admirers are Prince Carlo and Monsieur
Duhamel, a distinguished senator. The prince invites them
all to a Ball, but Tony, knowing the Prince's character,
begs Prudence not to go. She is compelled to break her
promise as the Princess is being hotly pursued by Monsieur
Larose, Chief of Police. As the Prince has recognised
Princess Mathilde amongst the work girls, he threatens to
disclose her to Larose should Prudence not accompany him to
the ball. For the sake of Mathilde, Prudence reluctantly
breaks her promise to Tony, who is furious but when he
learns the true reason, he sees the wisdom of it all and
begs forgiveness for having doubted her. Thus the little
story comes to a bright and happy end.
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MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I - An English country village.
- Chorus and Solo (Mrs. Lukyn)
- Jarge, we've such a tale to tell
- Entrance of Quakers and Double Chorus
- While our worthy village neighbours
- Song (Mathilde)
- O, time, time!
- Duet (Mathilde and Charteris)
- Wonderful
- Quartet (Mathilde, Phoebe, Charteris and Tony)
- A Runaway Match
- Song (Prudence)
- A Quaker Girl
- Duet (Prudence and Tony)
- A bad boy and a good girl
- Concerted Number
- Tip-Toe
- Song (Jeremiah) and Chorus
- Just As Father Used to Do
- Finale
- It's the Wedding Day
ACT II - Madame Blum's Dressmaking Salon, Paris
- Opening Chorus - Girls
- In this Abode
- Song (Phoebe) and Chorus of Girls - Or Thereabouts!
- Chorus
- On Revient de Chantilly
- Valse Song (Prince) and Chorus
- Come to the Ball
- Duet (Prudence and Tony)
- A Dancing Lesson
- March Quintet
- Barbizon
- Finale
- Ah! Ha! Monsieur Larose!
ACT III - The Pré Catalan, outside Paris
- Introduction
- Song (Prince) and Chorus - Couleur de Rose
- Duet (Jeremiah and Phoebe) - Mr. Jeremiah, Esquire!
- Song (Prudence) - Tony, from America
- Duet (Prudence and Tony) - The First Dance
- Finale - Love, I have Met You
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Story
Retaining the story structure and most of Lionel
Monckton's music, this skilful adaptation with a new
orchestration has pared down the Acts from three to two and
added three entirely new songs, while still preserving the
charm and entertainment of the popular original.
Mathilde, an exiled French princess, secretly marries
Captain Charteris in an English country village where she
has befriended a young Quaker girl, Prudence, with whom
American Tony Chute has fallen madly in love. Upbraided by
the Quakers for attending the wedding festivities, Prudence
accepts the wedding party's invitation to accompany them to
Paris where she becomes an instant success. Mathilde is
sought by the police who enlist the help of her ex-fiancd,
Prince Carlo. To protect Mathilde, Prudence is blackmailed
into accepting Prince Carlo's invitation to a ball he gives
on the night of the Chantilly races. Unaware of her selfless
motive, Tony is enraged with Prudence. However Prudence's
innate goodness bears results and the senior French Minister
allows Mathilde to remain in France, Tony and Prudence are
reunited and the toast of the ball is The Quaker Girl!
The Cast: M8 F8. Extras
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