London Musicals 1955-1959.pub - Over The Footlights

THE WATER GIPSIESLondon run: Winter Garden Theatre, August 31st(239 Performances)Music: Vivian EllisBook and Lyrics: A.P.HerbertDirector: Charles HickmanChoreographer: Narice AllenMusical Director: Jack ColesProducer: Peter SaundersCast: Jerry Verno (Albert Bell) , Dora Bryan (Lily),Pamela Charles (Jane), Roy Godfrey (Bunny Moss),Laurie Payne (Fred), Peter Graves (Mr Bryan),Doris Hare (Landlady)Songs: Why Did You Call Me Lily?, Why Should Spring Haveall the Flowers?, When I’m Washing Up, Castles and Hearts andRoses, It Would Cramp My Style1955Jerry Verno, Dora Bryan and Pamela CharlesStory: Albert Bell is an old music-hallmusician living on a barge on the Thames with his two daughters, Lily and Jane.Lily is warm hearted and out for a good time, not too serious about her flashyboyfriend, Bunny Moss. Jane is more serious and gets engaged to the brashcommunist son of the pub landlady, thus disappointing her childhood sweetheart,the young bargee Fred, and the handsome artist Mr Bryan. In the end all turns outwell, with Fred carrying Jane over the “threshold” onto his barge.Notes: A.P. Herbert’s 1930s successful novel “The Water Gipsies” had been turnedinto a film in 1931, and Herbert and Vivian Ellis had written one song for the film.25 years later the pair got together again and decided to turn it into a full-scalemusical. The show itself did not attract particularly good reviews, but the critics allraved about the brilliant performance of Dora Bryan, and the public flocked to seethe former revue performer who had become an overnight star.4Unknown CreditROMANCE IN CANDLELIGHTLondon run : Piccadilly Theatre, September 15 th (53 performances)Music and lyrics: Sam CoslowBook : Eric MaschwitzDirector: Richard BirdChoreographer: Phyllis BlakstonMusical Director: Alexander FarisProducer: Emile LittlerCast: Sally Ann Howes (The Lady), Patricia Burke (The Maid),Jacques Pils (The Valet), Roger Dann (The Marquis)Songs: Toujour l’Amour, The Lady Was Made to Be Loved,Bonjour Finis, Fromage, My Heart Says Yes, Formidable (*)Story: A valet dressed up as his master entertains a high-born lady;at the same time the master, dressed as his valet, entertains the highbornlady’s maid.Notes: Based on the 1928 play “By Candlelight” by Siegfried Geyerand Carl Farkas, which in itself had been adapted from a Germanoriginal, this was a small-scale show with a cast of just eight. Theadditional chorus of four backing singers worked entirely offstage.The critics hated it and it survived just two months.(*) The only praise in the show was for the song “Formidable” andthis was not actually written by Sam Coslow but was an interpolatedsong by the French writer Gilbert Bécaud.Sally Ann Howes and Jacques PilsUnknown Credit