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Eileen (musical)
Encyclopedia
Eileen is a comic opera
(sometimes described as a musical) with music by Victor Herbert
and lyrics and book by Henry Blossom
based loosely on the 1835 novel Rory O'Moore by Herbert's grandfather, Samuel Lover. Set in 1798, the story concerns an Irish revolutionary arrested by the British for treason. Eileen, his nobly born sweetheart, and her aunt, help him to escape by disguising him as a servant. The British recapture him, and he is about to be shot when a pardon arrives. All ends well for both him and for all the revolutionaries.
After Cleveland tryouts under the name of Hearts of Erin, the musical moved on to Boston, changing its name to Eileen. It then opened at the Shubert Theatre
on March 19, 1917 and ran for only 64 performances. It was produced by Joe Weber
, formerly of the comedy duo Weber and Fields
. It then toured, but a fire destroyed its costumes three months into the tour. Because of its short initial run, the show was rarely revived until 1998, when it was produced and recorded by the Ohio Light Opera
. However, its hit song "Thine Alone" was frequently recorded.
Herbert was eager to write an "Irish" musical to celebrate the land of his birth. The Ohio Light Opera
revived and recorded the opera in 1997 using Herbert's original orchestrations, reconstructed by Quade Winter
from Herbert's own manuscripts, held in the collection of the Library of Congress.
Lady Maude, widow of Lord Estabrook, an English lady, is the mistress of Castle Sligo, creating resentment among the Irish locals. Shaun Dhu leads a band of smugglers on the Western coast of Ireland that includes Barry O'Day. The band stores its loot at Biddy's Black Bull Inn. Lady Maude and her niece, Eileen, stop at the Inn when their carriage breaks down. Barry O'Day protects them from some village drunks. Colonel Lester comes to arrest Barry, but he escapes as Lady Maude's groom.
Act II
Later, at Castle Sligo, Lady Maude has developed affection for Barry. Eileen explains that Barry is a rogue. Nevertheless, Maude decides to help Barry escape again from the Colonel by putting a coachman's uniform on her guest, Sir Reggie, making him a decoy. Sir Reggie is arrested and sentenced to death before the Colonel learns that he has been fooled and that Barry has gotten away again.
Act III
By the time of Lady Maude's birthday, Eileen and Barry have fallen in love. Learning that Barry is there, the Colonel has his men surround the castle. Barry surrenders, but news arrives that the King has pardoned the rebels. The arrest is reversed, various couples are united, including Barry and Eileen, and it is declared that "Ireland shall stand among all nations of the world."
's orchestra and soloists recorded eight highlights from Eileen on a set of 78 RPM records. These selections were later reissued by RCA Camden
on one side of a 12-inch LP (selections from Polonaise are on the reverse). This album has been out-of-print since the late 1950s.
Act II
Act III
Comic opera
Comic opera denotes a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending.Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a new operatic genre, opera buffa, emerged as an alternative to opera seria...
(sometimes described as a musical) with music by Victor Herbert
Victor Herbert
Victor August Herbert was an Irish-born, German-raised American composer, cellist and conductor. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I...
and lyrics and book by Henry Blossom
Henry Blossom
Henry Martyn Blossom was the lyricist for several Victor Herbert musicals, including The Yankee Consul , Mlle. Modiste , The Red Mill , Eileen , and Kiss Me Again , and was a master at puzzle solving and cipher writing.Born in St...
based loosely on the 1835 novel Rory O'Moore by Herbert's grandfather, Samuel Lover. Set in 1798, the story concerns an Irish revolutionary arrested by the British for treason. Eileen, his nobly born sweetheart, and her aunt, help him to escape by disguising him as a servant. The British recapture him, and he is about to be shot when a pardon arrives. All ends well for both him and for all the revolutionaries.
After Cleveland tryouts under the name of Hearts of Erin, the musical moved on to Boston, changing its name to Eileen. It then opened at the Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre or Shubert Theater may refer to:Theatres*Shubert Theatre , New York City, built in 1913.*Shubert Theatre , Connecticut, built in 1914.*Shubert Theatre , California, demolished in 2002....
on March 19, 1917 and ran for only 64 performances. It was produced by Joe Weber
Joe Weber (vaudevillian)
Joe Weber born Joseph Morris Weber was a vaudevillian who, along with Lew Fields, formed the comedy team of Weber and Fields....
, formerly of the comedy duo Weber and Fields
Lew Fields
Lew Fields , born as Moses Schoenfeld, was an American actor, comedian, vaudeville star, theatre manager and producer....
. It then toured, but a fire destroyed its costumes three months into the tour. Because of its short initial run, the show was rarely revived until 1998, when it was produced and recorded by the Ohio Light Opera
Ohio Light Opera
The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
. However, its hit song "Thine Alone" was frequently recorded.
Herbert was eager to write an "Irish" musical to celebrate the land of his birth. The Ohio Light Opera
Ohio Light Opera
The Ohio Light Opera is a professional opera company based in Wooster, Ohio that performs the light opera repertory, including Gilbert and Sullivan, American, British and continental operettas, and other musical theatre works, especially of the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
revived and recorded the opera in 1997 using Herbert's original orchestrations, reconstructed by Quade Winter
Quade Winter
Quade Winter is an American composer, musical restorer and translator, specializing in the light operas of Victor Herbert. Earlier in his career, he sang opera for over two decades.-Early years and singing career:...
from Herbert's own manuscripts, held in the collection of the Library of Congress.
Roles and original cast
- Eileen Mulvaney, niece of Lady Maude (sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
) - Grace Breen - Captain Barry O’Day, a fine Irish Rebel (tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
) - Walter Scanlan - Lady Maude Estabrooke, Eileen's Aunt - Olga Roller
- Colonel Lester, the local British authority - Edward Martindel
- Shaun Dhu, Barry’s steadfast mate - Greek Evans
- Sir Reginald Stribling, a British Knight - Algernon Grieg
- Rosie Flynn - Louise Allen
- Biddy Flynn - F. Josie Claflin
- "Humpy" Grogan - John B. Cooke
- Lanty Hackett - Harry Crosby
- Mickey O'Brien - Joseph Dillon
- Dinny Doyle - Scott Welsh
- Chorus of Villagers
Synopsis
Act ILady Maude, widow of Lord Estabrook, an English lady, is the mistress of Castle Sligo, creating resentment among the Irish locals. Shaun Dhu leads a band of smugglers on the Western coast of Ireland that includes Barry O'Day. The band stores its loot at Biddy's Black Bull Inn. Lady Maude and her niece, Eileen, stop at the Inn when their carriage breaks down. Barry O'Day protects them from some village drunks. Colonel Lester comes to arrest Barry, but he escapes as Lady Maude's groom.
Act II
Later, at Castle Sligo, Lady Maude has developed affection for Barry. Eileen explains that Barry is a rogue. Nevertheless, Maude decides to help Barry escape again from the Colonel by putting a coachman's uniform on her guest, Sir Reggie, making him a decoy. Sir Reggie is arrested and sentenced to death before the Colonel learns that he has been fooled and that Barry has gotten away again.
Act III
By the time of Lady Maude's birthday, Eileen and Barry have fallen in love. Learning that Barry is there, the Colonel has his men surround the castle. Barry surrenders, but news arrives that the King has pardoned the rebels. The arrest is reversed, various couples are united, including Barry and Eileen, and it is declared that "Ireland shall stand among all nations of the world."
Recording
Al GoodmanAl Goodman
Al Goodman was a conductor, songwriter, stage composer, musical director, arranger, and pianist....
's orchestra and soloists recorded eight highlights from Eileen on a set of 78 RPM records. These selections were later reissued by RCA Camden
RCA Camden
RCA Camden was a budget record label of recordings, first introduced by RCA Victor.-History:The label was named after Camden, New Jersey, original home to the Victor Talking Machine Company, later RCA Records. It specialized in reissuing historic classical and popular recordings from the RCA catalog...
on one side of a 12-inch LP (selections from Polonaise are on the reverse). This album has been out-of-print since the late 1950s.
Songs
Act I- Free Trade and a Misty Moon
- My Little Irish Rose
- Ireland, My Sireland
- Glad, Triumphant Hour
Act II
- Too-re-loo-re
- Eileen, Alanna Asthore
- If Eve Had Left the Apple on the Bough
- I'd Love to be a Lady
- When Love Awakes!
- Life's a Game at Best
- Finale
Act III
- In Erin's Isle
- Thine Alone
- The Irish Have a Great Day Tonight
- When Ireland Stands Among the Nations of the World
External links
- Information about Herbert music
- 'Eileen’ Brim Full of Rich Melodies.” New York Times (3/20/1917), p. 9
- Information about Scanlan and the show