The Dancing Mistress
Encyclopedia
The Dancing Mistress is a musical comedy
with music by Lionel Monckton
, book by James T. Tanner
and lyrics by Adrian Ross
and Percy Greenbank
. It depicts the fortunes of a school dancing mistress who is dismissed and finds fortune and happiness in Switzerland. The piece ran in the West End
of London in 1912 and 1913, and toured the British provinces in 1914.
at the Royal Adelphi Theatre
, opening on 19 October 1912. The piece, which followed the same composer's and authors' immensely successful The Quaker Girl
, featured many of the performers from the earlier show, including the romantic leads, Gertie Millar
and Joseph Coyne
. It ran at the Adelphi until 21 June 1913.
A touring company presented the piece in the British provinces, with Adele Crispin, John T. MacCallum and Laura Wright in the leading roles of Nancy, Teddy and Virginie.
At a girl's school in Brighton
on the south coast of England, the French mistress, Virginie Touchet, when not teaching French, surreptitiously indulges in an irresistible and ruinous addiction to gambling. She has befriended the young dancing teacher, Nancy Joye, under her wing. When Nancy uses her modest savings to help Virginie out, the latter promises her a huge reward if she wins the enormous cash prize with her latest "investment", a ticket for the Panama Lottery. The ticket wins, but nobody discovers the fact except for Widdicombe, the school butler, who throws over his previous lady-friend, Jeanie, the school's tuckwoman, and pursues Virginie.
Teddy Cavanagh is an aviator. In the course of his travels an Indian woman has given him a strange stone. In its normal state it is green, but when it is brought into contact with anyone who is passionately in love, it changes to red. When Teddy meets Nancy the stone rapidly goes from green to red. The austere headmistress, Miss Pindrop, does not like Nancy, and, finding her teaching her pupils a ragtime
dance, she uses that as a pretext for dismissing her. Nancy is offered a post as teacher of dancing at a winter sports hotel in the Swiss mountains.
Act II
Teddy follows Nancy to Switzerland. His friend, Lord Lyndale travels out to join him. Virginie has also travelled out, pursued by Widdicombe, who is pursued by Jeanie. Also at the hotel is the villain of the piece, Baron Montalba, an old enemy of Teddy, and much enamoured of Nancy. To get Teddy out of the way, the Baron bets him that he cannot fly his aeroplane to London in two days, starting immediately. Teddy, taking Widdicombe as a witness, sets out, having sent the Indian jewel to Nancy, with a message asking her to wear it before he takes off, to show that his love for her is reciprocated. The Baron intercepts the jewel and substitutes for it a gorgeous necklace of diamonds.
Act III
At the Hotel Bristol in London, celebrations are in full swing for Virginie's (and Nancy's) windfall from the Panama Lottery. All misunderstandings are cleared up, the wicked Baron is foiled, and the lovers are united. The stone glows red for both of them.
Act II
Act III
thought the piece too long, and commented, "Mr. Lionel Monckton's songs call for no special comment, but they fulfil their purpose; and The Dancing Mistress, when trimmed and shaped, will make a very pleasant entertainment." The Illustrated London News thought more highly of Monckton's score, rating "that master of light melody … at his very best." The reviewer thought the show "full of gaiety and fun and colour." The Observer
, like other papers, praised the performers ("so strong a combination as that is quite sure to fill the Adelphi for many months") and, like The Times, called for cuts.
Reviewing the touring production, The Manchester Guardian wrote, "There is no affectation about The Dancing Mistress … A waltz refrain, some dallying with rag-time, and a joke or two about Mr. Lloyd George
help to assure the audience that they are not being trifled with and that nothing serious is intended."
Edwardian Musical Comedy
Edwardian musical comedies were British musical theatre shows from the period between the early 1890s, when the Gilbert and Sullivan operas' dominance had ended, until the rise of the American musicals by Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin and Cole Porter following World War I.Between...
with music by Lionel Monckton
Lionel Monckton
Lionel John Alexander Monckton was an English writer and composer of musical theatre. He was Britain's most popular musical theatre composer of the early years of the 20th century.-Early life:...
, book by James T. Tanner
James T. Tanner
James Tolman Tanner was an English stage director and dramatist who wrote many of the successful musicals produced by George Edwardes.-Life and career:...
and lyrics by Adrian Ross
Adrian Ross
For the NFL player see Adrian Ross Arthur Reed Ropes , better known under the pseudonym Adrian Ross, was a prolific writer of lyrics, contributing songs to more than sixty British musical comedies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
and Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank
Percy Greenbank was an English lyricist, best known for his contribution of lyrics to a number of successful Edwardian musical comedies in the early years of the 20th century. His older brother, lyricist Harry Greenbank, had a brilliant career in the 1890s that was cut short by his death at the...
. It depicts the fortunes of a school dancing mistress who is dismissed and finds fortune and happiness in Switzerland. The piece ran in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
of London in 1912 and 1913, and toured the British provinces in 1914.
History
The Dancing Mistress was presented by the impresario George EdwardesGeorge Edwardes
George Joseph Edwardes was an English theatre manager of Irish ancestry who brought a new era in musical theatre to the British stage and beyond....
at the Royal Adelphi Theatre
Adelphi Theatre
The Adelphi Theatre is a 1500-seat West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiving house for a variety of productions, including many musicals...
, opening on 19 October 1912. The piece, which followed the same composer's and authors' immensely successful The Quaker Girl
The Quaker Girl
The Quaker Girl is a Edwardian musical comedy in three acts with a book by James T. Tanner, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, and music by Lionel Monckton. In its story, The Quaker Girl contrasts dour Quaker morality with Parisienne high fashion. The protagonist, Prudence, is thrown out...
, featured many of the performers from the earlier show, including the romantic leads, Gertie Millar
Gertie Millar
Gertrude "Gertie" Millar was one of the most famous English singer-actresses of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies....
and Joseph Coyne
Joseph Coyne
Joseph Coyne , sometimes billed as Joe Coyne, was an American-born singer and actor, known for his appearances in leading roles in Edwardian musical comedy in London.-Life and career:...
. It ran at the Adelphi until 21 June 1913.
A touring company presented the piece in the British provinces, with Adele Crispin, John T. MacCallum and Laura Wright in the leading roles of Nancy, Teddy and Virginie.
Cast
- Widdicombe (butler at "Down House") – James Blakeley
- Lord Lyndale (otherwise Mr. Viner) – F. Pope Stamper
- Dubois (an adventurer financing the Baron) – D. J. Williams
- Baron Montalba – G. Carvey
- Berchili (manager of Grand Hôtel des Alpes) – Ivan Berlyn
- M. Rosemblum (a Banker) – Ernest A. Douglas
- Teddy Cavanagh (an aeroplanist) – Joseph CoyneJoseph CoyneJoseph Coyne , sometimes billed as Joe Coyne, was an American-born singer and actor, known for his appearances in leading roles in Edwardian musical comedy in London.-Life and career:...
- Jeanie McTavish ("tuckwoman" at "Down House") – Gracie Leigh
- Mlle. Virginie Touchet (French mistress at "Down House") – Mlle. M. Caumont
- Bella Peach (daughter of an Argentine millionaire) – Elsie Spain
- Miss Pindrop (Principal of "Down House") – Agnes Thomas
- Lady Margrave – Maud Cressall
- Lili (a Parisienne) – Gina Palerme
- Nancy Joyce (dancing mistress of "Down House") – Gertie MillarGertie MillarGertrude "Gertie" Millar was one of the most famous English singer-actresses of the early 20th century, known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies....
Synopsis
Act IAt a girl's school in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
on the south coast of England, the French mistress, Virginie Touchet, when not teaching French, surreptitiously indulges in an irresistible and ruinous addiction to gambling. She has befriended the young dancing teacher, Nancy Joye, under her wing. When Nancy uses her modest savings to help Virginie out, the latter promises her a huge reward if she wins the enormous cash prize with her latest "investment", a ticket for the Panama Lottery. The ticket wins, but nobody discovers the fact except for Widdicombe, the school butler, who throws over his previous lady-friend, Jeanie, the school's tuckwoman, and pursues Virginie.
Teddy Cavanagh is an aviator. In the course of his travels an Indian woman has given him a strange stone. In its normal state it is green, but when it is brought into contact with anyone who is passionately in love, it changes to red. When Teddy meets Nancy the stone rapidly goes from green to red. The austere headmistress, Miss Pindrop, does not like Nancy, and, finding her teaching her pupils a ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
dance, she uses that as a pretext for dismissing her. Nancy is offered a post as teacher of dancing at a winter sports hotel in the Swiss mountains.
Act II
Teddy follows Nancy to Switzerland. His friend, Lord Lyndale travels out to join him. Virginie has also travelled out, pursued by Widdicombe, who is pursued by Jeanie. Also at the hotel is the villain of the piece, Baron Montalba, an old enemy of Teddy, and much enamoured of Nancy. To get Teddy out of the way, the Baron bets him that he cannot fly his aeroplane to London in two days, starting immediately. Teddy, taking Widdicombe as a witness, sets out, having sent the Indian jewel to Nancy, with a message asking her to wear it before he takes off, to show that his love for her is reciprocated. The Baron intercepts the jewel and substitutes for it a gorgeous necklace of diamonds.
Act III
At the Hotel Bristol in London, celebrations are in full swing for Virginie's (and Nancy's) windfall from the Panama Lottery. All misunderstandings are cleared up, the wicked Baron is foiled, and the lovers are united. The stone glows red for both of them.
Musical numbers
Act I- No. 1 - Chorus of Girls - "When Spring comes dancing over the hills..."
- No. 2 - Bella and Chorus - "In girlhood's happy hours your fancy wanders gaily..."
- No. 3 - Widdicombe and Chorus of Girls - "There's a wonderful fascination in the game of speculation..."
- No. 4 - Bella, Jeanie, Lyndale and Widdicombe - "Oh, who will over the downs..."
- No. 5 - Nancy - "When I was a little lass, being educated..."
- No. 6 - The Dancing Lesson
- No. 7 - Chorus - "Oh, it's so pleasant that you and we can meet at present for talk and tea..."
- No. 8 - Nancy and Teddy - "As Fly-Away Jack soars up aloft upon his airy flight..."
- No. 9 - Finale Act I - "Bella, you be bold now, have your fortune told now..."
Act II
- No. 10 - Chorus of Skaters and Skiers - "Oh, it's ripping in Switzerland now..."
- No. 11 - Jeanie - "I packed my wee bit bag and started awa' from Dover..."
- No. 12 - Nancy and Teddy - "I'm busy here, and so I fear I can't spare you a minute..."
- No. 13 - Lili and Chorus- "We've come to this country unknown..."
- No. 14 - Baron and Chorus - "When you are in love, all the world is fair..."
- No. 15 - Lynale, Teddy, Widdicombe, Baron and Dubois - "Though with rage and indignation you're aglow..."
- No. 16 - Nancy - "Dear little snowflake, soft and white..."
- No. 17 - Bella, Jeanie, Virginie, Lyndale, Widdicombe and Dubois - "I must go and pack now..."
- No. 18 - Finale Act II - "We're coming tonight to look at the flight..."
Act III
- No. 19 - Bella and Lyndale, with Chorus - "While we're dancing together..."
- No. 20 - Teddy and Chorus - "Supposing a girl should drop me, and fancy another man..."
- No. 21 - Jeanie and Widdicombe - "When I have married you, my dear, and you have married me..."
- No. 22 - Cotillon - Polka and Two-Step
- No. 23 - Finale Act III
Critical reception
The TimesThe Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
thought the piece too long, and commented, "Mr. Lionel Monckton's songs call for no special comment, but they fulfil their purpose; and The Dancing Mistress, when trimmed and shaped, will make a very pleasant entertainment." The Illustrated London News thought more highly of Monckton's score, rating "that master of light melody … at his very best." The reviewer thought the show "full of gaiety and fun and colour." The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, like other papers, praised the performers ("so strong a combination as that is quite sure to fill the Adelphi for many months") and, like The Times, called for cuts.
Reviewing the touring production, The Manchester Guardian wrote, "There is no affectation about The Dancing Mistress … A waltz refrain, some dallying with rag-time, and a joke or two about Mr. Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
help to assure the audience that they are not being trifled with and that nothing serious is intended."