The Girl from Kays

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Postcard advertising the musical The Girl from Kays.jpg
Postcard advertising the musical

The Girl from Kays is a musical comedy in three acts, with music by Ivan Caryll and book and lyrics by Owen Hall. Additional songs were by Paul Rubens, Howard Talbot, Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank and others. The farcical story concerns a misguided kiss. [1]

Contents

The original London production, from 1902 to 1903, played for a long run of 432 performances and was followed by provincial tours. A successful New York run of 223 performances began in 1903, and successful Australian runs followed. The musical was later revised as The Belle of Bond Street.

Productions

Ethel Irving as Winnie Harborough Ethel Irving (1869-1963) as Winnie Harborough in The Girl from Kays.png
Ethel Irving as Winnie Harborough

The musical was produced by George Edwardes at the Apollo Theatre in London, opening on 15 November 1902 and moving to the Comedy Theatre on 14 December 1903 to finish its run of 432 performances. Florence Young replaced Ethel Irving in the title role, Gabrielle Ray took over Letty Lind's role during the original run, and Kitty Gordon also appeared in the musical. Despite its long run, the expensive production lost money, which had to be recouped in provincial tours. [2]

The Girl from Kays had a successful New York run of 223 performances at the Herald Square Theatre, beginning 3 November 1903, and successful Australian runs. Elsie Ferguson starred in New York. It was later revised as The Belle of Bond Street. [2]

Synopsis

Setting: Chalmers' Flat, Grand Hotel, Flacton-on-Sea and the Savoy Restaurant

Norah and Harry are just about to leave on their honeymoon, when Nora's new hat is delivered by Winnie, the girl from Kays hat shop. Winnie is an old friend of Harry's, and she congratulates him with a kiss. Nora and her family see this and misunderstand.

The honeymoon proceeds, but in separate rooms, with further complications added by bridesmaids, shopgirls from Kays, hotel staff, relatives and mis-steps of the booby Percy Fitzthistle. An American millionaire named Hoggenheimer takes a liking to Winnie. Eventually, Nora understands the truth, and forgives Harry at the restaurant of the Savoy Hotel.

Roles and original cast

Ella Snyder in the 1902 production Ella Snyder in The Girl From Kays.png
Ella Snyder in the 1902 production

Musical numbers

Act I - Chalmers' Flat

ACT II - Grand Hotel, Flacton-on-Sea

ACT III - The Savoy Restaurant

Additional numbers

The comic character Max Hoggenheimer was selected by the South African cartoonist Daniël Cornelis Boonzaier to symbolise the avaricious and oppressive Randlord and mining capitalism, and frequently featured in Boonzaier's work. [3]

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References

  1. The Girl from Kays, Guide to Musical Theatre, accessed 17 January 2013
  2. 1 2 Ganzl, Kurt. The British Musical Theatre Vol. 1, 1865–1914 (1987), Macmillan Press, pp. 802–19
  3. Shain, Milton. The roots of antisemitism in South Africa, University Press of Virginia, 1994 ISBN   0813914884