Musical by H. M. Harwood and George Grossmith, Jr., premiered in 1916
Duet for the Duke and Pony Twitchin Theodore & Co musical comedy in two acts with a book by H. M. Harwood and George Grossmith Jr. based on the French comedy Théodore et Cie by Paul Armont and Nicolas Nancey , with music by Ivor Novello and Jerome Kern and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Clifford Grey . It was produced by Grossmith and Edward Laurillard and directed by Austen Hurgon , opening at the Gaiety Theatre on 19 September 1916 and running for 503 performances. It starred Grossmith, Fred Leslie and Leslie Henson .
Theodore & Co opened during World War I in the same year as two other tremendously successful shows in London: Chu Chin Chow The Bing Boys are Here The Happy Day [ 1]
This show established Ivor Novello as a theatrical composer and was Kern's first show in London. Novello's songs from the show include "What A Duke Should Be" and "Oh, How I Want To Marry".
Roles and original cast
Pony and Fudge Bompas, 24th Duke of Shetland – Davy Burnaby
Pony Twitchen (of the "Crimson Comics") – Leslie Henson
Rt. Hon. George Wye (Minister of Movies) – Fred Leslie
Mr. Blissett (A Husband) – Frederick Morant
Cosmo Legallos – Henri Leoni
Mr. Satterthwaite (of Dowton) – Victor Gouriet
Crump – Robert Nainby
Delatour (Manager of the New Casino) – Frank Hector
A Man with a Blue Envelope – Ralph Roberts
The Emir of Baluchistan – J. Grande
His Interpreter – Fred Raynham
Sir Basil Bowlwell, R.H.G. – James Thomas
Lord Theodore Wragge – George Grossmith Jr.
Lady Theresa Wye – Gladys Homfrey
Lady Pansy (the Duke's daughter) – Madge Saunders
Hon. Sapphire Blissett – Julia James
Fudge Robinson (of the "Crimson Comics") – Peggy Kurton
Alma, "The Statue of Liberty " – Irene Richards
Cleo, "The Tiptoe Queen" – Adrah Fair
Lady Diana Camden – Ivey Collette/Doris Stocker
Lady Moya – Violet Ashton
Molly Pershore – Barbara Dunbar
Marjorie Carstairs – Connie Guy
Lady Lilly – Vera Davis
Lady Billy – Lilian Caldicott
Elizabeth Anne – Margaret Gamble
Mary Ellen – Maudie Dunham
Ethel Emily (Mr. Satterthwaite's daughter) – Joyce Barbour
Rosa Maud (Mr. Satterthwaite's daughter) – Dorothy King
Matilda Kate – Cherry Constant
Harriett Jane – Mercia Swinburne
Charwoman – Muriel Barney
Musical numbers
Act I Chorus – "Isn't there a crowd everywhere" (Words by Adrian Ross. Music by Ivor Novello)
Song – "What a Duke should be" (Words by Clifford Grey. Music by Novello)
Duet – "I'll make myself at home" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
Song – "I'm getting such a big girl now" (Words by Grey. Music by Philip Braham)
Song & Dance – "Ev'ry little girl can teach me something new" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
Song – "The Candy Girls" (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
Sextet – "You'd better not wait for him" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
Finale, Act I. – "He's going to call on Baby Grand" (Music by Novello)
Act II Chorus – "We are Theodore & Co." (Words by Ross. Music by Novello)
Song – "Three Hundred and Sixty-five days" (Words by Grey. Music by Jerome D. Kern)
Song – "That 'Come hither' look" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
Song " Any old where" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
Song & Chorus – "The Casino Music Hall" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
Dance – "Valse Saracenne" (Music by Novello)
Song – "My friend John" (Words by Grey. Music by Novello)
Duet – "All that I want is somebody to love me" (Words by Grey. Music by Kern)
Finale (Music by Novello) Supplementary song
Notes
External links
