The Oolah is a free adaptation of Charles Lecocq's La Jolie Persane, with English libretto by Sydney Rosenfeld and further doctoring by J. Cheever Goodwin. It opened at the Broadway Theatre on 41st Street on 13 May 1889 and after considerable revision managed a run of 154 performances.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

ACT I   -   Public Place in a Persian Village.

• No. 1 - Overture and Introduction - "Let's array, let's array for this glad holiday each house with some glad token, token of welcome rare to the Great Prophet's heir."
• No. 2 - The Cadi's Song - "Peaches with a bloom delicious lay within a vendor's stall.  Of all blemish unsuspicious, they looked tempting, one and all..."
• No. 2a - Exit - "Hiding, hiding, hiding, hiding what should hidden be;  showing, showing, showing, showing what is best to see..."
• No. 3 - Tourouloupi's Lament - "Ah! you must admit Nature made me dainty of mould and made me well!  In feminine venture arrayed me, Man's admiration..."
• No. 4 - Oolah's Entrance - "When married folks fall out and part, as married folks are apt to do, the Persian law permits them to divorce when they are ready too..."
• No. 5 - Ballad - Darinoora - "When I was but a gentle child, my mother spoke in tones endearing:  Beware of hopes and longings wild, be patient, good..."
• No. 6 - March, Entrance of the Prince, and Cadi's Song - "My thanks, kind friends; 'tis I, your prince - yet though a prince, you need not fear me..."
• No. 6a - Exit
• No. 7 - Duet and Romance - Darinoora and Nedjef - "Take back the gifts that came from you to me as lover's gage and token;  let every link and tie be broken..."
• No. 8 - Finale Act I - "In good time, Cadi, you appear, for we have business with you here.  We are in a unique position.  And for you we've a small commission! ..."

ACT II   -   Reception Hall at Akhalzakek's.

• No. 8a - Entre-act
• No. 9 - Introduction and Bridesmaids' Chorus - "Where can they be, where can they be, and why are we kept idly waiting?  We do not see the bridal pair..."
• No. 10 - Chorus - "Here collectively, unexpectedly, we've come in for such a feast!  If there's meat enough, we will eat enough food to last a week at least..."
• No. 11 - Chorus and Persian Song - Darinoora - "All hail!  All hail!  All hail!  All hail, our Prince, all hail! ... As to the sun whose splendor bright floods yonder East..."
• No. 11a - Exit - "Let's go eat, enjoy the treat,  let's go eat, enjoy the treat,  'twas a gen'rous invitation to extend this treat..."
• No. 12 - Duet - Darinoora and Nedjef - "Ah! tomorrow how long it seems till then and how far away.  Ah! tomorrow what idle dreams must die ere we greet that day."
• No. 13 - Ensemble - "Here is the wine, the wedding wine.  Here is the wine, the wedding wine.  Alas!  that it should not be mine, don't drink too much..."
• No. 14 - The Oolah's Reflections - "All men are honest, I've heard said.  (Ahem!  Ahem!)  The fools and rogues are all long dead.  (Ahem!  Ahem!) ..."
• No. 15 - Air - Prince - "Here in the calm of night, bathed in the moon's soft light, in rapture I gaze on her sleeping.  Ah! as she lieth there can angel be more fair?..."
• No. 16 - Finale Act II - "What mean these cries, what mean these cries, rousing us with rude surprise?  What mean these cries, what mean these cries..."

ACT III   -   A Persian Bazaar.

• No. 16a - Entr'acte
• No. 17 - Introduction, and Waltz Song - Prince - "Ah! the Prince.  Fate is propitious.  Quickly let's encase our ware;  tho' this aid be adventitious..."
• No. 18 - Duet - Darinoora and Oolagoolah - "Madame, it grieves me much to curb you, or in one pleasure to disturb you, but how shall I my living make..."
• No. 19 - Duet - Darinoora and Nedjef - "Though by a strange caprice of Fate, two hearts are thwarted in their yearning ... Although we can't anticipate..."
• No. 20 - Quartette - Darinoora, Bampoora, Oolah and Akhalzkakek - "My Darinoora, heart's delight, farewell, no more beneath thy beauty's light I dwell..."
• No. 21 - Trio - Oolah, Tourouloupi and Bampoora - "When you long have been suspected of a crime you didn't do, with your heart-strings vivisected..."

Song no. 14 was composed by John B. Grant.

 MIDI files

External Links

Vocal Score at the UR Research

The Oolah at Wikipedia

American Musical Theatre

Page modified 4 February 2017