The Dairymaids is a farcical musical comedy in two acts by Alexander M. Thompson and Robert Courtneidge. The music is by Paul A. Rubens and Frank E. Tours and lyrics by Paul A. Rubens and Arthur Wimperis. It opened at the Apollo Theatre, London on 14 April 1906 where it ran for 239 performances.
Dramatis Personæ
LADY BRUDENELL | Miss Phyllis Broughton |
SAM BRUDENELL FRANK BRUDENELL |
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(her Nephews) |
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Mr. Walter Passmore Mr. Horace Lane |
CAPT. FRED LEVERTON | Mr. Frank Green |
DR. O'BRYNE JOE MIVENS TIM CAPUS LIEUT. BRERETON |
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(of H.M.S. "Merryman") |
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Mr. Ambrose Manning Mr. Dan Rolyat Mr. Henry Cottell Mr. Rupert Mar |
TODGERS (a Farm Servant) | Mr. Carr Evans |
PEGGY (a Dairymaid) | Miss Carrie Moore |
WINIFRED (her Sister) | Miss Agnes Fraser |
HÉLÈNE (their Half-Sister) | Miss Florence Smithson |
MISS PENELOPE PYECHASE (of Pyechase's Academy) | Miss Carlotta Zerbini |
ELIZA (a Maid-of-all-work at Pyechase's) | Miss Gracie Leigh |
DAISY BETTY JOAN JENNY NANCY |
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(Farm Hands, Dairymaids, &c.) |
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Miss Gertrude Kuzelle Miss Dorothy Ward Miss Alice Coleman Miss Winnie Volt Miss Louie Lochner |
ROSIE GERTIE BESSIE |
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(Schoolgirls) |
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Miss Beryl Vaudrey Miss Bertha Russell Miss Kittie Sparrow |
ACT I - Lady Brudenell's Model Dairy at Hindstead.
- No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Dairymaids we of alluring rusticity, beauties whose freshness is all unadorned..."
- No. 2 - Song - Winifred & Chorus - "Marjorie worked on a country farm, she rose at six, fed the chicks..."
- No. 3 - Chorus - Entrance of Frank - "They're here, 'tis they without a doubt, there's Master Sam and Master Frank..."
- No. 4 - Duet - Sam & Peggy - "What a lot you must have been about, if the tales you tell are true..."
- No. 5 - Song - Eliza - "There was once a pretty maid in the milk and butter trade..." (three verses)
- No. 6 - Concerted Number - "Oh the farmer's life is the best of all, for the old ones, yes, and the young ones..."
- No. 7 - Song - Hélène - "Love, they say, grew tired of town-- vanish'd was his old renown..."
- No. 8 - Sextet - Peggy, Hélène, Winnie, Sam, Fred & Frank - "Little Bo Peep, she tended sheep..."
- No. 9 - Song - Peggy & Men's Chorus - "In a certain village there liv'd a maid, a gen'ral favourite she..."
- No. 10 - Duet - Joe & Sam - "Poaching is a dangerous career, that's what makes it fascinate you..."
- No. 11 - Finale Act I - "We, as the tenantry, welcome 'The Quality', holiday-making with jesting and jollity..."
ACT II - Scene 1 - The Officers' Mess on board H.M.S. "Merryman."
- No. 12 - Chorus of Men, with Dr. O'Bryne - "With a luncheon that's fit for a King, and a circle of jolly good fellows..."
ACT II - Scene 2 - The Gymnasium at Miss Pyechase's Academy.
- No. 13 - Gymnasium Chorus - "For improvement of the figure and deportment, for conducing to the cult of force and vim..."
- No. 14 - Song - Winifred - "Little boy of today, you're atrocious! You're a man by the time that you're ten..." (four verses)
- No. 15 - Song - Eliza - "I'm a servant, and I must confess that I try to do all in my pow'r to succeed..." (three verses)
- No. 16 - Song - Peggy & Chorus - "The Gibson girl and the Bath bun girl, all the world has come to know..." (three verses)
- No. 17 - Song - Sam - "I belong to a dear little club where we women have terrible larks..." (three verses)
- No. 18 - Song - Captain Fred, with Girls' Chorus - "Now boys and girls have all been told that when the dustmen creep..."
- No. 19 - Song - Hélène - "When all the Eastern sky's a-blush with rosy flush of day new-born..."
- No. 20 - Duet - Sam & Peggy - "Mary and Jane were two little girls with babyish caps and innocent curls..."
- No. 21 - Song - Sam & Chorus - "I've had some frights awake at night, I've had some shocks by day..."
- No. 22 - Quartet - Peggy, Winnie, Sam, Frank & Chorus - "The Fates be kind to us tonight..."
- No. 23 - Finale Act II - "See the old sea serpent swimming in the sea..."
Addendum.
- Song - Hélène & Chorus - "On a sea-girt cliff grew a budding rose, and oh, she was fair to see..."
- External Links
- Vocal Score at the RU Research
- The Dairymaids at A Guide to Musical Theatre
Page modified 14 November 2016