The Lucky Star is an English comic opera, in three acts, composed by Ivan Caryll, with dialogue by Charles H. Brookfield as revised by Helen Lenoir (Mrs. D'Oyly Carte) and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Aubrey Hopwood. It was produced by the Richard D'Oyly Carte and opened at the Savoy Theatre on 7 January 1899 for a run of 143 performances.
The superstitious King Ouf is informed by his astrologer Siroco that his destiny is linked with that of an itinerant painter named Lazuli, who is in love with the King's intended bride, the Princess Laoula. Siroco's charts reveal that Lazuli's death will result in the King's, and when the King decrees that Siroco will be executed moments after the King's death, both feel obliged to keep Lazuli alive.
This is the only Savoy opera where a woman is required to play a man's part. Lazuli was played by Emmie Owen, who had created (among other characters) Jacqueline in The Beauty Stone, a part which required her to spend the bulk of her time disguised as a boy. She also was featured prominently in Utopia Limited, The Chieftain, The Grand Duke, and The Rose of Persia.
The original cast was:
KING OUF THE FIRST | Mr. Walter Passmore | ||||
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Mr. Henry A. Lytton | ||||
SIROCO (the Astrologer Royal) | Mr. Fred Wright, Jun. | ||||
TAPIOCA (Private Secretary to Baron Tabasco) | Mr. Robert Evett | ||||
CANCAN (a Citizen) | Mr. Leonard Russell | ||||
PRINCESS LAOULA (Daughter of King Mataquin) | Miss Ruth Vincent | ||||
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Miss Isabel Jay | ||||
Maids of Honour: | |||||
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Miss Jessie Rose Miss Madge Moyse Miss Mildred Baker |
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ADZA (the Court Dancer) | Miss Katie Vesey | ||||
LAZULI (a Travelling Painter) | Miss Emmie Owen |
- Introduction, by Clifton Coles
- Libretto, submitted to the Archive by Clifton Coles.
- Notes on the Libretto by Clifton Coles
- Programme from the production 28 March 1899
- First night review from The Times, January 9, 1899.
- Review from The Graphic, January 14 1899.
- MIDI files sequenced by Colin Johnson.
King Ouf (Walter Passmore) and Siroco (Sydney Paxton) |
Illustration from "The Graphic", 14 January 1899 |
Poster advertising Touring Production |
Page modified 20 September 2016