By Walter Ellis, Richard Tauber, Bernard Grunand Fred Tysh
SYNOPSIS AND CAST
This musical romance depicts the aspiration, hopes, joys and sorrows of the inhabitants of Chelsea in the year 1790.
The action of the play centres round Jacob Bray, a Professor of Philosophy, and his attempts to get his opera accepted in a London engrossed with the works of Italian composers. With poetic justice a woman’s heart has come to his aid. Mary Fenton (secretly in love with the Professor) has persuaded Lord Ranelagh to hear the music of her beloved Jacob and, under the guidance of Peter Crawley, the aid of the Professors’ pupils is sought for this performance
Eagerness to help, however, ends in disaster for the singers in their enthusiasm become very confused. In the ensuing uproar Ranelagh arrives unrecognised and ridicules the whole affair. Jacob, who is unaware of the noble Lord’s identity, rebukes Ranelagh and the latter departs in anger. Peter restores order and the singing of a woman is heard. The voice is none other than that of Nancy Gibbs, a famous opera star and friend of Lord Ranelagh. The noble Lord returns and under persuasion from Nancy, agrees to help Jacob.
The second act opens with a party given by Nancy to present a new composer to society and in the course of the evening much intrigue and gossip is encountered. Finally, as the guests are preparing to leave for the theatre, Nancy in warned that Ranelagh has been injured and goes to his aid. Seemingly, it is now impossible to perform the opera and a sad and sorrowful Jacob returns to his home.
The third act takes us back to Jacob’s house. Here we find Mistress Murphy, the housekeeper, consoling her master. Suddenly a crowd is heard singing in the distance and carrying great news. The opera has been performed after all with the timely aid of Mary Fenton. ‘All’s well that ends well’ for the Professor’s opera is hailed as a great success and philosophy is rewarded by love.
Production by: Cecile Stamford
Musical Director: J S Wardale L.R.A.M.
CAST
| Christine | Joan Wenden |
| Peter Crawley | Donald Salter |
| Mary Fenton | Norman Evans |
| Mistress Murphy | Beryl Daveney |
| Lord Ranelagh | Rex Bemrose |
| Jacob Bray | George Storer |
| Nancy Gibbs | Joyce Ross |
| Duchess of Crewe | Eileen Coxeter |
| Countess of Stafford | Valerie Tonks |
| Lady Walgrave | Hilary Chubb |
| Sir Percy Chudleigh | Peter Gibbs |
| Sir Roger Woodville | Jack Hudson |
| CHORUS | |
| Guests, People of Chelsea, etc. | Y Andrea, M Bent, G Crandell, H Curtis, D Darby, D Evans, H Ford, O Freeman, H Gibbs, M Jones, E Daryll-Joseph, G King, E McAthy, E Mundon, N Page, L Shannon, N Smith, M Stone, M Thomson, E Walker, P Whitmore, F conning, G M Fossey, A Hinton, B Hinton, R Laroche, E Page, A V Shore, H Talsma, K Warner, S Wilson |