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I. INTRODUCTION
II. LIBRETTO
II. WEB OPERA
III. ERNEST FORD
IV. VOCAL SCORE
V. VOCAL SCORE OF NO. 4: JERICHO'S JAMS
       
[PDF FILE, 96KB]
VI. ILLUSTRATED MUSIC COVER

Introduction

First produced at the Savoy Theatre from 18th or 24th March to 15th April 1893 as companion piece to Haddon Hall, and again from 3rd June to 1st July 1893 as companion piece to Jane Annie, a total of 45 performances.

No printed libretto in British Library. No Vocal Score in British Library, but two songs were published separately by Phillips and Page, copies in library at H.1798.k.(48) (47). Copy of libretto in Lord Chamberlain's collection. According to this, the original score consisted of seven numbers: a song for Horace, a duet for Winifred and Horace, a trio for Winifred, Lady Bushey and Horace, a song for Jericho, a duet for Jericho and Lady Bushey, a quintette, and a finale also for all five characters. The above information is confirmed by a score recently found by Low.

Cast

MICHAEL DE VERE, George de Pledge/W.H. Leon
  Earl of Margate
HORACE ALEXANDER DE VERE Bates Maddison/Sidwell Jones
  Viscount Ramsgate
MR. JERICHO J. Bowden Haswell
LADY BUSHE Agnes Scott
WINIFRED Florence Easton/Edith Farrow

Edith Farrow played Winifred in April when Easton was promoted to the role of Dorothy in Haddon Hall. The other two cast changes took effect at the reproduction with Jane Annie.

Synopsis

Scene: Clematis Cottage, near Kensal Green. Time: "present".

As a result of squandering his money, the Earl is reduced to living in a cottage and doing his own gardening, while his son is forced to earn his living as a bus driver. One day he crashes his bus and returns home to tell his father, and they both grieve that poor Horace has little chance of winning the love of Winifred, daughter of Lady Bushey, who often rides in his bus.

Right on cue, Winifred appears at the cottage, and Horace discovers that their love is mutual. They are interrupted in their joyful duet by Lady Bushey, who is horrified that Winifred is in love with a "commoner," and packs her daughter off home, leaving Horace in despair.

Enter Mr. Jericho, a world-famous jam manufacturer. He is seeking a lady, and is engaged in conversation by Horace, who explains that his father is a great admirer of Jericho's Jams. Jericho is prepared to pay generously for a testimonial that might help his advertising.

The lady now arrives — it is Lady Bushey, this second love scene is interrupted by the return of Winifred, who is equally horrified. Horace returns at this moment, and Jericho backs up the romance of the young couple, but Lady Bushey is insistent that her daughter must marry a peer.

At this point the Earl enters, and is immediately recognised by Jericho who offers him a substantial allowance in return for a testimonial. He offers Horace a partnership in the firm, so that he can afford to marry Winifred, and he and Lady Bushey also seal their pact.


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