A CONNECTICUT YANKEE
A Musical Comedy in 2 Acts, 5 Scenes, a Prologue and an Epilogue.
Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, book by Herbert Fields based on "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain
Vanderbilt Theatre, Broadway - 3 November, 1927 (421 perfs)
Daly's Theatre, London - 10 October, 1929 as A Yankee at the
Court of King Arthur
Synopsis
About to be married to Fay Morgan, Martin is visited by Alice, a former fiancée. When Fay finds them together, she knocks Martin out and he dreams that he is back in the days of King Arthur. Martin becomes a favourite at court, fails in love with the Demoiselle Alisande, and is soon put in charge of industrialising the country. The king's evil sister, Queen Morgan Le Fay, has Alisande kidnapped but Martin rescues her just as he is awakening from his dream, and he realises that it is Alice whom he really loves. Songs include "On A Desert Island With Thee" and "My Heart Stood Still".
Cast:
(in order of appearance); 9 men, 6 women, chorus
In the Prologue:
Albert Kay
Gerald Lake
Merlin
Martin
Arthur Pendragon
Fay Morgan
Alice Carter
Lawrence Lake
In the Play
Sir Kay, the Seneschal
The Yankee
The Demoiselle Alisande La Carteloise
King Arthur of Britain
Sir Launcelot of the Lake
Sir Galahad, His Son
Merlin, a Mighty Magician
Maid Angela, Lady-in-Waiting to Morgan le Fay
Mistress Evelyn La Belle-Ans
Queen Morgan Le Fay
Queen Guinevere
Sir Bors
Sir Sagramore
Sir Tristan
Mistress Phoebe Sauce de Pommes
Slaves, Knights, Ladies of the Court, Factory Hands
Scenes and Settings
Prologue: Grand Ball Room of a Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut. 1927.
ACT 1
Scene 1: On the Road to Camelot. In the year 528, A.D.
Scene 2: Courtyard of the Castle of King Arthur.
Act 2
Scene 1: A Corridor of the Royal Factory. Three Months later.
Scene 2: On the Road from Camelot
Scene 3: The Palace of Queen Morgan Le Fay.
Epilogue: The Gardens of the Hotel in Hartford. Ten minutes later than the Prologue.
Musical Numbers
- A Ladies' Home Companion - Fay Morgan, Principals, Ensemble
- My Heart Stood Still - Martin, Alice Carter. Ensemble
- Thou Swell - Martin, Alice Carter
- At the Round Table - Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Sir Launcelot, Sir Galahad, Knights, Ladies
- On a Desert Isle {Island} with Thee - Sir Galahad, Mistress Evelyn, Knights, Ladies
- My Heart Stood Still (reprise) - Martin, Alice Carter
- Finale Act 1 (Ibbidi Bibbidi Sibbidi Sab) - Company
- Opening Ensemble Nothing's Wrong - Alice Carter
- I Feel at Home with You - Sir Galahad. Mistress Evelyn, Ensemble
- Dance - Alice Carter, Sir Galahad
- The Sandwich Men - Knights
- Evelyn, What Do You Say? - Mistress Evelyn, Knights
- EPILOGUE Finale - Company.
Instrumentation:
Reed I (flute, clarinet), Reed II (oboe, cor anglais), Reed III (clarinet), Reed IV (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax), Reed V (clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor sax, bassoon), horn, 3 trumpets, trombone, percussion, piano, strings