Trelawny
Music & lyrics by Julian Slade, Book by Aubrey Woods : adapted
from the play Trelawny of the Wells by Arthur Wing Pinero
Prince of Wales Theatre, London 27 June 1972 (177 perfs)
Synopsis
Rose Trelawny is the star of the Wells theatre but she is shortly to leave the company and the theatrical life to marry the upper-class Arthur Gower. Her friends from the Wells throw a surprise party to bid Rose farewell. Amongst the partygoers there is Tom Wrench who is secretly in love with Rose, Avonia, star of the Pantomime and her best friend and the Telfers, actor/managers who run the company.
After leaving the company Rose finds it difficult to settle down to life in Cavendish Square where Arthur is completely under the control of his formidable relations and especially, his uncle, Sir William Gower. Arthur is sent to live elsewhere but does manage a few intimate moments alone with Rose. However, the household does not take kindly to Rose's actor friends from the theatre and when they all come to visit one day a row between them and the Gowers occurs and which results in Rose leaving Cavendish Square and returning to the theatre.
Life at Cavendish Square has changed Rose, however. No longer can she play the roles in the arch, stagy way demanded by the Telfers and the result of this dichotomy is that she is sacked from her role in the pantomime. With no money and no prospects of theatre work she lives out her days in a theatrical lodgings. She is visited there by Sir William. Arthur has disappeared and William asks Rose is she knows where he might have gone. Rose doesn't know but when Sir William learns of Rose's financial predicament he agrees to fund a new play written by Tom Wrench and in which Rose is to be the star.
During the first rehearsals, Sir William is in the darkened theatre watching as the cast awaits the arrival of the new, young leading man who is to star opposite Rose. The actor turns out to be none other than Arthur who is now treading the boards. Sir William and Arthur are reconciled and Arthur and Rose can look forward to a splendid future together.
Songs:
- Pull Yourself Together - Company
- Walking On - Tom, Avonia
- Ever of Thee (I'm Fondly Dreaming) - Rose, Arthur & Ensemble
- Trelawny of the Wells - James, Mrs Telfer & Ensemble
- Tom Wrench's Letter - Tom
- On Approval - Sir William Gower, Miss Trafalgar Gower, Arthur, Captain de Foenix, Clara de Foenix, Rose
- Rules - Rose
- Back to the Wells - Avonia, Arthur & Ensemble
- Entr'acte
- Old Friends - Augustus, Mrs Mossop, Mr. Mossop, & Ensemble
- The One Who Isn't There - Rose
- We Can't Keep Them Waiting - Ferdinand, Augustus
- The Turn of Avonia Bunn - Avonia
- Arthur's Letter - Arthur
- Two Fools - Sir William, Rose
- Life - Tom & Ensemble
- This Time
- Quite Out of Place (cut from London production)
Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance)
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Discography:
Original 1972 London Cast Recording with Ian Richardson, Max Adrian
Must Close Saturday Records - MCSR 3007