The Beauty of Bath

A Musical play in 2 acts: Book by Seymour Hicks and Cosmo Hamilton; Music by Herbert E. Haines; Lyrics by Chas. H. Taylor; additional music by Fredric Norton and Jerome Kern

Aldwych Theatre, London - 19 March, 1906.  Transferred to Hicks Theatre 27 December, 1906: closed 23 January, 1907 (287 perfs)

Synopsis

At the interval of a play, the fashionable audience mill about in the foyer, complimenting the new hit play and its leading actor, Mr. Beverley. Sir Timothy Bun, Lady Bun, and their large family of "adopted" daughters, "the twelve Bath Buns", are part of the crowd. An actress, Miss Truly St. Cyr, is courted by a young lord. Mrs. Alington, a widow, is eagerly anticipating the return of her naval lieutenant son, Richard, whom she has not seen for ten years. The lovely Betty Silverthorne has fallen in love with the dashing Beverley during Act I, to the chagrin of her father, Lord Bellingham.

Six months before the present time, Mrs. Alington had sent her son a photograph of Betty, and the young lieutenant had fallen in love with the girl depicted. It turns out that Lieutenant Richard Alington, R.N., is identical in appearance to the actor, Mr Beverley. Richard arrives at the theatre in his sailor's undress uniform. He meets Betty and instantly recognises the girl he has loved since seeing her photograph. Betty also recognises the man she loves, mistaking him for Beverley, who has been playing a sailor's part and wearing the same uniform. Lord Bellingham next meets Richard, also mistaking him for Beverly. He objects to an actor's courting his daughter, and he invites the young lieutenant to a ball to be given the next night at his mansion, on condition that "Beverly" must pretend to be tipsy, in order to cure his daughter's love.

"Beverley" creates an embarrassing disturbance at the ball and does his utmost to draw Betty's ire. However, Betty outsmarts her father, having already figured out the likeness and true identity of Dick Alington. In addition, it happens that the man she really loves is Dick, not Beverley. This is a good thing, because her friend is already engaged to Beverly. Dick, meanwhile, has inherited five million pounds, and Lord Bellingham is delighted with the match.

Musical Numbers

ACT I - The Foyer of the Mascot Theatre, London (on a First Night.)

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Cupid reigns forever, Love in Lord of all; courtiers of his favour, bend we 'neath his thrall. Send his praises ringing to the skies above..."
• No. 2 - Entrance of the Bath Buns - "We are the Twelve Bath Buns, so they call us ev'rywhere; and we would remark at once, if they like it, we don't care..."
• No. 3 - Song - Sir Timothy and Chorus - "The first Sir Bun the title won by gallant deeds at Ramilies. (at Ramilies etc.) ..Since then the name has grown in fame..."
• No. 4 - Song and Chorus - "In the heart of the west there's a city, a very proud city today, for it holds a fair maid who puts quite in the shade all the others.."
• No. 5 - Song - Betty and Chorus - "How can you tell when a girl's in love? ... What sort of little girl? Plain or society? ... Somebody like myself, we'll say ..."
• No. 6 - Duet - Lemon and Mrs Goodge - "Oh, there are 'earts in Bloomsbury, in Bloomsbury the gay, that echo not the glad songs what piano-organs play..."
• No. 7 - Finale Act I - "Good night and au revoir ... I'm dying to resume our conversation and meet again a gentleman for whom I entertain such admiration..."

ACT II - The Ball Room of Bellingham House, London (Next Evening.)

• No. 8 - Opening Chorus - "Fair women of England, owes England to you the best that it holds of the good and the true. Since England was England, your beauty..."
• No. 9 - Dance
• No. 10 - Song - Dick and Chorus - "If on acquiring fame you're bent, take lessons on the drum ... Boom, boom, rub-a, rub-a dab, take lessons on the drum ..."
  
• No. 11 - Song - "I wake up in the norning, not exactly with the lark; that bird on toast at supper-time is nearer to my mark. I read my correspondence while..."
• No. 12 - Concerted Number - "When flying machines begin to fly, we never shall stay at home. Away we'll skip on a half-day trip to Paris, perhaps, or Rome..."
• No. 13 - Song - Betty and Chorus - "When I left school I had been taught so many things that oh! I thought I knew just ev'rything a little girl could know..." (5 verses)
• No. 14 - Chorus - "Hail! Mister Beverly, Hail! To say how we're all delighted, words, Mister Beverly fail. So Beverly welcome, Hail, all Hail! Mister Beverly, Hail! ..."
• No 15 - "The Social Drum"
• No 16 - "Our Brum Chum, popular, perky Joe"
• No 17 - The Frolic of the Breeze
• No. 16 - Duet - Spink and Jane - "Where do you come from, my pretty maid? Zummerzetsheer Zur, Zummerzetsheer. And what are you seeking, my pretty maid?"
• No. 18 - Song - Dorothy and Chorus - "Slow, slow, dreamily slow, whispers the waltz refrain. Low, low, rhythmic and low, with a note of pleasure, a note of pain..."
• No. 19 - Duet - Betty and Dick - "When a river of doubt or shyness parts a maid and a would-be wooer, a little Bridge, and a lead of hearts, may carry him safely..."
• No 21 - "My little Hyacinth"
• No 22 -
• No. 23 - Song and Chorus (soloist not specified) - "A little boy was crying o'er a flower that was dying, a hyacinth that droop'd its lovely head..."
• No. 24 - Song (singer not specified) - "By the flowing Zuyder Zee so blue, there's a little Dutch girl I love true; Of my little Gretchen dear I'm dreaming all day..."

Song no. 23 by A. E. Sidney Davis and composed by Hermann E Darewski, Jun.
Song no. 24 was written by A. J. Mills and composed by Bennett Scott.

Songs 15 and 20 by Jerome D. Kern

Songs 17, 21 and 22 were written and composed by Frederic Norton

Cast