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The Three Musketeers

Cover to Vocal Score

A Romantic Musical Play in 2 Acts, 12 scenes. Music by Rudolf Friml; Lyrics by Clifford Grey and P.G. Wodehouse
Libretto by William Anthony McGuire, based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas;
The Play staged by Felix EDWARDES
Dances arranged by Anatole BOURMAN; Ensemble arranged by Vladimir DOMANSKY

Lyric Theatre, Broadway - 13 March, 1928 (319 perfs)
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - 28 March, 1930

The Story

(Early 17th century France)

Athos, Porthos and Aramis, that redoubtable trio of King Louis XIII's bodyguard, are enjoying their regular carousal at the Jolly Miller Inn.

They are joined by the penniless but virile Gascon D'Artagnan. His natural resourcefulness is soon called upon, although not before he has fallen in love with Constance Bonacieux.

The trouble-making Cardinal Richelieu has heard that the Queen has given England's Duke of Buckingham a token of love, a diamond heart, which was a present from the King to her. Richelieu persuades the King to insist on the Queen's wearing the jewel at a forthcoming gala.

Comte de Rochefort and Lady de Winter are sent to London to recover the jewel and return it to Richelieu, who plans to produce it at the gala, thus revealing to King Louis his wife's treachery. Meanwhile, the Queen has sent Constance, her lady-in-waiting, to entreat the Musketeers to recover the jewel in time for her to wear it and confound her enemies. Upon arriving in London, the Musketeers find that Lady de Winter has already gained possession of the jewel. While pretending to be her lover, D'Artagnan snatches the jewel from her bosom.

There is a hectic sword fight over and around Milady's bed. When Comte de Rochefort enters he is slain and the Musketeers hurry back to France. They are just in time to produce the jewel at King Louis' demand so that he may fasten it at the Queen's shoulder as he had done originally.

CAST OF CHARACTERS & Original London Cast

Sergeant Jussac - John Roberts
Comte De Rochefort - Louis Hector
Innkeeper - Gordon Crocker
Zoe - Moya Nugent
Lady De Winter - Marie Ney
Porthos - Robert Wollard
Athos - Jack Livésey
Aramis - Raymond Newell
Constance Bonacieux - Adrienne Brune
Planchet - Jerry Verno
D'Artagnan - Dennis King
Anne, Queen of France - Lilian Davies
M. de Treville - Stephen T. Ewart
The Duke of Buckingham - Webster Booth
Cardinal Richelieu - Arthur Wontner
Louis XIII - George Bishop
Brother Joseph - Eric J. Hodges
Premiere Danseuse of the Court - Ula Sharon
Aubergiste - Aline Avery
The Bo'sun - Ernest Ludlow
Patrick, Valet to Buckingham - Walter Webster
Cardinal's Guard - Walter Cutler
Cardinal's Guard - John Delaney
The King's Attendant - A. J. Willard

Musical Numbers

ACT I

  1. OPENING CHORUS (Come, it's summer time)
  2. ENTRANCE OF MUSKETEERS (We're all for one)
  3. TRIO (Constance, Porthos and Aramis) " He for Me" (I'm afraid I'll be a maid)
  4. ENTRANCE OF D'ARTAGNAN (Well, what's all the noise)
  5. RECIT. (Innkeeper and D'Artagnan) and CHORUS (And what do you wish)
  6. DUET (Constance and D'Artagnan) " Heart of Mine" (Heart of mine through shadow)
  7. SONG (D'Artagnan) AND CHORUS " My Sword and I" (To fight for France)
  8. INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  9. CHORUS "Vesper Bell" (Vesper bell and shadows)
  10. SONG (Queen) "My Dreams" (Shadows that gather round)
    IOA - FIGHT
  11. QUARTET (D'Artagnan, Athos,Aramis, Porthos) and CHORUS "March of the Musketeers" (In days of yore)
  12. BALLET
  13. TRIO (Queen, Buckingham and Constance) "Love is the Sun" (You ask me what is love)
  14. DUET (Constance and D'Artagnan) "Your Eyes" (Though the road)
  15. INCIDENTAL MUSIC FOR KING'S ENTRANCE
  16. CHORUS "Welcome the Queen" (Welcome to Her Majesty)
  17. FINALE (You sent for me, Sire)

ACT II

  1. ENTR'ACTE

  2. OPENING CHORUS AND SONG (Porthos) and CHORUS (Fill up everybody, drink)
  3. SPANISH DANCE
  4. INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  5. SONG (Aramis) and CHORUS "Ma Belle" (I used to say)
  6. INCIDENTAL MUSIC AND CHORUS (Musketeers) (His sword will cleave his way)
    23A REPRISE (Musketeers) - "We are the Musketeers" (We are the Musketeers)
  7. DUET (Constance and D'Artagnan) - "One Kiss" (One kiss from you)
  8. ENSEMBLE (D'Artagnan) and CHORUS " My Sword" (His sword will cleave)
  9. PAGES' DANCE
    26A INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  10. SONG (Buckingham) "Queen of my Heart" (Here in the night)
  11. SONG (Constance) " Ev'ry little while" (Though it seems)
  12. 29A INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  13. FIGHT
    30A CHANGE OF SCENE
  14. REPRISE "My Dreams" (My dreams like swallows)
  15. MINUET
  16. BALLET
  17. ENSEMBLE (Welcome to Her Majesty)
    34A QUEEN'S ENTRANCE
  18. INCIDENTAL MUSIC
  19. 35A & 36 ENSEMBLE (We are the Musketeers)
  20. EXIT AND FINALE

Synopsis of Scenes

ACT I

Scene 1 - Inn of the Jolly Miller.
Scene 2 - Lane leading to Rue du Colombier.
Scene 3 - Courtyard in Rue du Colombier outside the Convent of Carmier.
Scene 4 - Cardinal Richelieu's chambers in the Palace of the King.
Scene 5 - The garden of the Tuileries.

ACT II

Scene 1 - An inn at the port of Calais.
Scene 2 - Duke of Buckingham's Palace, England.
Scene 3 - The Shrine.
Scene 4 - Before the Inn of the Jolly Miller.
Scene 5 - Milady's Bedchamber.
Scene 6 - Cabinet of the Queen.
Scene 7 - The Ballroom of the Hotel de Ville.

Instrumentation

3 Violins I
2 Violins II
2 Violas
2 Cellos
1 Double Bass
1 Flute
1 Oboe

1 Clarinet I
1 Clarinet II
1 Bassoon
1 Horn I
1 Horn II
1 Trumpet I
1 Trumpet II

1 Trumpet III
1 Trombone
1 Bass Trombone
1 Percussion
1 Harp
1 Conductor Score / annotated vocal score