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2023-07-31T17:40:58Z

External links: Category:Musicals by Ivan Caryll

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{{short description|Edwardian musical comedy}}
{{For|the butcher's term|Poussin (chicken)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{italic title}}
[[Image:Gertie Millar and Edmund Payne in The Spring Chicken.jpg|thumb|Millar (Rosalie) and [[Edmund Payne|Payne]] (Mr Girdle)]]
'''''The Spring Chicken''''' is an [[Edwardian musical comedy]] adapted by [[George Grossmith, Jr.]] from ''Coquin de Printemps'' (1897) by Jaime and Duval, with music by [[Ivan Caryll]] and [[Lionel Monckton]] and lyrics by [[Adrian Ross]], [[Percy Greenbank]] and Grossmith.<ref name=GSArchive>Howarth, Paul and Colin Johnson. [https://gsarchive.net/british/chicken/index.html "''The Spring Chicken''"], British Musical Theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan Archive, 2 November 2016</ref><ref name=SB>Gillan, Don. [http://www.stagebeauty.net/th-frames.html?http&&&www.stagebeauty.net/produce/springc/th-springc.html "''The Spring Chicken''"], Stage Beauty, accessed 15 April 2022</ref> The story takes place in Paris and [[Château de Malmaison]].

Produced by [[George Edwardes]] at the [[Gaiety Theatre, London|Gaiety Theatre]] in London, the show opened on 30 May 1905. It ran for a very successful 401 performances. The London production starred Grossmith, [[Harry Grattan]] and [[Gertie Millar]], with [[Henry Lytton]] later joining the cast.<ref name=SB/> ''The Spring Chicken'' had a Broadway run in 1906 and toured in Britain and America.<ref name=GSArchive/>

==Roles==
* Gustave Babori (Advocate) – [[George Grossmith, Jr.]]
* Boniface (His Head Clerk) – Lionel Mackinder
* Baron Papouche (His Client) – [[Harry Grattan]]
* Félix (Head Waiter at "The Crimson Butterfly") – Robert Nainby
* Stephen-Henry (Girdle's Son) – William Spray
* Proprietor of "The Crimson Butterfly" – Arthur Hatherton
* Alexis and Ferdinand (Babori's Clerks) – George Gregory and Harry Taylor
* Waiter – Leigh Ellis
* Napoleon (Office Boy) – Master Cross
* Joseph Boniface (An Artist) – Charles Brown
* Inspector of Police – R. Tremayne
* Mr. Girdle (Babori's Father-in-Law) – [[Edmund Payne]]
* Mrs. Girdle – [[Connie Ediss]]
* Baroness Papouche – [[Kate Cutler]]
* Dulcie Babori (Babori's Wife) – [[Olive Morrell]]
* Emmy-Lou (Girdle's Niece) – [[Olive May]]
* La Modiste – Isabelle Lidster
* Sylvana, Thérèse and Henriette (Clients of Babori) – [[Gaynor Rowlands]], Gertrude Glyn and Marguerite Gray
* Yvonne, Yvette and Céleste ([[Grisette (French)|Grisettes]]) – Kitty Mason, Fanny Dango (one of the [[Rudge Sisters]]), Ethel Oliver
* Rosalie – [[Gertie Millar]]

==Musical numbers==
'''ACT I - Office of M. Babori at his Residence, Paris'''
* No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "If we live in the land we love, we must love in the land we live..."
* No. 2 - Song - Baron & Chorus - "As one of the Old Noblesse, I'm eager to seek redress..."
* No. 3 - Trio - Baroness, Babori & Baron - "Were you my client, Baroness, I boldly should assert you..."
* No. 4 - Song - Dulcie - "When sun and showers awake the flowers to venture forth..."
* No. 5 - Quartet - Mr. & Mrs. Girdle, Emmy-Lou & Stephen-Henry - "It seemed a dreadful bore to leave our native shore..."
* No. 6 - Song - Girdle & Chorus - "I'm slightly past the age of thirty-one, and all the many foolish things I've done..."
* No. 7 - Song - Rosalie - "I'm a country lass, you know, fresh to all the streets and houses..."
* No. 8 - Concerted Piece - " Open windows, open doors, sprinkle tea-leaves on the floors..."
* No. 9 - Quartet - Rosalie, Emmy-Lou, Boniface & Stephen-Henry - " The swallow's a dear little bird..."
* No. 10 - Song - Mrs. Girdle & Chorus - " I don't say that husbands are all of them bad..."
* No. 11 - Concerted Number - "A modiste modeste, she has done her best to make us look all most exquisitely dressed! ..."
* No. 12 - March Song - Babori & Chorus - "When the Autumn leaves are falling, I can hear my conscience calling..."
* No. 13 - Duet - Rosalie & Girdle - "I'd like to go on a London spree ... Then come with me! ..." (four verses)
* No. 14 - Finale Act I - "Here is news that's really very unpleasant! We've been patiently waiting all the day..."
'''ACT II - Scene 1 - The Crimson Butterfly Restaurant, Malmaison. Scene 2 - A Studio at Malmaison'''
* No. 15 - Opening Chorus - "If you're tired of having your meals 'mid the noise and the traffic of town..."
* No. 16 - Song - Felix & Chorus - "If the mysteries you're eager to unravel, of the world and all the doings of the day..."
* No. 17 - Duet - Rosalie & Boniface, with Chorus - "When I was a child about so high, and feeding the ducks and chickens..."
* No. 18 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "There once was a dear little girl you must know; you've heard of such girls, I think..."
* No. 19 - Song - Dulcie & Chorus - "When Gustave proposed to me, he went down on bended knee..." (six verses)
* No. 20 - Song - Boniface & Chorus - "Do you know the jolly student band who come in joyous train? ..."
* No. 21 - Song - Baroness & Chorus - "I wanted to obtain advice from a lawyer at his leisure..."
* No. 22 - Duet - Babori & Girdle - "When a man is young, under thirty-five, he is handsomer, stronger and sounder..."
* No. 23 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "Here we are you see, in our dear Paris; all is love and laughter..."
* No. 24 - Recit. and Song - Babori & Chorus - "I am the manager of the National Theatre / The drama of Britain is limping..."
* No. 25 - Finale Act II - "So come to France when you've a chance..." (reprise of parts of nos. 23 & 12)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://archive.org/details/springchickenmus00cary Vocal score]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=6263 Information about the Broadway production]
* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/london_shows_chronology/1905.htm Lists shows opening in London in 1905]
* [http://www.collectorspost.com/Millar2.htm Photos of Gertie Millar as Rosalie]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spring Chicken}}
[[Category:1905 musicals]]
[[Category:West End musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on films]]
[[Category:British musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Île-de-France]]
[[Category:Musicals set in Paris]]
[[Category:Musicals by Ivan Caryll]]

The Spring Chicken - Revision history

imported>4meter4: /* External links */ Category:Musicals by Ivan Caryll