The Girl on the Film

by Rudolf Bernauer and Rudolf Schanzer. The work was a parody of (then popular) silent films.

Performance history

"Filmzauber" was first performed at the Berliner Theater, Berlin on 19 October 1912 with Lisa Weise and Oskar Sabo. [ [http://www.amadeusonline.net/almanacco.php?Start=0&Giorno=&Mese=&Anno=&Giornata=&Testo=Filmzauber&Parola=Stringa Amadeus Almanac, accessed 6 August 2008] ]

English adaptation

An English adaptation, given the title "The Girl on the Film", was made by James T. Tanner with additional music by Albert Szirmai and English lyrics by Adrian Ross. It was produced by George Edwardes and opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London on April 5 1913, running for 232 performances. This production starred Emmy Wehlen as Winifred and George Grossmith, Jr. as Max Daly.

A production at the 44th Street Theatre in New York City in December 1913 ran for 64 performances also with Grossmith.

Roles (English adaptation)

*Mrs. Clutterbuch
*Portia
*Macawber
*Euphemia Knox
*An Officer
*Max Daly
*Cornelius Clutterbuch
*Valentine Twiss
*Signora Maria Gesticulata
*Tom Brown
*Linda
*Olivia
*Viola
*General Fitzgibbon, V.C.
*Winifred
*Lord Ronny
*Sergeant Tozer
*Daudet

ynopsis (English adaptation)

A cinema actor and producer, Max Daly, is much sought after by the ladies, and Winifred, the daughter of General Fitzgibbon, in order to be near him, dresses as a boy (Freddy) and obtains a part in a play for a film. But Signora Maria Gesticulata (Gwendoline Brogden) has come from Italy to play a part in the same play, and Max falls in love with her. He cannot speak Italian, and she cannot speak English, so Winifred acts as interpreter. In translating a love-letter from Max to the Signora, Winifred words it so as to offend the lady, who resigns her part at once. Winifred, still supposed to be a boy, then plays the Signora's part, and Max does not discover the fact that she is a girl until after the film has been shown at an Army League soiree.

ong list (Broadway production)

;Act 1
*Correspondence - Linda and Chorus
*I Heard That Tale Before - Linda and Valentine Twiss
*You Don't See It But It's There - Euphemia Knox and Winifred
*In Bond Street - Winifred and Max Daly ;Act 2
*On the Ground - Euphemia Knox
*Song of the Mill - Linda
*Down By the Country Side - Max Daly and Chorus
*Won't You Come and Waltz with Me - Linda and Valentine Twiss
*Ah! Che Vedo - Signora Maria Gesticulata and Max Daly
*Oh! If You Were a Girl - Winifred and Max Daly ;Act 3
*Tommy Won't You Teach Me How to Tango - Max Daly and Chorus
*Won't You Come and Waltz with Me (Reprise) - Linda and Valentine Twiss

Critical reception

"The Playgoer and Society Illustrated" wrote in May 1913::...Though a good deal of the fun in the play is of a decidedly cheap nature, Mr. Grossmith managed to be genuinely amusing. Miss Connie Ediss, too, in her own particular style, was irresistibly funny. Miss Emmy Wehlen used a distinctly pleasant voice to advantage, and the other characters seemed to fall into line.

:The music is bright and catchy, and should do a good deal for the production, but no doubt Mr. George Edwardes will make many alterations before he is satisfied with the show. The song that offended a section of the audience on the opening night has been cut out, and if a little more real humour is instilled the piece should go well.

References

The Playgoer and Society Illustrated, vol.VIII (New Series), no.44, May 1913, p.50b

External links

* [http://musicaltheatreguide.com/composers/kollo/kollo_walter.htm Information about Kollo]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=7962 Information about the Broadway production]
* [http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/STA/search/detaile.cfm?EID=22434 Information about an Edinburgh revival]
* [http://www.musicals101.com/1910s.htm Listing of musicals, showing the number of performances]
* [http://www.gabrielleray.150m.com/ArchivePressText2003/20030906.html Review of the London production and publicity photo]