- Nymph Errant
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Nymph Errant Music Cole Porter Lyrics Cole Porter Book Romney Brent Basis Nymph Errant, a novel by James Laver Productions 1933 West End Nymph Errant is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Romney Brent based upon the novel by James Laver. The somewhat controversial story concerned a young English lady intent upon losing her virginity. Porter considered the score his best because of its worldliness and sexual sophistication.[1] The musical was produced in London in 1933 and received its US premiere in 1982.
Contents
History
Charles B. Cochran, the producer, bought the stage rights in 1933 to the book by James Laver, who was then a young Keeper at the Victoria and Albert Museum (and was to become a major curator of art and costumes). Gertrude Lawrence convinced Cochran to turn the novel into a musical rather than a straight play, his initial intention. When Noel Coward turned down the offer to write the music, Cochran asked Porter. Because the musical was so "English" it did not run on Broadway or in film.[2] Porter referred to the show as his favorite[3].
Productions
Nymph Errant had its tryout at the Opera House, Manchester, starting 11 September 1933. The musical opened in the West End at the Adelphi Theatre, London on 6 October 1933 and ran for 154 performances. Romney Brent directed and choreography was by Agnes de Mille. The cast featured Gertrude Lawrence as Evangeline Edwards, Elisabeth Welch as Haidee Robinson, Moya Nugent as Miss Pratt, and David Burns as Constantine.[4][5] The decor and costumes were designed by Doris Zinkeisen.[6][7]
The US premiere was the Equity Library Theatre, New York City production in March-April 1982.[4][8]
A concert performance was given at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London, on May 21, 1989. Directed by Christopher Renshaw, the concert cast included Kaye Ballard, Lisa Kirk, Maureen McGovern, and Patricia Hodge.[4][9]
A Developmental Production was presented in February, 1999 by Village Theatre.
San Francisco's 42nd Street Moon produced the U.S. West Coast premiere in October, 1998[3]. They revived the show again in 2011[10].
The musical ran at the Chichester Festival Theatre in August 1999.[2]
It was presented by The Medicine Show Theatre, New York City, in February 2004.[11]
Synopsis
Act 1, Scene 1. Oxford, England.
While visiting Ermyntrude Edwards (the Aunt of Evageline Edwards) for afternoon tea, Edith Sanford and Reverend Pither argue about the ability of an English lady to travel the Continent alone, unmolested. The tea ends with Reverend Pither promising to find a young, attractive, and virginal' Englishwoman, who has made such a trip, to parade in front of Edith.
Act 1, Scene 2. Lausanne, Switzerland.Evangeline joins her friends (Joyce Arbuthnot-Palmer, Bertha, Henrietta, and Madeleine) in her dorm room, to pack up for her trip home after having been graduated from Pensionnat Bellevue, a finishing school in Lausanne. They speak of love and sex, while enjoying Bertha's "special" cocoa. Evangeline finds herself determined to explore the world of sex. As they finish their cocoa and feverishly finish packing, Miss Pratt, their beloved Chemistry teacher, entreats them to "combine scientific and earthly pursuits" ("Experiment").
Act 1, Scene 3. Luasanne, Switzerland.Evangeline meets Andre De Croissant, a French Theatrical Producer, on the Railway Carriage as she travels back to Oxford. Andre begins to seduce Evangeline, offering to take her to France and make her a star in his next Folies. Evangeline is weary of leaving her planned trip home ("Bad For Me"), but is becoming swayed. He suggests a trip to Neauville-Sur-Mer, to "teach" her things.
Mme. Arthur, a fashion designer, and her son Hercule enter the carriage. They quickly provide Evangeline and Croissant with an impromptu fashion show. Evangeline is shocked at the extravagance and price of a single dress. However, when Andre purchases five dresses for her, she remembers to "experiment" and accepts the dresses. She has been seduced.
Act 1, Scene 4. Neauville, France.The scene opens with the beach crowd singing the virtues and pitfalls of an afternoon at the beach ("Neaville-Sur-Mer"). Mme. Arthur and Hercule are chatting when Alexei, a Russian Violinist joins them. Alexei tries to explain to Mme. Arthur the "russian soul". Count Mantalini joins the trio, and wonders what Alexei is currently depressed about.
After some prodding, Alexei admits that he is in love with an English girl, a friend of de Croissant, Evangeline. Mme. Arthur promises to introduce Alexei to Evangeline. Clarissa Parks, a cocotte, sees the Count and Alexei and tries to join the group. She is rebuffed by Mme. Arthur, much to the chagrin of Count Mantalini. As she looks back at the others, she sings ("Cocotte").
Evangeline and Andre enter to discover Evangeline's school friend Madeleine. Evangeline discovers that Madeleine has been a kept women, sent to Laussane because her lover wanted a refined mistress. Evangeline tells her tail of meeting Andre, and that Andre treats her like a daughter, not a lover. As they catch up and Mme. Arthur interjects herself to introduce Alexei and Mantalini.
Andre receives a call announcing that he has received the financial backing needed to mount his next production. However, Evangeline decides she does not want to be a star. Andre promptly disengages with Evangeline and takes Madeleine to Paris to be his star.
Mantalini takes advantage of the situation to suggest a trip with Evangeline to Venice. She reluctantly agrees, and Mantalini is off to make preparations. Once gone, Alexei comes back and expresses his love to Evangeline and begs her to leave with him to Paris. When Alexei tells her to "jump in... experiment", she runs away with him ("How Could We Be Wrong").
Act 1, Scene 5. Cafe Du Dome at Montparnasse, Paris.Alexei and Evangeline have been in Paris for an unknown amount of time, but are penniless and hungry. They enter the Cafe, hoping to find some work and food. They over hear an American and British women discussing a soiree featuring Olga Barshka, the Hungarian lesbian. However Evangeline and Alexei are more interested in the buffet. They crash the soiree.
Olga enters and performs ("Georgia Sand") in a tux, with two other women also wearing a tux. Evangeline asks a gentlemen for his newspaper to find a job, only to discover the "gentlemen" is Joyce dressed in a tux. Joyce left Luasanne, starting performing with Olga, and met a painter named Pierre, a man nothing like her father, but just like her mother.
Joyce suggest that Evangeline models for another painter, Pedro. Pedro mistakes her for a prostitute and Evangeline slaps him. When the truth is revealed, that she and Alexei are penniless party crashers, Joyce offers to loan her some money. Pierre says he will give the couple money, once he sells his paintings to his new patron.
The patron arrives, it is Count Mantalini. Evangeline remembers the trip to Venice, Mantalini reiterates his desire. With a quick apologize to Alexei, Evangeline is off with Mantalini.
Act 1, Scene 6. Venice, ItalyThe house staff of the Palazzo Mantalini are busy cleaning and preparing for the visiting American's next party ("There Always Entertaining"). Count Mantalini visits his palazzo, which he has rented to the Bambergs. He and Daisy Bamberg discuss his desire for Daisy's daughter, Henrietta, yet another friend of Evangeline's from Lausanne. He begins to devise a scheme to pawn Evangeline onto his friend Constantine.
As the Bamberg's party begins Daisy asks Henrietta to perform ("Casanova"). Evangeline and Mantalini arrive, the two girls surprised to see each other quickly catch up. Mantalini takes the opportunity to explain his plan to Constantine. Constantine gets a few moments alone with Evangeline and tries to encourage her to explore the Orient with him. At the same time Daisy and Mantalini inform Henrietta, of his plans to marry her.
Excited she immediately tells Evangeline the good news. Evangeline realizes the duplicity of the men ("Nymph Errant"), and resigns herself once again to a new journey, this time with Constantine.
Act 2, Scene 1. Athens, Greece.Tourist, along with Evangeline and Constantine, at the Acropolis are taking in the sights ("Ruins"). Demetrious Pappas, a friend of Constantine, runs into the couple. He is the head of a home for "unfortunate girls". His secretary is none other than Evangeline's school chum, Bertha. They catch up, and Evangeline reveals that she is still pure, "all my friends have been idealists or very tired business men."
Act 2, Scene 2. Smyrna, Turkey.Evangeline is stuck in Constantine's home, as fighting between Turks and Greeks erupt in gun-fire outside. Constantine arrives, but only for short visit, and he is off again to fight the Turks. Kassim, a slave dealer, enters. Evangeline seeing an opportunity to leave Smyrna decides to allow herself to be sold by Kassim and off they go.
Act 2, Scene 3. Remote Province in Turkey.Evangeline has been sold and married into a harem. Evangeline complains to Ali, the Harem Keeper, about the lack of intimacy with her new husband, whom she has yet to meet. He asks if she has ever been in love, she tells him of a crush she once had ("The Physician").
A new wife joins the Harem, Haidee Robinson, from San Francisco, California. She and Evangeline introduce themselves and Evangeline goes to feed the pigeons, while Haidee goes to be photographed, passing a third wife who is chanting. Haidee begins to improvise a song based on the wife's chant ("Solomon") and then exits.
Evangeline enters back into the Harem as a young American plumber, Ben Winthrop, breaks in to free Haidee. Evangeline, tired of her continued virginity, persuades Ben to rescue her instead.
Act 2, Scene 4. Arabian Desert.Evangeline and Ben settle under some palm trees and read a newspaper, wondering if this isn't better than civilization ("Back to Nature with You"). Evangeline, tired of waiting to be seduced, tries to seduce Ben. Feigning a headache, she gets Ben to rub her temples, and when he asks if there is anything else he can do, she asks him to sing, so he sings of what he knows ("Plumbing"). Not being romantic, Evangeline gives up suggest that they move on.
Act 2, Scene 5. Paris, France.Andre de Croissant is rehearsing the Folies de Paris, Madeline has become a prima dona and won't come out of her dressing room. As the rehearsal is about to start, Rev. Pither and his new wife, the former Miss Pratt, stop by to see Croissant. The rehearsal begins and the chorus begins singing, at Madeline's entrance, Evangeline wonders onto the stage.
Croissant is happy to see her and tired of Madeline's tantrums, offers her the starring role. Miss Pratt excited to see her and asks her about her time since Lausanne. Evangeline expresses disbelief at her own station: a year of travels with a plethora of men, and still she is "a girl no man wants." Rev. Pither picks up on this instantly, and remembering his bet with Edith Sanford realizes Evangeline is the niece of Ermyntrude Edwards. He asks her to go with him to visit her Aunt in Oxford, to help him win his bet with Edith.
Evangeline wants to stay and star in the Folies, but decides to watch Madeline's big number before deciding ("Si Vous Aimez Les Poitrines"). Evangeline is delighted, but even more delighted by the ten handsome young men who are part of the show. She askes Madeline to introduce her, but Madeline warns her not to expect anything from them "a chorus boy is a chorus boy" insinuating that all ten are homosexual. Seeing no end in sight to her virginity, she decides to go back to Oxford.
Act 2, Scene 6. Oxford, England.Evangeline and Rev. Pither join Ermyntrude and Edith for tea. Rev. Pither reminds Edith of the bet they made, and all are astonished to learn of Evangeline's travels. As the others go in for tea, Evangeline asks to stay in the garden for a bit more. Now alone, she hums a bit and remembers Miss Pratt's advice ("Experiment" - Reprise), just as the new young handsome gardener Joe offers her an apple. They chat a bit, all the while Joe gets closer and closer to Evangeline. Finally, Evangeline takes the apple offered as the show finishes.
Songs
- Overture (Orchestra)
- Experiment - Mrs. Pratt and chorus
- It's Bad for Me - Evangeline
- Neauville-sur-Mer - Chorus
- The Cocotte - Clarissa
- How Could We Be Wrong? - Evangeline and chorus
- They're Always Entertaining - Chorus
- Georgia Sand - Henrietta and chorus
- Nymph Errant - Evangeline and company
- Ruins - Chorus
- The Physician - Evangeline
- Solomon - Haidee
- Back to Nature With You - Evangeline and Ben
- Plumbing - Ben
- Si vous aimez les poitrines - Madeline and chorus
- You're Too Far Away - Alexei
- Sweet Nudity ‡ - Girls and Boys
- Cazanova - Henrietta
- Concert Finale:Experiment - Company
‡ Cut before the London opening, with Cochran agreeing to drop the nude scene if the censor permitted the other "racy" songs to remain.[1]
References
- ^ a b Citron, Stephen (2005). Noel & Cole. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0-634-09302-9, p. 106-107
- ^ a b Morley, Sheridan (2001). "Preface to Script, dated 1999", Nymph Errant. Samuel French, Inc. ISBN 0-573-62773-8, pp. 5-6
- ^ a b 'Nymph Errant (1933) - 1998 Staged Concert Production' 42ndstmoon.org accessed October 2, 2011
- ^ a b c Nymph Errant, 1933 guidetomusicaltheatre.com
- ^ Kimball, Robert (1992). The complete lyrics of Cole Porter. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80483-2, p. 158
- ^ Green, Stanley (1980-03-22). Encyclopedia Of The Musical Theatre. Da Capo Press. p. 312. ISBN 978-0306801136.
- ^ Nymph Errant, Premier of Cole Porter's Musical with Agnes DeMille's 1st Professional Choreography - Theatre Programme. The Adelphi Theatre. 1933.
- ^ "Equity Library Theatre 'Nymph Errant'" broadwayworld.com, accessed August 24, 2009
- ^ 'Nymph Errant' Concert at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, May 21, 1989 sondheimguide.com, accessed August 26, 2009
- ^ 'Nymph Errant (1933)' 42ndstmoon.org accessed October 2, 2011
- ^ Dale, Michael."'Nymph Errant' 2004" broadwayworld.com, February 15, 2004
External links
Cole Porter musicals See America First · Hitchy-Koo · Paris · Fifty Million Frenchmen · Wake Up and Dream · The New Yorkers · Gay Divorce · Nymph Errant · Anything Goes · Jubilee · Red, Hot and Blue · You Never Know · Leave It to Me! · Du Barry Was a Lady · Panama Hattie · Let's Face It! · Something for the Boys · Mexican Hayride · Around the World · Kiss Me, Kate · Out of This World · Can-Can · Silk Stockings · Happy New Year
Categories:- Compositions by Cole Porter
- 1933 musicals
- West End musicals
- Original musicals
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