Florodora.
[Musical comedy, in two acts; text by Hall. First produced in London, November 11, 1899.]
PERSONAGES.
Cyrus W. Gilfain, proprietor of the island of Florodora. Capt. Arthur Donegal, Lady Holyrood’s brother. Frank Abercoed, manager for Mr. Gilfain. Leandro, overseer. Anthony Tweedlepunch, phrenologist. Dolores. Valleda, maid to Lady Holyrood. Estelle Lamont, stenographer. Angela Gilfain. Lady Holyrood.
[Florodorean farmers, flower-girls, peasants, etc.]
The scene is laid in the island of Florodora and Wales; time, the present.
“Florodora,” the title of a musical comedy which has had extraordinary success both in England and the United States, is the name of an island and a perfume. The island has been stolen by Cyrus Gilfain, the manufacturer of the perfume, from its rightful owner, whose daughter Dolores works in his factory. He is anxious to marry the girl, so that he may retain possession of the island, but she is in love with Abercoed, the chief clerk, who in reality is Lord Abercoed. The conspicuous comedy element of the work is supplied by Tweedlepunch, a detective, who arrives at the island in Gilfain’s absence, disguised as a phrenologist and palmist, in search of the real owner’s daughter. When Gilfain returns he is accompanied by Lady Holyrood, a London society woman, who is scheming to marry him. Lady Holyrood’s brother, meanwhile, is in love with Angela, Gilfain’s daughter. Gilfain, finding that Tweedlepunch is a phrenologist, bribes him to decide, after examination, that he and Dolores must wed, and that Abercoed, whom he has learned is a peer, must marry his daughter Angela. The scheme does not satisfy any one but Gilfain, and, least of all, Lady Holyrood, who bribes Tweedlepunch again to decide that she and Gilfain must marry. Abercoed refuses to marry Angela, is discharged by Gilfain, and goes back to England with the intention of returning later for Dolores.
The second act opens in the grounds of Abercoed Castle in Wales, which has been bought by Gilfain, who refuses to admit his former clerk. He manages to get in, however, in company with Tweedlepunch and Dolores, and Tweedlepunch, by a story of the ghost of an ancient Abercoed which has threatened dreadful things will happen to Gilfain, so terrifies him that he confesses his villainy, and all ends happily. Gilfain finally marries Lady Holyrood, Donegal and Angela and Abercoed and Dolores are also married, and the castle is restored to the rightful owner.
The music of “Florodora” is light and catchy, but though original of its kind, the work would hardly have achieved its remarkable vogue had it not been for its brilliant stage setting, dances, and the extravagant comedy rôle of Tweedlepunch. The best numbers in the first act are the sextette, “The Credit due to me,” by the clerks and chorus; the song, “When I leave Town,” by Lady Holyrood; and Abercoed’s sentimental song, “In the Shade of the Sheltering Palm,” the only serious and musicianly number in the work. The principal numbers of the second act are Lady Holyrood’s topical song “Tact,” and “I’ve an Inkling”; Angela’s clever song, “The Fellow who might”; Donegal’s song, “I want to be a Military Man”; the grotesque song and dance by Leandro and Valleda, “We get up at 8 A. M.”; and the double sextette, “Tell me, Pretty Maiden,” which is cleverly constructed and has a fascinating rhythm.