CARISSIMA Palace Theatre Music: Hans May | Book & Lyrics: Eric Maschwitz Opened: March 10th 1948 (466 performances) Disc 1 | Track 4 ‘Carissima’ (Performed by Lester Ferguson) Disc 2 | Track 1 ‘Selections from Carissima’ – ‘Intro / Festa Bella / Venice In Spring / Two In A Gondola / Galop / Far In The Blue / Drinking Song / I’ll Be Waiting For Love / Carissima / Santa Rosa’ (Performed by the Theatre Orchestra – Conducted by Hans May) Noted film composer Hans May left his native Austria in 1935, exiled in Britain he composed the musical ‘Dancing City’ which had a short run at London’s Coliseum. Continuing to score for numerous films in the United Kingdom, including the hit ‘Brighton Rock’, he achieved great success in 1948 with the musical ‘Carissima’ which opened at London’s Palace Theatre in March 1948 running for over 400 performances. Set in Venice, the plot focuses on Italian tenor Paolo Marinelli (played by Lester Ferguson) who is pursued by Lisa an American advertising executive (played by Shirl Conway) to sing in her perfume commercials on radio. Marinelli disguises himself as a gondolier to avoid Lisa and inadvertently the couple find themselves attracted to one another, however the romance is short-lived when his deception is uncovered. Marinelli later finds success on Broadway, reuniting with Lisa and returning to Venice. The show’s star Lester Ferguson recorded two songs from ‘Carissima’ issued on a 78rpm record by HMV. Instrumental selections from Hans May’s score were also presented on record, conducted by the composer. CAGE ME A PEACOCK Strand Theatre Music: Eve Lynd | Book & Lyrics: Noel Langley Opened: June 18th 1948 Transferred to the Cambridge Theatre: December 6th 1948 (337 performances) Disc 2 | Track 2 ‘Time Alone Will Tell’ (Performed by The Melody Maids) ‘Cage Me A Peacock’ was the first novel by South African author and screenwriter Noel Langley. Published in 1935, the novel was a satirical version of The Rape of Lucretia and became an instant hit with readers. Langley adapted the novel, first as a play and then as a musical, with a score by Eve Lynd, starring Bill O’Connor, Linda Gray, Yolande Donlan and Simon Lack. ‘Cage Me A Peacock’ opened at London’s Strand Theatre in June 1948 before transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in December 1948, running in total for over 300 performances. Although the somewhat controversial themes of the original novel had been toned down for the musical adaptation, the show was a critical success and proved popular with theatregoers. Although no recordings with the original cast were issued, the vocal group ‘The Melody Maids’ released a recording of ‘Time Alone Will Tell’ from the score on Decca. ACE OF CLUBS Cambridge Theatre Music & Lyrics: Noel Coward Opened: July 7th 1950 (211 performances) Disc 1 | Track 2 ‘Chase Me Charlie / Evening In Summer / I Like America’ (performed by Pat Kirkwood, Sylvia Cecil, Graham Payn) ‘Ace of Clubs’ featured music and lyrics by Noel Coward who also directed the production. The show was first presented by Tom Arnold at the Palace Theatre, Manchester on 16 May 1950 and after a limited run in Liverpool, transferred to London’s Cambridge Theatre on July 7th running for 211 performances. The show is set in a 1949 London nightclub called "Ace of Clubs". Nightclub singer Pinkie Leroy falls in love with a sailor, however Pinkie and her lover get mixed up with gangsters, a lost package and a missing diamond necklace. In the end, the police arrest the perpetrators, and Pinkie gets her man. The original London cast members recorded selections of the show's songs as medleys issued across two 78rpm records on the HMV label. DEAR MISS PHOEBE Phoenix Theatre Music: Harry Parr-Davies | Book & Lyrics: Christopher Hassall Opened: October 13th 1950 (238 performances) Disc 2 | Track 5 ‘I Leave My Heart In An English Garden’ (performed by Edmund Hockridge 'Dear Miss Phoebe' was a musical adaptation of the 1901 J.M. Barrie play 'Quality Street'. Set during the Napoleonic war, the plot centres on sisters Susan and Phoebe (played by Carol Raye and Olga Lindo) and Phoebe's love interest Valentine (played by Peter Graves) who leaves to fight in the war, returning ten years later. To test Valentine's genuine affection for her after his decade long absence, Phoebe poses as her imaginary niece. The musical had a respectable run at the Phoenix theatre and Harry Parr- Davies' composition 'I Leave My Heart In An English Garden' became popular outside of the show when covered by numerous artists including Edmund Hockridge who recorded a version for his 1956 EP 'Edmund Hockridge Sings For You' on HMV. BLUE FOR A BOY His Majesty’s Theatre Music: Harry Parr-Davies | Lyrics: Harold Purcell Opened: November 30th 1950 (664 performances) Disc 2 | Track 3 ‘Blue For A Boy’ (performed by Pearl Carr and Dick James) Described as a “musical romp”, ‘Blue For A Boy’ was devised as a vehicle for comedians Fred Emney and Richard Hearne. Featuring music by Harry Parr-Davies, the show debuted just six weeks after Parr- Davies’ musical ‘Dear Miss Phoebe’ opened at the Phoenix Theatre. ‘Blue For A Boy’ proved a resounding success and ran for over 600 performances. Although no recordings of the show’s songs were produced with the original cast members, popular vocalists Pearl Carr and Dick James recorded a cover of the show’s title song, released on 78 by Decca Records. GAY’S THE WORLD Saville Theatre Music: Ivor Novello | Lyrics: Alan Melville Opened: February 16th 1951 (504 performances) Disc 1 | Track 1 ‘It’s Bound To Be Right On The Night’ (performed by Cicely Courtneidge) 'Gay's The Word' is noted as being the final musical composed by Ivor Novello. Featuring lyrics by Alan Melville, the show was tailored as a star vehicle for Cicely Courtneidge who plays Gay Daventry, a bankrupt operetta producer and actress who opens a drama school at her country house after her latest theatrical venture flops. Gay’s drama school also proves to be unsuccessful and becomes a front for two smugglers to conceal their illegal activities. The musical concludes with Gay making a successful return to the stage, accompanied by her students. Alongside Courtneidge the show starred Lizbeth Webb, Thorley Walters, Dunstan Hart and Molly Lumley. Several of the show's songs were recorded by the Original London Cast and issued across several 78rpm records on Columbia. 'Gay's The Word' was most recently revived in 2012 at London's Finborough Theatre. ZIP GOES A MILLION Palace Theatre Music: George Posford | Lyrics: Eric Maschwitz Opened: October 20th 1951 (544 performances) Disc 1 | Track 3 ‘Zip Goes a Million / Running Away to Land’ (performed by George Formby and Warde Donovan) Disc 2 | Track 4 ‘Ordinary People’ (performed by Reg Dixon) Disc 2 | Track 25 ‘Ordinary People’ – Live Recording (performed by George Formby and Petula Clark) 'Zip Goes A Million' was a musical adaptation of the 1902 novel 'Brewster's Millions' by G. B. McCutcheon, featuring music by George Posford and book and lyrics by Eric Maschwitz. The plot centres on Percy Piggott, a window cleaner who inherits a million dollar fortune. In order to receive the full amount he has to spend a million dollars in double-quick time, and without anyone suspecting that he is trying to get rid of the money. Piggot embarks on several radical schemes to spend the money including investing in a show, playing the stock market and waging on a variety of race horses. The show was built around the talents of popular entertainer George Formby who played Percy Piggot alongside Sara Gregory, Wallas Eaton and Barbara Perry. 'Zip Goes A Million' first opened at the Coventry Hippodrome in September 1951 before playing the Manchester Palace Theatre ahead of its West End transfer, opening at the Palace Theatre on October 21st 1951. The show was a resounding success with critics, running a total of 544 performances. Six months into the London run, Formby suffered a heart attack and was forced to leave the production. His replacement was comedian Reg Dixon who remained with the production until it closed in 1953. Formby along with the original London cast members recorded highlights from 'Zip Goes A Million', issued across three 78rpm records on HMV. Formby's replacement Reg Dixon also recorded 'Ordinary People' from the show for Decca. Formby later performed ‘Ordinary People’ on a live broadcast in 1957 with popular singer Petula Clark. THE GLORIOUS DAYS Palace Theatre Music: Harry Parr Davies | Lyrics: Harold Purcell Opened: February 28th 1953 (357 performances) Disc 1 | Track 4 The Glorious Days – Part One: ‘Glorious Days / Drink To Me With Thine Eyes / Soldiers Of The Queen’ (performed by Anna Neagle with The Rita Williams Singers) Disc 1 | Track 5 The Glorious Days – Part Two: ‘Lovely Lady / K-K-K-Katy / Swanee / Keep The Home Fires Burning’ (performed by Anna Neagle with The Rita Williams Singers) ‘The Glorious Days’ was conceived by producer Tom Arnold to coincide with the 1953 Coronation celebrations. The musical marked a triumphant stage return for Anna Neagle who played Carol Beaumont, a wartime ambulance driver who experiences a series of fantasy flashbacks after being knocked unconscious during a London air raid. In the flashbacks, Neagle plays numerous characters ranging from Nell Gwynn to Queen Victoria. Alongside Anna Neagle, the show starred James Carney (as King Charles), Olaf Olsen (as Prince Albert) and Peters Graves. The production featured original music by Harry Parr Davies (his final musical) with lyrics by Harold Purcell, the show also included several standards. In April 1953, the BBC broadcast a performance of ‘The Glorious Days’ from the Palace Theatre.