Havana is an Edwardian musical comedy in three acts, with a book by George Grossmith, Jr. and Graham Hill, music by Leslie Stuart, lyrics by Adrian Ross and additional lyrics by George Arthurs. It premiered on 25 April 1908 at the Gaiety Theatre, London, starring Evie Greene as Consuelo, W. H. Berry as Reginald Brown, Lawrence Grossmith as Don Adolfo and Mabel Russell as Pepita.Cast and productions details at The Play Pictorial website (1902–1910) of the Templeman Library at the University of Kent at Canterbury A young Gladys Cooper was in the chorus.
The production ran for 221 performances before touring the provinces.Havana in Dundee (1909) at the dundeecity website, accessed 4 January 2010Havana (1909) in the National Library of Scotland Collection, accessed 4 January 2010 It also soon played in Berlin, Germany. An American production played at the Casino Theatre in New York after a Philadelphia tryout, with revisions by its star, James T. Powers.Lamb, Andrew. "Leslie Stuart: Composer of Floradora", Routledge, 2002, pp. 189–204 "Havana on Broadway", BroadwayWorld.com, accessed 4 January 2010 This production was staged by Ned Wayburn and ran from 11 February 1909 to 25 September 1909 for a total of 236 performances.Havana on the Internet Broadway Database, accessed 4 January 2010
Among the show's musical numbers are the songs Little Miquette, Cupid's Telephone, How Did the Bird Know That? and Pensacola. Musical selections from the show were recorded by the Victor Light Opera Company in 1909."Leslie Stuart, Composer", Encyclopedic Discography of Victor Recordings, accessed 4 January 2010
Roles and original cast Jackson Villiers (of the Steam Yacht Jaunty June) – Leonard Mackay The Hon. Frank Charteris – Robert Hale Bombito del Campo (Mayor of Havana) – Arthur Hatherton Don Adolfo (his son) – Lawrence Grossmith Antonio (Adolfo's valet) – Barry Lupino Diego de la Concha – Edward O'Neill Nix (bo'sun of the Jaunty June) – Alfred Lester Reginald Brown (the yacht's boy) – W. H. Berry Anita (a cigar seller) – Jean Aylwin Isabelita (Bombito's sister) – Gladys Homfreye Tita (chief of the cigar store) – Olive May Pepita – Mabel Russell Lolita – Adelina Balfe Zara – Jessie Broughton Newspaper reporter – Gladys Cooper Consuelo (Bombito's niece) – Evie Greene
Synopsis According to The Manchester Guardian: "The plot is slight, and is concerned with Consuelo, the niece of the proprietor of a cigar factory and Mayor of Havana. She is betrothed to her cousin Adolfo, but loves an English yachtsman, Jackson Villiers. He is suspected of participation in the plots of the Red Liberados, so she publicly insults him; but he does not seem to mind much, and all ends well.""A New Gaiety Piece", The Manchester Guardian, 27 April 1908, p. 7
Musical numbers Act I – Cigar Store of Bombito and Co. No. 1 – Chorus – 'Tis noon, the noon of tropic day No. 2 – Bombito and chorus of girls – If I was a ruler despotical, presumably properly paid No. 3 – Anita – Once a sailor man I married, seven years ago today No. 4 – Tita, Lolita, Pepita, Bombito, Hilario and Alejandro – There's a yacht in the harbour today No. 5 – Consuelo and chorus – I'm a Cuban girl from the island pearl No. 6 – Adolfo and girls – Six little girls went on a tour run by a daily print No. 7 – Jackson and girls – As I sit on my hammock, smoking and smoking No. 8 – Reginald and Nix – When I play the buccaneer I'm a flier, never fear No. 9 – Finale Act I – The girl with the yellow roses Act II – Patio of the Torre del Campo. Nos. 10 and 11 – Chorus and Zara – The sun is down and over the town, far above is the star that we love No. 12 – Consuelo and girls – Little Miquette, you mustn't forget No. 13 – Reginald and chorus – When I was born, my birthmark was a pirate flag of black No. 14 – Anita and Reginald – If you go where duty calls, from a station at St. Paul's No. 15 – Anita, Pepita, Frank and Reginald – If you see a little bag lying down upon a flag No. 16 – Adolfo and chorus of girls – If you desire to see your little girlie No. 17 – Frank – When a fellow loves a girl in London Town No. 18 – Finale Act II – Welcome to the lovely bride Act III – The Harbour, Havana. No. 19 – Chorus – The morning breaks upon the shore No. 20 – Anita and Nix – If you're the dear departed No. 21 – Reginald – When I was once a naughty little nipper No. 22 – Pepita and chorus – I know there's a little girl that you know No. 23 – Consuelo – I know a man who's waiting for me down there by the sea No. 24 – Ensemble – girls, will you take a walk for a while? No. 25 – Finale Act III – I'm a Cuban girl from the island of pearl
References
External links
Photo of Gladys Cooper in Havana Havana on the National Library of Australia website Midi music from "Havana" 1908 musical