Miss Dolly Dollars is a musical comedy written in two acts with the book and lyrics by Harry B. Smith and music by Victor Herbert. The musical concerns a wealthy American girl in Europe, who is sought after by bankrupt aristocrats. Its score includes a few famous songs such as "A Woman is Only a Woman (But a Good Cigar is a Smoke)".
After a tryout in Rochester, New York,"Miss Dolly Dollars Makes Her Bow", The New York Times, August 31, 1905, p. 7, accessed March 3, 2011 the musical opened at the Knickerbocker Theatre in New York City, on September 4, 1905."Miss Dolly Dollars; A New Musical Comedy by Victor Herbert and Harry B. Smith", The New York Times, September 5, 1905, accessed March 3, 2011 It was produced by Charles B. Dillingham and directed by Al Holbrook, with music direction by Antonio DeNovellis. The scenic design was by Homer Emens and Edward G. Unitt, and costumes were by Caroline Seidle. The show soon transferred to the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 16, 1905. It ran for a total of 56 performances.
Synopsis Setting: A Villa on the Thames at Henley and the Garden of a Hotel in Paris
Wealthy Dorothy Gay, an American girl, is pursued while in Europe, by a number of penniless aristocrats, but she does not wish to marry simply for a title. A secretary, Finney Doolittle, is mistaken for his wealthy English Lord. Dorothy's father, Samuel, urges her to marry the phony Lord Burlingham, but she prefers a man whom she takes to be poor, but who is actually the English nobleman, and all ends happily.
Cast The opening night cast was as follows:MISS DOLLY DOLLARS Cast of Characters
Beatrice Anderson - Matilda John Ardizone - Duke de Bolero Leila Benton - Vena Rodriguez Charles Bradshaw - Samuel Gay Mildred Cecil - Hon. Reggy Chumpley Marion Chase - Vera Vane Carter DeHaven - Guy Gay Elizabeth Doddridge - Hon. Algy Sydney Elsie Ferguson - Celeste Joseph Frohoff - First Bailiff Lulu Glaser - Dorothy Gay Minerva Hall - Jane Sidney A. Harris - H'Alfred/ Prince Umskyvitch Carl Hartberg - Baron von Rheinheister Ralph C. Herz - Finney Doolittle Queenie Hewlitt - Millicent Bessie Holbrook - Hon. Montague Bank Edward Leahy - Captain Sheridan Barry James Leahy - The Marquis de Baccarat Helen Marlborough - Ruth Delamere Olive Murray - Bertha Billings William Naughton - The Hon. Percy Fitzboodle Byron Ongley - Miggs Enrico Oremonte - Count Chianti/ Bobby Susanne Parker - Miriam Odell Carrie Perkins - Mrs. Gay Sadie Probst - Hon. Mayland Bank James Reany - Count Runoffsky Aline Redmond - Greta Giltedge Elsa Reinhardt - Freda Dressler L. F. Sampson - Second Bailiff Lillian Spencer - Margery Melville Stuart - Lord Burlingham Lillie Van Arsdale - 'Arriet Henry Vogel - Lieutenant von Richter Vida Whitmore - Estelle DeLange Gladys Zell - Vashti
Musical numbers Act I The Self-Made Family (She's a Lady with Money) – Mrs. Gay, Samuel Gay and Guy Gay An Educated Fool (It Keeps Me Guessing All the Time) – Finney Doolittle Just Get Out and Walk – Dorothy Gay and Chorus An American Heiress – Dorothy and Noblemen Dolly Dollars – Guy My Fair Unknown – Lord Burlingham
Act II It's All in the Book You Know – Dorothy and Lieutenant von Richter Life's a Masquerade – Mrs. Gay, Samuel, Celeste and Guy The Moth and the Moon – Dorothy and Chorus Walks – Guy and Girls A Woman Is Only a Woman, But a Good Cigar is a Smoke (Puff, Puff, Puff) – Lord Burlingham (American Music) 'Tis Better Than Old Parsifal to Me – Principals and Chorus Queen of the Ring – Dorothy and Chorus
References
External links Miss Dolly Dollars at the Internet Broadway Database Links to MIDI files and other information about Miss Dolly Dollars NY Tribune review