The Quaker Girl is an Edwardian musical comedy in three acts with a book by James T. Tanner, lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, and music by Lionel Monckton. In its story, The Quaker Girl contrasts dour Quaker morality with Parisienne high fashion. The protagonist, Prudence, is thrown out of her house by her quaker parents for drinking a glass of champagne. Later, in Paris, her simple grey dress and bonnet become the height of fashion.
The musical opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 5 November 1910 and ran for an extremely successful 536 performances. It starred Gertie Millar and C. Hayden Coffin. Phyllis Dare starred in the Paris production in 1911. It then opened at the Park Theatre on Broadway on 23 October 1911, running for a successful 240 performances. A revised version was produced at the London Coliseum on 25 May 1944, but the run was interrupted by bombing. The piece then toured the British provinces and soon re-opened in London at the Stoll Theatre in February, 1945, followed by extensive touring until December, 1948. The piece was popular with amateur theatre groups, particularly in Britain, from the 1920s until 1990, receiving over 250 UK productions during that period, but it has been produced only sporadically since then.
Of the musical numbers in the score, only "Come to the Ball" continues to be well known, but "Tony from America" and "When a bad bad Boy" are also key numbers. Selections from the score were recorded in 2004 by Theatre Bel-Etage chorus and orchestra, conductor Mart Sander. The complete show, including dialog, was revived in a staged concert with piano in July 2007 by Lyric Theatre of San Jose, California.
Roles
Prudence Pym, A Quaker Girl – Gertie Millar
Tony Chute, Naval Attache to U.S. Embassy, Paris – Joseph Coyne
Princess Mathilde, An exiled Bonapartist Princess – Elsie Spain
Captain Charteris, Kings Messenger, Princess Mathilde's Fiancé – Hayden Coffin
Phoebe, Maid to Princess Mathilde – Gracie Leigh
Madame Blum, of Maison Blum, Paris – Mlle. Caumont
Prince Carlo, Once engaged to Princess Mathilde – G. Carvey
Monsieur Duhamel, Minister of State – Herbert Ross
Monsieur Larose, Chief of Police, Paris – D. J. Williams
Mrs. Lukyn, Proprietress of "The Chequers" – Luna Love
Toinette, Shop Girl at Maison Blum, Paris – Gina Palerme
Diane, A Parisian Actress – Phyllis Le Grand
Nathaniel Pym, A Quaker – Henry Kills
Rachel Pym, A Quaker – Jennie Richards
Jeremiah, The Quaker's Manservant – James Blakely
Jarge, Town Crier – George Bellamy
Synopsis
Act I
Nathaniel and Rachel Pym are the grim and proper rulers of an early 19th-century Quaker community in an English village. A mysterious young French lady and her not-too-bright maid Phoebe arrive to stay at Mrs. Lukyn's hotel. The lady turns out to be the exiled Princess Mathilde of France ("O, Time, Time"). She is followed by Captain Charteris, whom she intends to marry in the village church despite her previous engagement to Prince Carlo. Charteris has his best man with him, Tony Chute, of the American Embassy in Paris, as well as Madame Blum, a famous Parisian dressmaker.
Prudence Pym, the niece of Nathaniel and Rachel, longs for a more exciting life and someone to love ("A Quaker Girl"). She meets Tony, and they are attracted to one another. Madame Blum, struck by Prudence's charmingly simple grey Quaker dress, tries to persuade her to accompany her back to Paris ("Tip Toe"). The marriage ceremony between the princess and Charteris takes place, and Prudence, carried away by the gaiety of the scene, is induced to take a sip of champagne. At this moment, with the wine to her lips, her aunt and uncle and the other Quakers appear on the scene. They sternly command her to leave these sinful people. Prudence decides to leave the dull life behind and to follow Madame Blum and the princess to Paris. She is disowned by her family.