The Boy (musical)

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The Boy is a musical comedy by Fred Thompson and Percy Greenbank, with music by Lionel Monckton and Howard Talbot, based on Arthur Wing Pinero's 1885 play, The Magistrate. It opened at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 14 September 1917 and ran for 801 performances - one of the longest runs of any musical theatre piece up to that time.

During the gloomy days of World War I, audiences wanted light and uplifting entertainment, and they flocked to theatres to see lighhearted musical comedies, a number of which broke box-office records. These included The Bing Boys Are Here (1916), Chu Chin Chow (1916), and The Maid of the Mountains (1917). Almost as popular were The Boy and Yes, Uncle! (1917).

[edit] Roles

Horatio Meebles (Magistrate of Bromley Street Police Court)
Millicent Meebles (Late Cavanagh)
Hughie Cavanagh (Her Son)
Diana Fairlie (Her Sister)
Colonel Bagot (From Bengal, Retired)
Albany Pope (of Lloyd's)
Joy Chatterton (a Flapper)
Katie Muirhead (Hughie's Music Mistress)
Mr. Burridge (Magistrate of Bromley Street Police Court)
Juniori Fratti (Proprietor of the Cosmos)
Napoleon (a Waiter)
Mr. Honeyball (Chief Clerk at Bromley Street)
Inspector Eason, Sergeant Dix, Constable Styles (of the Metropolitan Police)
Cash (Servant at the Meebles')
Turner (Maid at the Meebles')
Cuthbert Sutton, Lyall Hewson-Galway, an Elderly Lady (Guests at the Meebles')
Tich Ridley (a Young Man)
Doris, Cuddley, Winnie Sweet (Friends of Joy)

[edit] Musical numbers

ACT I - Mr. Meebles' House at West Hampstead

No. 1 - Introduction & Opening Chorus - "We will finish the rub and we've only to pay..."
No. 2 - Song - Joy & Chorus - "There are lots of games with childish names, and I know ev'ry one of them..."
No. 3 - Quarrelling Trio - Katie, Joy & Hughie - "When you see a lady talking to a friend, why d'you want to interfere? ..."
No. 4 - Duet - Diana & Pope - "I'm kept busy all day in a general way, signing cheques perhaps, or meeting City chaps..."
No. 5 - Quintet - Millicent, Diana, Hughie, Burridge & Meebles - "This is the day of young folks..."
No. 6 - Song - Millicent & Chorus - "When I used to go to school some time ago, no one thought I was a fool, I got on so..."
No. 7 - Duet - Millicent & Meebles - "All my life through I have yearn'd for Romance, to cheer and to comfort my soul..."
No. 8 - Song - Diana & Chorus - "I've some news to tell - you will never guess! ..."
No. 9 - Song - Meebles - "When first I practised at the Bar, and earned my reputation..."
No. 10 - Chorus and Exit - "Oh, we now must say goodbye, for we really must be going..."
No. 11 - End of Act I

ACT II - Scene 1 - The Cosmos Hotel, Verrey Street, London W.C.

No. 12 - Introduction and Dance - "Cheer O! Keep your toes a-wagging..."
No. 13 - Song - Joy & Chorus - "It's hard to make my mind up when I am at a ball..."
No. 14 - Song - Pope - "I'm absolutely fed up with all the female sex! They puzzle and perplex; I'd like to wring their necks..."
No. 15 - Duet - Meebles & Hughie, with Chorus - "When two young fellows like us go out upon the spree..."
No. 16 - Song - Diana & Chorus - "There lived a little maid, and oh, her heart was light..."
No. 17 - Dance
No. 18 - Duet - Diana & Pope - "I fear I've been a bit of a fool, though as a rule I'm pretty cool..."
No. 19 - Trio - Joy, Hughie & Meebles, with Chorus - "The girls all listen and their bright eyes glisten..."
No. 20 - Finale - Scene 1 - "We're stiff and stolid, large and solid representatives of the law..."

ACT II - Scene 2 - The Magistrate's Room, Bromley Street

No. 21 - Recitative & Song - Meebles - "Ah, can it be? A few short hours ago my heart was light..."

ACT II - Scene 3 - The Garden of Meebles' House

No. 22 - Opening Chorus - "Pansy Day! Pansy Day! Here are some flow'rs for you..."
No. 23 - Song - Meebles & Chorus - "I've not had so much as a wink all the night - it's distressing! ..."
No. 24 - Duet - Millicent & Diana - "I am feeling quite a wreck ... Well, you are a trifle torn! ..."
No. 25 - Finale Act II - "They'll be sporty boys! Rollicking rorty-torty boys! Painting the town a regular red..."

Supplementary items:

No. 26 - Duet - Diana & Pope - "Why do you seem cold, uncaring, oh! you beautiful maid? ..."
No. 27 - Song - Meebles - "The years roll back; once more I seem to be a rosy-cheek'd and pudding-faced young urchin..."
No. 28 - Song - Diana - "When a girl comes out and goes about to lots of dinners, and dances..."
No. 29 - Duet - Millicent & Meebles - "Horatio, do you remember? ... My dearest, how could I forget? ... "
No. 30 - Duet - Joy & Hughie, with Chorus - "Little Dicky was a wonder at any sort of dance... "