Baroness_Fiddlesticks

<i>Baroness Fiddlesticks</i>

Baroness Fiddlesticks

1904 musical

The Baroness Fiddlesticks is a two-act 1904 Broadway musical with a book by George de Long.[1][2][3] It was directed by Al M. Holbrook.[4] The show's music was composed by Emil Bruguiere, with lyrics by de Long.[1][2] The show opened on November 21, 1904, and ran for 25 performances at the Casino Theatre before closing on December 10, 1904.[2][5]

The show took place in contemporary England and was billed as "a musical satire on society".[3] Harry Lehr asked that his name be removed from one of the show's songs.[6]

Production

The show was mired in controversy, mostly surrounding eighteen-year-old Anna Fitzhugh being cast in the show's titular role.[3] One financial backer objected to her casting, and she was removed from the show by the end of its first week on Broadway.[3] However, the other cast members supported Fitzhugh, saying she had been "very badly used".[3] Many of the cast members put in their two-week notice by November 25.[3] At the same time, conductor Arthur Weld had resigned.[3]

Synopsis

London musical hall entertainer Patrina is invited to a house party at Mashaway's country estate.[3] However, she decides to attend the event as the Baroness Fiddlesticks.[3] Mashaway, who wants to make his name as a member of the stock exchange, comes at odds with Patrina's masquerade.[3]

Cast

More information Character, 1904 Broadway ...

Songs

The order of songs is unknown, and they are thus presented alphabetically.[3][7]

  • "At a Fancy Costume Ball" (Isabelle)
  • "Could You But Know"
  • "Daphne Sue"
  • "Heigh Ho"
  • "I'm Just about as I Ought to Be" (Mashaway)
  • "Imogen"
  • "Listen to the Night a-Singing" (Geraldine)
  • "Mr. Bugaboo" (Isabelle)
  • "Rachel O'Toole"
  • "Seeing New York" (Mashaway)
  • "Something or Other Sue"
  • "Spring" (Geraldine)
  • "To Arms! Hear the Cry!" (Archer)
  • "Tra-la-la-la"
  • "What's the Use of Kisses"
  • "When I Drop 'Round" (Patrina)
  • "When You Don't Know"
  • "When You Love a Little Girl"

Reception

The New York Evening World praised Bruguiere's score as "worthwhile" saying that he "would undoubtedly have been able to get [the show] produced even if he had been broke". Brooklyn Life, the Galveston Daily News, and the Louisville Courier-Journal also praised the show's music. Both the Daily Times and Evening World papers were critical of the show's book.[3]

The New York Times called the show "a decided hit" and praised its costuming.[3]

Fitzhugh and the rest of the cast generally seemed to garner positive reviews.[3]

References

  1. [1]
    "The Baroness Fiddlesticks - 1904 Broadway - Creative Team". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  2. [2]
    "The Baroness Fiddlesticks". Playbill. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  3. [3]
    Dietz, Dan (2022). The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. pp. 259–260. ISBN 978-1-5381-6894-3. OCLC 1334889961.
  4. [4]
    "The Baroness Fiddlesticks Original Broadway Musical Cast 1904". Broadway World. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  5. [5]
    "The Baroness Fiddlesticks - 1904 Broadway - Backstage & Production Info". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  6. [6]
    "HARRY LEHR OBJECTS.; Doesn't Like Use of Name in a Musical Comedy". The New York Times. 1904-11-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  7. [7]
    "Heigh ho: from Baroness Fiddlesticks - Quartex site". digitalcollections-baylor.quartexcollections.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
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