Betty is an Edwardian musical comedy in three acts, with a book by Frederick Lonsdale and Gladys Unger, music by Paul Rubens and Ernest Steffan, and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Rubens. It was first produced at the Prince's Theatre in Manchester, opening on 24 December 1914, then at Daly's Theatre in London, managed by George Edwardes, opening on 24 April 1915 and running for 391 performances. It also played at the Globe Theater in New York, opening on 3 October 1916.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

ACT I   -   The Earl of Beverley's House in Regent's Park.

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "Oh, his Lordship rather keeps things up, they come to sup, lots of ladies and of noblemen..."
• No. 2 - Duet - Betty & Alf - "Let's pretend some fairy has granted our wishes..."
• No. 3 - Trio - Gerard, Chicquette & Dolly - "Oh, girls, isn't it a score ... Isn't it a score? ... I'm a bachelor! ..."
• No. 4 - Song - Jotte, with Alf - "I started bus'ness on six bob a week ..."
• No. 5 - Finale Act I & Song - Betty - "It was a little kitchen-maid, beside the fire one night she stayed..."

ACT II   -   The Garden of the Earl of Beverley's House  (next morning).

• No. 6 - Introduction & "Betty" Barcarolle.
• No. 7 - Unaccompanied Madrigal - Eight Household Servants - "All day long I roll the lawn, and a very long roll it is..."
• No. 8 - Song - Gerard - "It's a funny thought, how often in my life I've had breakfast all alone..."
• No. 9 - Song - Jotte & Chorus - "Though you find me a bit severe when I am in my shop..."
• No. 10 - Quartet - Gerard, David, Victor, Cedric & Men's Chorus - "Marriage is a thing that makes me nervous..."
• No. 11 - Song - Betty & Chorus - "I have dream'd of the wonder of love, like a rainbow that arches above..."
• No. 12 - Duet - Estelle & Jotte - "When a fellow goes out walking with a dear delightful pet..."
• No. 13 - Duet - Betty & Gerard - "Suppose it was true that you loved me and I loved you..."
• No. 14 - Trio - David, Jotte & Playne - "A woman's too much for a man all alone..."
• No. 15 - Finale Act II - "What!  You cannot really, truly mean to send her off so cruelly..."

ACT III   -   Lord Playne's House, Farnham Towers.

• No. 16 - Opening Chorus & Dance - "Come away, have one more waltz with us now..."
• No. 17 - Jotte & Chorus - "If you'd have the fashionable figure in the very latest taste..."
• No. 18 - Duet - Estelle & Jotte - "There is a right side and a wrong to ev'rything, it seems to me..."
• No. 19 - Duet - Betty & Gerard - "It's a month since we parted; aren't you quite broken-hearted? ..."
• No. 20 - Finale Act III  (includes a quiet section for dialogue)

Nos. 1, 2 & 13 were composed by Ernest Steffan.
Nos. 10 & 16 were composed by Ernest Steffan and Merlin Morgan.
Nos. 5 & 15 were constructed by Merlin Morgan on themes by Paul A. Rubens and Ernest Steffan.

External Link

Vocal Score at the University of Rochester

Betty at Wikipedia

Page modified 9 October 2016