The Spring Chicken is an English musical comedy adapted by George Grossmith, Jr. from Coquin de Printemps (1897) by Jaime and Duval, with music by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton and lyrics by Adrian Ross, Percy Greenbank and Grossmith, produced by George Edwardes at the Gaiety Theatre, opening on 30 May 1905. It ran for a very successful 401 performances. The London production starred Grossmith, Harry Grattan, and Gertie Millar, with Henry Lytton later joining the cast.

The Spring Chicken had a Broadway run in 1906 and toured in Britain and America.

Dramatis Personæ

Lyrics and MIDI Files

ACT I - Office of M. Babori at his Residence, Paris.

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus - "If we live in the land we love, we must love in the land we live..."
• No. 2 - Song - Baron & Chorus - "As one of the Old Noblesse, I'm eager to seek redress..."
• No. 3 - Trio - Baroness, Babori & Baron - "Were you my client, Baroness, I boldly should assert you..."
• No. 4 - Song - Dulcie - "When sun and showers awake the flowers to venture forth..."
• No. 5 - Quartet - Mr. & Mrs. Girdle, Emmy-Lou & Stephen-Henry - "It seemed a dreadful bore to leave our native shore..."
• No. 6 - Song - Girdle & Chorus - "I'm slightly past the age of thiry-one, and all the many foolish things I've done..."
• No. 7 - Song - Rosalie - "I'm a country lass, you know, fresh to all the streets and houses..."
• No. 8 - Concerted Piece - " Open windows, open doors, sprinkle tea-leaves on the floors..."
• No. 9 - Quartet - Rosalie, Emmy-Lou, Boniface & Stephen-Henry - " The swallow's a dear little bird..."
• No. 10 - Song - Mrs. Girdle & Chorus - " I don't say that husbands are all of them bad..."
(four verses)
• No. 11 - Concerted Number - "A modiste modeste, she has done her best to make us look all most exquisitely dressed! ..."
• No. 12 - March Song - Babori & Chorus - "When the Autumn leaves are falling, I can hear my conscience calling..."
• No. 13 - Duet - Rosalie & Girdle - "I'd like to go on a London spree ... Then come with me! ..."
(four verses)
• No. 14 - Finale Act I - "Here is news that's really very unpleasant!  We've been patiently waiting all the day..."

ACT II
Scene 1   -   The Crimson Butterfly Restaurant, Malmaison.
Scene 2   -   A Studio at Malmaison.

• No. 15 - Opening Chorus - "If you're tired of having your meals 'mid the noise and the traffic of town..."
• No. 16 - Song - Felix & Chorus - "If the mysteries you're eager to unravel, of the world and all the doings of the day..."
• No. 17 - Duet - Rosalie & Boniface, with Chorus - "When I was a child about so high, and feeding the ducks and chickens..."
• No. 18 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "There once was a dear little girl you must know; you've heard of such girls, I think..."
• No. 19 - Song - Dulcie & Chorus - "When Gustave proposed to me, he went down on bended knee..."
(six verses)
• No. 20 - Song - Boniface & Chorus - "Do you know the jolly student band who come in joyous train? ..."
• No. 21 - Song - Baroness & Chorus - "I wanted to obtain advice from a lawyer at his leisure..."
• No. 22 - Duet - Babori & Girdle - "When a man is young, under thirty-five, he is handsomer, stronger and sounder..."
• No. 23 - Song - Rosalie & Chorus - "Here we are you see, in our dear Paris; all is love and laughter..."
• No. 24 - Recit. and Song - Babori & Chorus - "I am the manager of the National Theatre / The drama of Britain is limping..."
• No. 25 - Finale Act II - "So come to France when you've a chance..."
(reprise of parts of nos. 23 & 12)

ADDENDA. (Lyrics are not available for these songs)

• No. 26 - Extra Song - Rosalie - "When I was eighteen or so, with plenty of younger brothers, I found it was time to go and leave some more room for others..."
• No. 27 - Extra Song - Mrs. Girdle - "There is no part of London that's quite so well known as the thoroughfare called Regent Street, with its shops..."
• No. 28 - Extra Song - Rosalie - "When I was small I had a friend and Lucy was her name;  with me she always walked along when home from school we came..."
• No. 29 - Extra Song - Rosalie and Chorus - "As you wander by the long canals in the country of the Zuyder Zee, you will meet with lots of boys and girls..."
• No. 30 - Extra Song - Gustave - "A girl of humble grade, demure and very staid - to Paris came our Rosalie, sweet Rosalie, my Rosalie, she left her home..."

Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 19, 20, 24, 26 & 27 were composed by Ivan Caryll.
Nos. 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 28 & 29 were composed by Lionel Monckton.
The final extra song (No. 30) was composed by Jerome D. Kern.

Gertie Millar as Rosalie and Edmund Payne as Mr. Girdle

External Link

Vocal Score at the Internet Archive

The Spring Chicken at Wikipedia

Page modified 2 November 2016