You are here: Archive Home > Curtain Raisers > Uncle Samuel
 

First produced 3rd May to 8th October 1881, as companion piece to Patience.

This play is not listed by Allardyce Nicoll. Vocal Score published by Chappells, copy in British Library at F.1427 (published 1881), containing full libretto, dialogue and music.

Cast

MR. SAMUEL CROW, an old bachelor Frank Thornton
JOHN BIRD (alias Jack Sparrow) Arthur Law
JENNY WREN Minna Louis
MARGERY DAW Rosina Brandram

Performed on tour December 1887 to June 1888 as a companion piece to H.M.S. Pinafore with Kate Kavanagh as Jenny Wren, Ellen (?= Nellie) Wyatt as Margery Daw, George Willoughby as Bird and Frank Lynne as Crow.

Synopsis

Set in Mr. Samuel Crow's house on the Thames. Jack is his nephew whom he threw out of the house many years ago, and who (unbeknown to his uncle) has been brought up by the latter's friend Mr. Daw. Daw has just died, and has asked Crow to look after his frumpish daughter Marjorie. Crow lives with his niece Jenny, Jack's cousin with whom he is in love, but from whom he has concealed his true identity. He turns up incognito at his uncle's house to hatch a plot to gain his consent to the marriage. When Marjorie arrives Jenny mistakes her for a flame of Jack's. Eventually Crow in a rage at Jenny's determination to marry this unknown man, decides to leave all his money, not to her but to his nephew Jack whom he thinks he has not seen for many years. He is mortified on learning who this young man really is.



Page modified 8 August 2019