Butterflies is a musical play in three acts by William J. Locke, lyrics by T.H. Read and music by J.A. Robertson. Produced at the Apollo Theatre, London in 1908.

Dramatis Personæ

MIDI Files

ACT I   -   Entrance Hall of a Château in France.

• No. 1* - Opening Chorus - "A curved line here ... It really is very delightful ..."
• No. 2 - Song - Peter, with Chorus - "Colour gives joy to our work-a-day planet, nothing so restful to trouble-tossed nerves..."
• No. 3 - Song - Myra, with Lalage, Gilbert & Peter - "The clouds began to grow; the wind began to blow..."
• No. 4 - Quartet - Elsie, Nora, Podmore & Yarker - "Now perhaps you'll be good enough to tell us why you brought us here..."
• No. 5 - Song - Widgery Blake, with Chorus - "If you've talent, and you're lazy; if you've talent, and you're crazy..."
• No. 6 - Song - Max - "Life at best is inside out, seldom now the sun is shining..."
• No. 7 - Trio - Rhodante, Widgery Blake & Max - "We have three blind mice in the Palace of Puck..."
• No. 8 - Duet - Rhodante & Widgery Blake - "There lived a man and woman in a garden bright and fair, heigho!..."
• No. 9 - Song - Rhodante - "I used to think it must be awf'lly fine to have a man in love with you..."
• No. 10* - Ensemble - Eight Principals & Chorus - "They're off to be married, hurrah, hurrah..."
• No. 11* - Finale Act I - "Supper, supper, come to supper!  How we all desire it! ..."

ACT II   -   A Boudoir in the Château.

• Nos. 12* & 13 - Opening Chorus and Trio - Nora, Elsie & Podmore - "All my life I shall remember this delightful week..."
• No. 14 - Song - Elsie - "In a bright green tub by a big front door there lived such a lovely Lily..."
• No. 15 - Song - Rhodante - "In each tale of our youth is a great moral truth that with fiction is skilfully blended..."
(4 verses)
• No. 16 - Duet - Gilbert & Max - "Do not despair, my friend, for you'll come to your own again..."
• No. 17* - Ensemble and Dance of Parisians - "They've just arrived from Gay Paree, it's good to see them come..."
• No. 18 - Song - Widgery Blake & Chorus - "There's a smart little girl who has lately come to town..."
(continued from No. 17)
• No. 19 - Song - Rhodante - "Ah! believe me, you will find never constant to one mind.   Lovers waver with the wind..."
• No. 20 - Duet - Rhodante & Yarker - "If to courtship you've a leaning, you must cultivate finesse..."
• No. 21* - Finale Act II - "Oh, life is a bubbling spring of joy and fun..."

ACT III   -   Back in the Entrance Hall of the Château.

• Nos. 22* & 23 - Opening Chorus and Song - Rhodante - "Lightly the night hours are melting..." & "I'll sing of Lapland..."
• No. 24* - Ensemble - Blake, Rhodante, Max & Chorus - "Good night, good night, friends, good night! ..."
• No. 25 - Song - Max - "Farewell, dear love, for I must say adieu!  In future I must go my lonely way..."
• No. 26 - Quartet - Elsie, Lalage, Gilbert & Peter - "When all is still and the coast is clear, it's settled then we start..."
• No. 27 - Quartet - Rhodante, Blake, Podmore & Max - "If you wish to prove you love me, you must coo and turtle-dove me..."
• No. 28 - Trio - Rhodante, Blake & Max - "Although I hate the sight of you, and loathe him more than words can tell..."
• No. 29* - Finale Act III - "What's the matter?  What's the matter?  What is all this noise and
  racket? ..."

Addenda.

• No. 30 - Song - Yarker - "My brother Bill was apprenticed to a draper in the Strand..."
• No. 31 - Song - Widgery Blake - "I dream of a garden, cool and shady, where 'midst the flowers of long ago..."

Nos. 9, 14, 15, 18 & 30 were composed by Walter Davidson.   No. 25 was composed by Dr. Reid.
No. 31 was composed by Harold Lonsdale, and No. 6 was arranged from an old French air.

* Note:  The Vocal Score only contains only the piano part for Nos. 1, 10, 11, 12, 17, 21, 22, 24 & 29.

External Link

Vocal Score at the University of Rochester.

Page modified 12 October 2016