Nymph Errant

A Musical Comedy in Two Acts
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Romney Brent,
based on the novel by James Laver

Tryouts began September 11, 1933 at
The Opera House, Manchester, England

Opened October 6, 1933 at the Adelphi Theatre, London
Closed February 17, 1934; Ran for 154 performances
Produced by Charles B. Cochran
Directed by Romney Brent under the
personal supervision of Charles B. Cochran
Choreography by Agnes de Mille
Costumes and Set Designs by Doris Zinkeisen
Orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett
Musical Direction by Myman Greenbaum

Synopsis

Fresh out of boarding school, pretty young Evangeline is looking to lose her innocence.  Her quest takes her to the beach at Neauville, the Cafe du Dome in Paris, a palazzo in Venice, and a harem in Turkey -- without an ounce of success.  Returning home dejected and defeated, she receives an unexpected and welcome proposition from the family gardener.

Cast

Gertrude Lawrence (Evangeline Edwards), Iris Ashley (Madeleine), Doris Carson (Henrietta Bamberg), Walter Crisham (Ben Winthrop), Austin Trevor (Andre de Croissant), David Burns (Constantine), Elisabeth Welch (Haidee Robinson), Queenie Leonard (Clarissa Parks), Moya Nugent (Miss Pratt), Ralph Roberts (Dr. Sandford, Kassim), Alexander Ivo (Alexei), Morton Selten (Count Hohenadelborn-Mantalini), Edward Underdown (Joe the gardener), Hella Kurty (Bertha), Norah Howard (Joyce Arbuthnot-Palmer), Margaret Emden (Aunt Ermyntrude), Winifred Oughton (Edith Sandford), Wilfred Caithness (Reverend Pither), May Agate (Mme. Arthur), Jean Davaut (Hercule), Jessie Busley (Mrs. Bamberg), Bruce Winston (The Eunuch), Betty Hare, Gerald Nodin, Annabel Gibson, and Kenneth Ware (Tourists)

Musical Numbers

Act One

• Overture - Orchestra
• "Experiment" - Miss Pratt
• "It's Bad for Me" - Evangeline
• "Neauville-Sur-Mer" - Tourists
• "The Cocotte" - Clarissa
• "How Could We Be Wrong?" - Evangeline
• "They're Always Entertaining" - Servants
• "Georgia Sand" - Henrietta [dropped during the London run and replaced by the following song]
• "Cazanova" [aka "Casanova"] - Henrietta
• "Nymph Errant" - Evangeline

Act Two

• Entr'acte - Orchestra
• "Ruins" - Tourists
• "The Physician" - Evangeline [cut from The New Yorkers]
• "Solomon" - Haidee
• "Back to Nature With You" - Evangeline and Ben
• "Plumbing" - Ben
• "Si Vous Aimez Les Poitrines" [alternate title: "If You Like les Belles Pointrines"] - Madeleine
• "Experiment" (reprise) - Evangeline

Cut Songs

• "When Love Comes Your Way" [dropped after the Manchester tryout; later considered for Ever Yours (unproduced) and used in Jubilee]
• "I Look at You" [dropped after the Manchester tryout; originally written for The New Yorkers (as "You're Too Far Away")]
• "Sweet Nudity" [dropped during rehearsals]
• "French Colonial Exposition Scene" [unused]
• "My Louisa" [unused; written for Wake Up and Dream and also considered for The New Yorkers]

Original Cast Recordings

"Experiment" / "The Physician" - Gertrude Lawrence

• 78 RPM, 1933 [HMV (UK) B 8029] and [Victor 25224]

"How Could We Be Wrong?" / "It's Bad For Me" - Gertrude Lawrence

• 78 RPM, 1933 [HMV (UK) B 8030] and [Victor 25225]

"Nymph Errant" - Gertrude Lawrence / "Solomon" - Elisabeth Welch

• 78 RPM, 1933 [HMV (UK) B 8031] and [Victor 25226]

Nymph Errant - Original Cast Recording

Contemporaneous Recordings

"How Could We Be Wrong?"/ "It's Bad for Me"- Al Bowlly with Lew Stone and His Band

• 78 RPM, 1933 [HMV B-6396]

"Experiment"- Al Bowlly with Lew Stone and His Band

• 78 RPM, 1934 [HMV B-6408]

"The Physician" / "The Cocotte" - Cole Porter

• 78 RPM, 1935 [Victor 24859]

Go to the 1989 Concert Production of Nymph Errant

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