The Balkan Princess is a British musical in three acts by Frederick Lonsdale and Frank Curzon, with lyrics by Paul Rubens and Arthur Wimperis, and music by Paul Rubens. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 19 February 1910. The cast included Isabel Jay and Bertram Wallis. There was a successful Broadway run in 1911, and the show toured widely thereafter. Musical theater (or theatre) is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance, and spoken dialogue. ... Frederick Lonsdale (b St, Helier, Jersey, 5 February 1881; d London, 4 April 1954) was an English dramatist. ... Frank Curzon (1869-1927), was an English actor who became an important theatre manager, the lessee of the Royal Strand Theatre, the Avenue Theatre, Criterion Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, Wyndhams Theatre, and The Playhouse Theatre. ... Paul Alfred Rubens, (b London, 29 April 1875; d Falmouth, 25 February 1917) was a songwriter and scribe of the musicals and songs for the Victorian and Edwardian musical stage. ... Paul Alfred Rubens, (b London, 29 April 1875; d Falmouth, 25 February 1917) was a songwriter and scribe of the musicals and songs for the Victorian and Edwardian musical stage. ... The Prince of Wales Theatre is a theatre located on Coventry Street, London. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1910 (MCMX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Isabel Jay was born in Wandsworth, London, on October 17, 1879. ... Bertram Wallis (February 22, 1874 - April 11, 1952), was a British actor and singer, known for his performances in plays and musical comedies in the early 20th century and then for roles in films. ...

The piece contains some of Rubens's most tuneful music, and the production was mounted with spectacle in its settings, costumes and large chorus of beautiful girls. The show was much like Lonsdale's previous success King of Cadonia, but with the sexes reversed. Famous songs from the show included "Wonderful World" and "Dear, Delightful Woman". Cover of the Vocal Score King of Cadonia is an English musical in two acts by Frederick Lonsdale, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Arthur Wimperis and music by Sidney Jones and Frederick Rosse. ...

Roles

• The Grand Duke Sergius
• Count Boethy (Prime Minister of Balaria)
• Captain Radomir
• Lieutenant Varna
• Max Hein (Alias "Prince Boris of Ma'alia")
• Blatz (His Confederate)
• Lounger at the "Bohemian Restaurant"
• Emile (Proprietor of the "Bohemian Restaurant")
• Hermann (Commissionaire at the "Bohemian Restaurant")
• Henri (A Waiter)
• Magda (Charwoman at the Palace)
• Olga (Maid Of Honour)
• Sofia (A Habituée of the "Bohemian Restaurant")
• Paula, Tessa, Carmen, Margherita, Teresa (Other Habituées)
• Cashiers At The "Bohemian Restaurant"
• Princess Stephanie Of Balaria

Synopsis

Princess Stephanie of Balaria is bound by the laws of her country to marry one of six nobles, or abdicate. When the time comes to select her husband she finds that only five have arrived. Count Boethy, the Prime Minister, tells her that Grand Duke Sergius, the missing noble, has refused to enter the palace. That misguided person prefers to write socialistic articles in the press with such headlines as "Why the people of Balaria could dispense with their Princess." The Princess is piqued at these treasonable insults, but admires the Duke's independence. She thinks out a scheme very quickly. She will find him and compel him to come to the Palace. Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio disowning, renouncing, from ab, from, and dicare, to declare, to proclaim as not belonging to one), the act whereby a person in office renounces and gives up the same before the expiry of the time for which it is held. ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ...

Hearing that the Duke frequents a certain Bohemian restaurant, she goes there, incognito. Almost the first man she sets eyes on is the Duke, but she doesn't know him. They fall in love with each other. At the end of a happy evening, Sergius proposes a toast, "The downfall of the Princess." The Princess is amazed. "I am the Princess; arrest that man!" Duke Sergius is taken to the Palace as a prisoner. Still, the Princess loves him, and rather than marry one of the remaining nobles she signs the document abdicating the throne of Balaria. Now she is only an ordinary woman, and not bound by the matrimonial laws as a Princess. She is free to marry whom she pleases. Duke Sergius, however, having seen how noble and good she is, destroys the document, takes his stand with the others, and the curtain falls upon the happy couple.

Musical numbers

• Overture

ACT I - Reception Room at the Palace

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus of Debutantes and Soldiers - "Here in stately queue, close we press..."
• No. 2 - Song - Olga and Chorus - "Now the Court is over and our work is done..."
• No. 3 - Prince's Chorus - "Way for the Prince, make way, make way!"
• No. 4 - Duet - Max Hein and Blatz - "It is sometimes shown that money alone..."
• No. 5 - Song - Princess and Chorus of Dukes - "Gentlemen, I thank you for the honour you are doing me!"
• No. 6 - Song - Magda - "When I first made up my mind into service I would go..."
• No. 7 - Finale Act I - "Understand that from today I will not be dictated to..."

ACT II - The "Bohemian Restaurant," the next evening

• No. 8 - Act II Introduction
• No. 9 - Song - Sofia and Chorus - "In a Balkan village lived a Montenegrin maid..."
• No. 10 - Entrance of Grand Duke
• No. 11 - Song - Grand Duke and Chorus - "Women are really most beautiful things..." (three verses)
• No. 12 - Duet - Princess and Grand Duke - "We've had a very pleasant chat..."
• No. 13 - Duet - Magda and Blatz - "Now you must confess I always, more or less..."
• No. 14 - Song - Princess - "Wicked old world, you've been slighted for years..."
• No. 15 - Sextet - Henri, Hein, Blatz, Sofia, Magda, and Carmen - "When you're feeling blue..."
• No. 16 - Finale Act II

ACT III - The Garden of the Palace, a week later

• No. 17 - Song - Princess - "Last night a lovely dream I dreamed..."
• No. 18 - Song - Grand Duke - "There are some men born to be led..." (three verses)
• No. 19 - Song - Henri and Chorus - "People say that the world's all fat..." (three verses)
• No. 20 - Finale Act III (identical to No. 16 - Finale Act II)

Addendum

• Song - Princess - "I have rank, I have treasure, I've a court of my own..."

External links

• Midi files and cast list
• Information about the Broadway production
• Review of the musical