''Careless Rapture'' is a 'musical play' by the

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, of or about Wales * Welsh language, spoken in Wales * Welsh people, an ethnic group native to Wales Places * Welsh, Arkansas, U.S. * Welsh, Louisiana, U.S. * Welsh, Ohio, U.S. * Welsh Basin, during t ...

composer

Ivor Novello Ivor Novello (born David Ivor Davies; 15 January 1893 – 6 March 1951) was a Welsh actor, dramatist, singer and composer who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the first half of the 20th century. He was born into a musical ...

and lyrics by

Christopher Hassall Christopher Vernon Hassall (24 March 1912 – 25 April 1963) was an English actor, dramatist, librettist, lyricist and poet, who found his greatest fame in a memorable musical partnership with the actor and composer Ivor Novello after worki ...

. It premiered on 11 September 1936 at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and listed building, Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) an ...

. It ran for 295 performances, a relatively modest success given Novello's other major successes. Written as another large-scale extravaganza (including a fair on

Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath is an ancient heath in London, spanning . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London Clay. The heath is rambling ...

and an on-stage earthquake), it followed Novello's hugely successful ''

Glamorous Night ''Glamorous Night'' is a musical in two acts with a book and music by Ivor Novello and lyrics by Christopher Hassall. Hassall was Novello's collaborator in six of the eight musicals Novello created between 1935 and 1951. ''Glamorous Night'' ...

'' of 1935. ''Careless Rapture'' is the tale of an actress, Penelope Lee, engaged to the wealthy Sir Robert Alderney, but who is the object of Rodney's half-brother Michael's affections. Set in London, and ending up in China, Michael finally wins Penelope's affections by rescuing her from an earthquake. Novello himself took the speaking part of Michael in the original production, which also starred

Dorothy Dickson Dorothy Dickson (July 25, 1893 – September 25, 1995) was an American-born, London-based theater actress and singer, and a centenarian. Biography and career Dickson is known mostly for her rendition of the Jerome Kern song "Look for the ...

as Penelope Lee,

Zena Dare Zena Dare (born Florence Hariette Zena Dones; 4 February 1887 – 11 March 1975) was an English actress and singer, who was famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedy and other musical theatre and comedic plays in the first half o ...

as Phyllida Frame and

Olive Gilbert Olive Sarah Gilbert (22 November 1898 – 19 February 1981) was a British singer and actress, who, in a career spanning seven decades, performed first in opera and then in many of Ivor Novello's musicals in London's West End theatre, West End. Af ...

as Mme Simonetti. Ivy Tresmand later took over the part of Penelope Lee. The production was directed by

Leontine Sagan Leontine Sagan (born Leontine Schlesinger; 13 February 1889 – 20 May 1974) was a theatre director and actress of Jewish descent, whose life and career took her from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to South Africa, Britain and the United States. ...

Principal songs

*"Music in May" *"Why is there ever goodbye?" *"The Manchuko" *"Love made the song" *"The Bridge of Lovers"

Notes

References

''Careless Rapture'' at The Guide to Musical Theatre
* Traubner, Richard.
''Operetta''
2nd edition, London: Routledge, 2003

External links

Recording of Dickson singing the song 'Music in May' from ''Careless Rapture''
{{Authority control 1936 musicals West End musicals Musicals by Ivor Novello British musicals Musicals set in London Musicals set in China Musicals by Christopher Hassall