''Tommy Rot'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

in two acts with both music and lyrics by Safford Waters, and a book by

Rupert Hughes Rupert Raleigh Hughes (January 31, 1872 – September 9, 1956) was an American novelist, film director, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, military officer, and music composer. He was the brother of Howard R. Hughes Sr. and uncle of billionaire How ...

, Joseph W. Herbert, Paul West, and

Kirke La Shelle Kirke La Shelle (September 23, 1862 – May 16, 1905) was an American journalist, playwright and theatrical producer. He was known for his association with such successful productions as ''The Wizard of the Nile'', '' The Princess Chic'', ''Besi ...

. It premiered on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

at Mrs. Osborn's Playhouse on October 21, 1902. It ran for 39 performances; closing on November 22, 1902. It used sets by Joseph A. Physioc and D. Frank Dodge. ''Tommy Rot'' used an embedded narrative device where there was a play within a play; in this case the story taking place during a production of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

''. It starred

Blanche Ring Blanche Ring (April 24, 1871 – January 13, 1961) was an American singer and actress in Broadway theatre productions, musicals, and Hollywood (film industry), Hollywood motion pictures. She was best known for her rendition of "In the Good ...

as Innocence Demure, Grayce Scott as Phoebe Dare, Fletcher Norton as Eric Leicester, Evelyn Florence Nesbit as Miss Always There, Charles Butler as Thomas Rottingdean and Croker Sturgis, George Herbert as Marchese Reminesca and Hot Tomale Oscar, and

Alfred Hickman Alfred Hickman (25 February 1873 – 9 April 1931) was an English actor. He was married to actress Nance O'Neil. He appeared in 35 films between 1914 and 1931. Hickman began his career as an actor on the British stage in the early 1890s. In 18 ...

in the roles of Hawtrey Treebohm and Lawrence Trenwithou. The musical's most successful number was "The Belle of Avenue A" which was performed by Blanche Ring. This song was written by Waters years earlier and was published by Howley, Haviland & Dresser in 1895.

References

External links

* {{musical-theatre-stub 1902 musicals Broadway musicals