Theodore & Co


Theodore & Co is an English musical comedy in two acts with a book by H. M. Harwood and George Grossmith Jr. based on the French comedy Théodore et Cie by Paul Armont and Nicolas Nancey, with music by Ivor Novello and Jerome Kern and lyrics by Adrian Ross and Clifford Grey. It was produced by Grossmith and Edward Laurillard and directed by Austen Hurgon, opening at the Gaiety Theatre on 19 September 1916 and running for 503 performances. It starred Grossmith, Fred Leslie and Leslie Henson.
Theodore & Co opened during World War I in the same year as two other tremendously successful shows in London: Chu Chin Chow and The Bing Boys are Here, and the successful The Happy Day. Audiences wanted light and uplifting entertainment during the war, and these shows delivered it.
This show established Ivor Novello as a theatrical composer and was Kern's first show in London. Novello's songs from the show include "What A Duke Should Be" and "Oh, How I Want To Marry".

Roles and original cast

  • Bompas, 24th Duke of Shetland – Davy Burnaby
  • Pony Twitchen – Leslie Henson
  • Rt. Hon. George Wye – Fred Leslie
  • Mr. Blissett – Frederick Morant
  • Cosmo Legallos – Henri Leoni
  • Mr. Satterthwaite – Victor Gouriet
  • Crump – Robert Nainby
  • Delatour – Frank Hector
  • A Man with a Blue Envelope – Ralph Roberts
  • The Emir of Baluchistan – J. Grande
  • His Interpreter – Fred Raynham
  • Sir Basil Bowlwell, R.H.G. – James Thomas
  • Lord Theodore Wragge – George Grossmith Jr.
  • Lady Theresa Wye – Gladys Homfrey
  • Lady Pansy – Madge Saunders
  • Hon. Sapphire Blissett – Julia James
  • Fudge Robinson – Peggy Kurton
  • Alma, "The Statue of Liberty " – Irene Richards
  • Cleo, "The Tiptoe Queen" – Adrah Fair
  • Lady Diana Camden – Ivey Collette/Doris Stocker
  • Lady Moya – Violet Ashton
  • Molly Pershore – Barbara Dunbar
  • Marjorie Carstairs – Connie Guy
  • Lady Lilly – Vera Davis
  • Lady Billy – Lilian Caldicott
  • Elizabeth Anne – Margaret Gamble
  • Mary Ellen – Maudie Dunham
  • Ethel Emily – Joyce Barbour
  • Rosa Maud – Dorothy King
  • Matilda Kate – Cherry Constant
  • Harriett Jane – Mercia Swinburne
  • Charwoman – Muriel Barney

Musical numbers

;Act I
  • Chorus – "Isn't there a crowd everywhere"
  • Song – "What a Duke should be"
  • Duet – "I'll make myself at home"
  • Song – "I'm getting such a big girl now"
  • Song & Dance – "Ev'ry little girl can teach me something new"
  • Song – "The Candy Girls"
  • Sextet – "You'd better not wait for him"
  • Finale, Act I. – "He's going to call on Baby Grand"
;Act II
  • Chorus – "We are Theodore & Co."
  • Song – "Three Hundred and Sixty-five days"
  • Song – "That 'Come hither' look"
  • Song " Any old where"
  • Song & Chorus – "The Casino Music Hall"
  • Dance – "Valse Saracenne"
  • Song – "My friend John"
  • Duet – "All that I want is somebody to love me"
  • Finale
;Supplementary song
  • "My Second Childhood"