The musical was first produced at the Palace Theatre, London, on 15 September 1949 and ran for 841 performances, surviving its author, who died in 1951.[1] It starred Novello in the title role of the heir to the throne under pressure from his long-lived mother, Queen Elana, to abdicate in favour of his infant son,[1] with Phyllis Dare as his mistress Marta Karillos, Zena Dare as Queen Elana, Vanessa Lee as Princess Cristiane, Robert Andrews as Vanescu, and Olive Gilbert as Countess Vera.[2]
The Years Together, theme from the score, used as a number in the film version.
Original Production
The production opened at the Palace Theatre, London, on 15 September 1949 and ran for 841 performances.[1] It was directed by Murray MacDonald, with the following cast:
Count Egon Stanieff, of the Royal Guard – Denis Martin
Countess Olga Varsov, a lady in waiting – Anne Pinder
Madame Koska, a modest – Jaqueline Le Geyt
Mr. Trontzen, a dance master – John Palmer
Major Domo – Eric Sutherland
Manservant – Harry Fergusson
Tormas – Gordon Duttson
Boy King – John Young
Chorus of Norseland village peasants, mannequins, serenaders, palace guards and servants, courtiers, members of the Muranian Royal Ballet Company, and people of Murania.
The dancers were played by the Pauline Grant Ballet.[2]
The piece was produced for BBC Radio in 1950,[7] 1951,[8] 1968[9] and 1993 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Novello's birth.[10]
A television version was broadcast in 1957 by the BBC, who (according to the Radio Times) "ingeniously cut the three and a quarter hours of the original action to an hour and a half." Vanessa Lee reprised her role of Princess Cristiane from the original stage production, and Griffith Jones played Nikki, with Margot Grahame as his mistress.[11]
Further reading
Traubner, Richard. Operetta: A Theatrical History (2003), Routledge ISBN0-415-96641-8