Bless the Bride

Infobox Musical
name = Bless the Bride
subtitle =


caption =
music = Vivian Ellis
lyrics =
book = A. P. Herbert
basis =
productions = 1947 West End
1987 West End revival
awards =

"Bless the Bride" is a musical with music by Vivian Ellis and a book and lyrics by A. P. Herbert, who had collaborated with Ellis in previous shows. The musical is remembered as Ellis's best work. It opened just before "Oklahoma!" and enjoyed a good reception from the critics. [ [http://www.musical-theatre.net/html/recordcabinet/vivianellis/blessthebride.html Profile of "Bless the Bride" from Record Cabinet] ]

The musical premiered on 26 April 1947 at the Adelphi Theatre in London and ran for 886 performances. It was directed by Wendy Toye. A studio recording was made in 1967, and a revival was presented in 1987. In 1994, produced by David Cunard, a recording of songs by the original cast released as a result of a discovery in the United States of recordings of a radio broadcast.

Synopsis

In 1870 England, a young girl named Lucy Veracity Willow is about to marry a staid young man, Hon Thomas Trout, a match arranged by her parents. She leaves him at the church and elopes with a debonair Frenchman, Pierre Fontaine, an actor, with whom she falls in love at first sight. The couple travel to France, and her father, mother, cousin George, and the jilted Thomas all search for her, adopting disguises that lead to comic results. The Franco-Prussian War is declared, and Pierre goes off to fight. They spend time with Pierre's friend Suzanne, an actress.

Lucy returns to England and soon passes her twenty-first birthday. She hears from Suzanne that Pierre has been killed. Thomas hopes that Lucy will now accept his proposal. She tells him that she cannot forget Pierre but will marry him if he does not rush to the wedding. Suzanne shows up, interrupting the birthday party. She admits that, resentful of the English, she had cruelly lied about Pierre, who is alive and here! Lucy is ecstatic, but Pierre is concerned when he sees Thomas's ring. However, Thomas removes it, and the two lovers marry.

Cast

*Lucy Willow – Lizbeth Webb
*Alice, Ann, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Frances and Millicent, "her sisters" – Diana Beall, Joan Elvin, Pamela Carroll, Winifred Hammick, Mildred Griffiths, and Natasha Wills
*Mary Willow "their mother" – Edna Clement
*Augustus Willow, "their father" – Eric Fort
*Suzanne Valdis, "an actress" – Betty Paul
*Thomas Trout – Brian Reece
*Pierre Fontaine, "an actor" – Georges Guétary
*Nanny – Anona Winn
*Albert Willow, "Lucy's grandfather" – James Harcourt
*Harriet Willow, "Lucy's grandmother" – Hebe Bliss
*Cousin George – Stewart Vartan
*Monsieur Robert, "maitre d'hôte, Café des Pommes" – Peter Lupino

Songs

* This is my Lovely Day
* I was never Kissed Before
* Ma Belle Marguerite
* A Table for Two
* Oh, What would Mother Say
* Croquet, Croquet
* Too Good to be True
* Any Man But Thomas
* Silent Heart
* Ducky
* God Bless the Family
* Bless the Bride
* Bobbing, Bobbing
* Mon Pauvre Petit Pierre
* The Englishman
* The Fish
* To France
* Here's A Kiss
* My Big Moment

Notes

References

* Guinness Who's Who of Stage Musicals - editor Colin Larkin - ISBN 0-85112-756-8
* Oxford Companion to Popular Music - by Peter Gammond - ISBN 0-19-280004-3
* [http://www.nodanw.com/shows_b/bless_the_bride.htm Information about "Bless the Bride" at the NODA website]