Forgotten Musicals - Lionel Monckton and Our Miss Gibbs
Continuing my exploration of forgotten musicals today we take a look at Edwardian England. Back in the days before the Great War the place for musicals in London was the Gaiety Theatre. Crowds flocked to the light witty musicals of the likes of Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton. And of course they flocked to see the Gaiety Girls, the singers and dancers much admired by the young Edwardian gentlemen. Lionel Monckton (1861–1924) was the leading English composer of the Edwardian musical theatre. Born Lionel John Alexander Monckton on 18 December 1861 in London, he was the son of Sir John Monckton and an amateur actress mother. He initially trained and worked as a lawyer while pursuing music part-time as a songwriter and critic.
Monckton became Britain’s most popular composer of musical comedies in the early 20th century, known for his tuneful, light-hearted scores. He collaborated frequently with producers like George Edwardes and co-composers such as Ivan Caryll. His musical works such as The Quaker Girl and Our Miss Gibbs defined the Gaiety Theatre style.
He was married to the star of The Gaiety, the Gaiety Girl to beat all Gaiety Girls - Miss Gertie Millar who starred many of his shows.
Gertie Millar (1879–1952), was born Gertrude Millar on 21 February 1879 in Manningham, Bradford, England. Daughter of a mill worker and a seamstress, she began performing at age 13 in pantomimes and music halls in Yorkshire before moving to London. She became one of the most celebrated Gaiety Girls, starring in popular musical comedies with her chirpy voice, pixie-like charm, and stage presence.
Millar achieved major successes in Our Miss Gibbs (title role, 1909), and The Quaker Girl (title role, 1910).
Many musicals of the period had show girls, shop girls or seamstresses marrying aristocrats. Did it ever happen in real life? Of course it did. After Monckton’s death in 1924, Gertie married William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, becoming the Countess of Dudley.
Apart from occasional amateur performances who gets to see Our Miss Gibbs nowadays? With mankind on the way back to the moon, it seems appropriate to hear the Countess of Dudley singing its most famous song. Here is Gertie Millar as the eponymous Miss Gibbs singing ‘Moonstruck’.
[media=https://youtu.be/B5mzJSFAXss?si=FI_avztVNo06hu3N]
The Lyric Theatre of San Jose has some more excerpts from Our Miss Gibbs here:
[media=https://youtu.be/5d_J-5HOw_o?feature=shared]
Monckton became Britain’s most popular composer of musical comedies in the early 20th century, known for his tuneful, light-hearted scores. He collaborated frequently with producers like George Edwardes and co-composers such as Ivan Caryll. His musical works such as The Quaker Girl and Our Miss Gibbs defined the Gaiety Theatre style.
He was married to the star of The Gaiety, the Gaiety Girl to beat all Gaiety Girls - Miss Gertie Millar who starred many of his shows.
Gertie Millar (1879–1952), was born Gertrude Millar on 21 February 1879 in Manningham, Bradford, England. Daughter of a mill worker and a seamstress, she began performing at age 13 in pantomimes and music halls in Yorkshire before moving to London. She became one of the most celebrated Gaiety Girls, starring in popular musical comedies with her chirpy voice, pixie-like charm, and stage presence.
Millar achieved major successes in Our Miss Gibbs (title role, 1909), and The Quaker Girl (title role, 1910).
Many musicals of the period had show girls, shop girls or seamstresses marrying aristocrats. Did it ever happen in real life? Of course it did. After Monckton’s death in 1924, Gertie married William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, becoming the Countess of Dudley.
Apart from occasional amateur performances who gets to see Our Miss Gibbs nowadays? With mankind on the way back to the moon, it seems appropriate to hear the Countess of Dudley singing its most famous song. Here is Gertie Millar as the eponymous Miss Gibbs singing ‘Moonstruck’.
[media=https://youtu.be/B5mzJSFAXss?si=FI_avztVNo06hu3N]
The Lyric Theatre of San Jose has some more excerpts from Our Miss Gibbs here:
[media=https://youtu.be/5d_J-5HOw_o?feature=shared]
56-60, M