Dandy Dick Whittington
Dandy Dick Whittington was an opéra bouffe in two acts, written by George Robert Sims and composed by Ivan Caryll, based on the folktale Dick Whittington and His Cat. In this version, Dandy Dick performs in a circus and loves the owners' daughter. The circus goes to Siam, where Dick unexpectedly receives a high office and marries his sweetheart. The opera premiered at the Avenue Theatre in London on 2 March 1895 and closed on 13 July 1895. It starred May Yohé as Dick Whittington, Ethel Haydon as Alice, and Henry Wright as Larry O'Brannagan. The conductor  was Landon Ronald. The show was written as a vehicle for Yohé, who had starred in "Little Christopher Columbus" by the same authors, and producer William Greet leased the theatre especially for "Dandy Dick Whittington". The piece was originally written as a pantomime but was later changed to an opéra bouffe (or comic opera). Unlike in the Dick Whittington legend, there are no rats in the piece. Audiences particularly enjoyed the "acrobatic dance" of Florence Levey with Henry Wright. The critic of "The Sketch" thought Wright's impersonation of the popular actor and comedian of the day, E. J. Lonnen , was as good as the original. Betraying its early roots as a pantomime, John F. Sheridan played the dame, Lady Fitzwarren. Dandy Dick Whittington works in Sir Achilles Fitzwarren's circus in London as a circus-rider and has a performing cat that is never let out of its basket. Dick loves the Fitzwarrens' daughter Alice, but Lady Fitzwarren does not find Dick to be an appropriate match for her daughter. Dejected, Dick leaves the circus and asks his acrobat friend, Larry O'Brannagan, what he should do. It turns out, much to Dick's surprise, and through a political expediency , that Larry has been selected as the next King of Siam. The circus and the Fitzwarrens go to Siam, and Dick follows in the H.M.S. Chimpanzee, together with his friend, Captain Fairfax, who loves Lola, known in the circus as the "queen of the arena". Fairfax arrives in Siam in time to represent the British Empire at the ceremony to enthrone the new King, Larry. Larry makes Dick the First Minister of Siam. Dandy Dick is now a suitable match for Alice, and Lady Fitzwarren withdraws her opposition to their marriage. The real King returns, and Larry happily steps down , as he may now wed his Siamese love, Willasee. All ends happily, as Dick and Alice celebrate their marriage. Songs. Act I - Exterior of Sir Achilles Fitzwarren's house in Highgate Act II – Audience Court of the Royal Palace of Bangkok, Siam