The Prince of Pilsen
A Musical Comedy in Two Acts
Music by Gustav Luders
Book and Lyrics by Frank Pixley
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Carl Otto, The Prince of Pilsen, a Heidelberg student – Juvenile Lead, High Baritone
Hans Wagner, A Cincinnati brewer, traveling abroad – Comedy Lead, German Dialect
Lieut. Tom Wagner, of the U.S. Cruiser “Anapolis” – Juvenile Tenor
Arthur St. John Wilberforce, Lord Somerset – Singing and Dancing, Comedy, British Dialect
Francois, conchierge Hotel Interationale – Second Comedy, French dialect
Cook’s Courier, Vassar Girls’ Pilot & Sergeant Brie, of the Gendarmes- Small Parts, Bass, Doubled
Jimmie, a bell boy – very small girl (pants role)
Mr.s Madison Crocker, from New York – Prima Donna, Light Comedy
Edith Adams, A Vassar Girl – Ingenue Lead, Soprano
Sidonie, Mrs. Crocker’s maid – Principal Soubrette
Nellie Wagner, Hans Wagner’s daughter – Ingenue Soprano
(City Girls) – Singing and Dancing Show Girls
Priscilla Plymouth, Boston
Frankie Friskie, San Francisco
Olive Oriole, Baltimore
Dollie Dixie, New Orleans
Illie Noyes, Chicago
Missy Rivers, St. Louis
Pansy Penn, Philadelphia
Maxie Manhattan, New York
8 Heidelberg Boys, Artie and Sea Shell Girls, Bathing Girls, Gendarmes, French Girls, Flower Girls, Naval Cadets, Fox Hunters, French Maids, Waiters, Etc.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
ACT I. The gardens of the International Hotel at Nice - Afternoon.
ACT II. Courtyard of the International Hotel; the next morning.
TIME: The present (1903)
Argument
A party of American girls under the guidance of a Cook’s Courier have just landed at Nice. They are touring Europe and are much excited about the arrival of the Prince of Pilsen. Arrangements are being made to give him a rousing reception with bands of music and little maidens to strew flowers in his path. Hans Wagner of Cincinnati and his daughter Nellie arrive, and the crowd thinks that Hans in the Prince of Pilsen. He responds to the greeting with a speech and his applauded warmly. Mrs. Crocker, thinking Hans is a prince and that he saved her life while fox hunting, invites him to stroll around the hotel grounds. Some Heidelberg students arrive in uniform. The Prince of Pilsen is with him and is astounded that he has a double and thinks it will be fund to meet his daughter, which Hans has provided. As they meet her the Prince admires her beauty. Hans arrives and Artie threatens him with a duel to which Hans objects, so Artie suggests they toss a coin and the man who loses shall walk out and shoot himself. Mrs. Crocker compels them to shake hands and be friendly. Tom enters with Edith and sees Nellie with the Prince which leads to a street brawl. Francois calls the Gendarmes who arrests them, which leads into the finale.
Act Two opens with a chorus of fox hunters. As they depart, Sidonie and Francois enter. Francois has the plans of a continental fort he will sell. Hans is suffering from too much champagne. Francois brings him a pick-me-up. Hans accidentally gives him a password, and Francois hands him a plan of the fort and leaves quickly. Mr.s Crocker enter and serves Hans with an absinthe frappe, which quickly brings him to normal and she gives him good advice which he accepts. Nellie is worried about her brother and asks Sidonie to get news of him. Just then Tom enters and an explanation of the duel and prison follows. The girls bring on Hans in a bath robe, and her makes them a speech on marriage, which is applauded enthusiastically. Jimmy comes with two gendarmes, who inquire for the Prince of Pilsen and place Hans under arrest. He is arrested as a spy and the real Prince goes to jail to release him. Nellie accepts the prince and they enter together with Edith and Tom Wagner, who announce their wedding engagement.
History
The Prince of Pilsen was first produced at the Tremont Theatre in Boston on May 12, 1902. The operetta was produced by Henry W. Savage and staged by George Marion. After touring for a few months, the show opened at the Broadway Theatre, New York on March 17, 1903 and ran for 143 performances. The original cast included John W. Ransone as Hans Wagner, Arthur Donaldson as the Prince, Helen Bertram as Mrs. Crocker, Lillian Coleman as Edith and Albert Paar as Tom Wagner. After its Broadway run, The Prince of Pilsen toured the country for over a decade returning to Broadway 4 times between 1904 and 1907. The show was also produced in London, Paris and Australia. Jess Dandy took over the role of Hans Wagner in subsequent touring companies after the original Broadway run. The Shubert’s produced a revival of The Prince of Pilsen at Jolson’s 59th St. Theatre on Broadway in 1930 as a part of a season of operetta revivals. This production starred comedian Al Shean of the team of Gallagher and Shean (and uncle to the Marx Brothers). The Prince of Pilsen continued to be produced by amateur and stock companies throughout the country until the 1950s. There were also multiple radio adaptations of the operetta including a one on the Railroad Hour radio program in 1950 starring Gordon MacRae, Nadine Conner and Hans Conried.
The New York Times: a lively production, brilliant to the eye, plentifully supplied with amusing situations. The music is pretty and with a lilt and catching rhythm.
Orchestration
Flute (doubles Piccolo)
Oboe
Clarinet 1 (in B-flat and A)
Clarinet 2 (in B-flat and A)
Bassoon
Horn 1
Horn 2
Cornet 1
Cornet 2
Trombone
Percussion (2 Players: Timpani, Bells, Snare Drum, Bass Drum & Cymbals, Triangle, Wood Block, Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal)
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass
Harp (optional)
