The Red Mill
A Musical Play in Two Acts
Music by Victor Herbert
Book and Lyrics by Henry Blossom
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Con” Kidder
“Kid” Conner, Two Americans “doing” Europe - Team of Singing, Dancing Comedians
Jan Van Borken, Burgomaster – Character Part, Big Man
Franz, Sheriff of Katwyk-ann-Zee - Tall Thin Comedian
Wilhem, of the “Red Mill” Inn – German Dialect Comedian
Capt. Doris Van Damm, in love with Gratchen – Singing Juvenile Tenor or Lyric Baritone
Governor of Zeeland - Light Comedy, Old Fop
Joshua Pennefeather, Solicitor – Character Old Man
Gretchen, the Burgomaster’s Daughter - Prima Donna Ingenue, Small
Bertha, the Burgomaster’s sister - Light Comedy, Mezzo
Tina, Willem’s daughter - Singing and Dancing Soubrette
Countess De La Fere - Grand Dame, Mezzo-Soprano (Should speak French)
English and French Tourists, Artists, Dutch Peasants, Flower Girls, Burghers, Aides-de-camp, etc.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
Act I. at the Sign of the “Red Mill”
Act II. Hall in the Burgomaster’s home.
Time: The Present (1906)
Place: Katwyk-ann-Zee, Holland
Argument
“Con” Kidder and “Kid” Conner, two American Tourists, become stranded at an inn in a small town in Holland. They attempt to escape paying their board bill by climbing out of a window, but are caught in the act by the Burgomaster, who orders their imprisonment, but the innkeeper agrees to let them work out their indebtedness by replacing some of the inn servants. Con is made an interpreter and Kid is given a job as a waiter. The two Americans contrive a scheme to save the Burgomaster’s daughter from a distasteful marriage with the Governor, and to help her elope with her love Captain Doris Van Damm. The innkeeper overhears the plot and informs the Burgomaster who locks his daughter up in the Red Mill, and places Franz, the Sheriff, to guard the door. The two Americans, swing to the revolving wings of the mill and are carried to the top and then Con grasps Gretchen about the waist and swings down on the other side. This ends the First Act.
Act Two shows the hall at the Burgomaster’s house, on the day set for the wedding. The bride is missing, and the Burgomaster offers a reward of innumerable gulden for her discovery. He even telegraphs to the Hague for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to assist in the search. Con and Kid, disguised as Italian organ grinders, discover the telegram and soon arrive on the scene as the famous detective and his biographer. They order the arrest of the Sheriff for political reasons, and insist upon the release of Captain Doris, Gretchen’s lover. In the meantime, the Governor has arrived and finding his intended bride missing is perfectly satisfied to marry her aunt, who is equally wealthy. The two Americans then restore Gretchen to her lover, who is found to be heir to a large English estate. The real identity of the detective and doctor is discovered, Con wins the innkeeper’s daughter Tina, and all ends happily in the delft blue hall.
History
The Red Mill opened on Broadway at the Knickerbocker Theatre on September 24, 1906 and ran for 274 performances. The production starred the comedy team of Fred Stone and David Montgomery as Con Kidder and Kid Conner (the original Scarecrow and Tin-Woodsman in the 1903 Extravaganza The Wizard of Oz). A staple with stock and amateur companies for decades, The Red Mill was revived again in a revised version on Broadway in 1945 by Fred Stone’s daughter Paula and featured Eddie Foy Jr. The revival almost doubled the original run with 531 performances.
New York Herald: “The Red Mill will grind its grist of mirth, music and melody for a long time to come and those who go to see it should…be prepared to whistle or hum its airs without a rehearsal.”
New York Evening Post: “there can be no question of the popularity of the music. It has a swing that is irresistible, is tuneful and original.”
Orchestration
Flute 1
Flute 2 (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, Chimes, Bells, Xylophone, Snare Drum,
Bass Drum & Cymbals, Triangle, Wood Block, Suspended Cymbal)
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass
