The rose of algeria
A Musical Play in Two Acts
Music by Victor Herbert
Book and Lyrics by Glen MacDonough
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Zoradie, Sultana of the Barakeesh, the ruler of a powerful desert tribe. Seen in Act I as Miriam, Mistress of the Bayaderes – Prima Donna Soprano
General Petitpons, Governor General of Algeria, and uncle of Captain De Lome – Character Baritone
Captain De Lome, in command of the Oasis Sidi Ahmoud – Principal Tenor
Millicent Madison, M.D., an American girl who is practicing medicine in the east – Light Comedy, Mezzo
(The following three characters are American soldiers of fortune who have enlisted in and deserted the Foreign Legion of Algiers)
Carroll Sweet, a popular song writer in hard luck - Comedian
De Long Greene, a suburban real estate promoter in reduced circumstances – Comedian
Van Courtland Parke, an ex-cotillion leader on his uppers – Comedian
Mrs. Billings F. Cooing – Singing Ingenue
Mr. Billing F. Cooing – Singing, Light Comedy
(A recently married couple from Paterson upon their honeymoon, and bound for nowhere in particular)
Ali Kohja, chief of police to the Sultana of the Barakeesh. Seen in Act I as an Arab story teller – Character
Mirzah, dancing girl, attendant on Zoradie – Chorus part
Zaphire, dancing girl, attendant on Zoradie – Chorus part
Mimi – of the Latin Quarter of Paris
Jules
Phillipe
Lieut. Betrand, aide to Capt. De Lome
A Water Carier, Adjutant, Waiter, Chef, Knife Thrower – Chorus bits
Chorus of Bayaderes, Trained Nurses, Models, Grisette, Candy, Flower and Fruit Venders, Rug and Jewel Merchants, Officers, Soldiers, Etc. Etc.
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
Act I. The walled oasis of Sidi Ahmoud in the Sahara
Act II. Exterior of an old palace at Mustapha Superieur, Algiers. Two days later.
Argument
Zoradie, Sultana of the Barakeesh, has been greatly addicted by the poems and songs of a mysterious person known as “El Mokrani” to such an extent that she has vowed to marry none other but he.
As this mysterious poet has been leaving his writings around in convenient places, nobody knows who he really is, and so we find Zoradie, disguised as a Bayadere, accompanied by her Chief of Police, Ali Kohja in the guise of an Arab story-teller, in search of the elusive “El-Mokrani.” Death by the bow-string is to be Ali’s reward for failure. The identity of the mysterious poet is known to only two people – General Petitpons and his nephew, Capt. De Lome, who is “El Mokrani” himself. Formerly of the Paris Latin Quarter, but urged into the Army by his uncle, he is still a poet at heart, and has adopted this curious method of venting his poetical feelings. He meets the disguised Zoradie and falls in love with her but she assures him that her love is already given to the mysterious “El Mokrani” whom she is yet to meet.
Affairs are still further complicated, for we find that the French are anxious to conclude a treaty with Zoradie’s people but she will not sign until “El Mokrani is found and becomes her husband.
Three American members of the Foreign Legion now appear on the scene. On account of their escapades, they had been imprisoned in the guard-house, but they have escaped. They find native clothes to disguise themselves in, but after a very funny snake-charming scene they are detected. The general, being anxious to produce “El-Mokrani” for the Sultana, hits on the idea of having one of the three prisoners pose as him, and has a poetry contest to decide the most suitable of the three. Van’s efforts are so poor that he is flung into jail.
By a ruse the other two obtain a book of poems lying around and copy verses out. The General and De Lome unable to decide which is the better of the two, decide which is the better of the two, decide to take them both along and let Zoradie decide. Ali, being afraid of his own life, helps Van to break prison and takes him along also to present to Zoradie as “El-Mokrani”
In the Second Act we are removed to Algiers. Zoradie is in her palace and her fits of temper are giving her attendants concern. The doctor reports that there is no hope of improvement until “El-Mokrani” is found. The Governor and De Lome with their two candidates and Ali with Van Courtland Parke now appear prepared to meet the Sultana and have her decide which is the much-wanted poet. After much wrangling they appear before the Sultana and present their preposterous claims, but Zoradie is not impressed with any of them.The General sternly tells her that she must decide on one of the three imposters, and then De Lome cannot restrain himself and reveals that he is “El Mokrani” which enables Zoradie to fulfill her pledge without any unhappy
History
The Rose of Algeria opened on September 20, 1909 at the Herald Square Theatre and ran for 40 performances. The cast Lillian Herlein as the Sultana, Frank Pollock as Captain DeLome and Eugene Cowles as the Governor. The show was a revised version of Algeria by the same authors which ran for 48 performances in 1908. The short run can be attributed to the unfortunate fact that The Rose of Algeria opened within a week of The Chocolate Soldier by Oscar Straus and The Dollar Princess by Leo Fall. These two Viennese operettas were smash hits, each running almost 300 performances and undoubtedly made it difficult for the Herbert piece to maintain an audience. The Rose of Algeria still remained popular with stock and amateur theatres and continued to receive a few productions into the 1950s. Herbert is reported to have held his score for The Rose of Algeria as one of his personal favorites.
The New York Times: Rose of Algeria pleases…Herbert’s tuneful music and real humor...were applauded with sincerity
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, Bells, Snare Drum, Bass Drum & Cymbals, Tom-Tom,
Triangle, Wood Block, Tambourine, Gong, Suspended Cymbal)
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass
