Derby Day (light opera)

Not to be confused with Derby Day (1952 film).

Derby Day is a 1932 three-act light opera, with music composed by Alfred Reynolds to a libretto by A. P. Herbert. Herbert wrote his text between March and May 1931, whilst on a trip to Australia, during the first run of his successful Tantivy Towers.^[1]

Derby Day
Light opera by Alfred Reynolds
Librettist	A. P. Herbert
Language	English
Premiere	24 February 1932 (1932-02-24) Lyric Theatre, London

One contemporary review described the work as "mainly a Cockney opera", and praised the work as "topical in the best sense" and said of the music:^[1]

I do not know if Mr. Reynolds is himself a Cockney, but I do know that his Cockney music, particularly in the coster scenes, is the best that has ever been written.^[1]

In particular, the song for the tipster, "'Oo wants a winner for the big race tomorrer?", has been singled out for particular praise as a musical expression of the Cockney.^[2]

Original production

The first performance took place at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith on 24 February 1932.^[3] The director was Nigel Playfair, and the production was designed by George Sheringham.^[4] Alfred Reynolds was the conductor.^[5] The original cast list was as follows:^[4]

• Scott Russell as John Bitter (landlord of the Old Black Horse)
• Tessa Deane as Rose (a barmaid)
• Leslie French as Bert Bones (a tipster)
• Mabel Constanduros as Mrs Bones (his mother)
• Frederic Austin as Sir Horace Waters, J.P. (a race-horse owner) in his last stage appearance
• Mabel Sealby as Lady Waters (his wife)
• Dewey Gibson as Eddy (their son)
• Guelda Waller as a Gypsy Woman
• Dewey Gibson as a Bookmaker
• John Thompson as a Policeman
• Pamela Stanley in a walk-on role, making her stage début.

Synopsis

The story is set in the present day (the early 1930s), and centres on a day at The Derby, the major horse-racing event of the year. In Act III, Mr Bitter proposes to Mrs Bones.

Broadcasts

The BBC broadcast an abridged radio version of the work in 1932^[6] and 1934.^[7] It was also broadcast twice in 1937, on Derby Day itself and two days later on the day the Oaks was run.^[5]

Derby Day was shown in a 40-minute broadcast on BBC television in July 1937, with a cast including George Baker as Mr. Bitter and Frederick Ranalow (who had appeared in the Playfair/Austin production of The Beggar's Opera) as Waters.^[5] It was broadcast again in June 1938 with Muriel George and Esmond Knight, and Baker and Ranalow swapping roles.