Valmouth (musical)

Valmouth is a 1958 musical by Sandy Wilson based on the novel of the same name by Ronald Firbank.^[1]

1959 flyer of the original production at the Saville Theatre

It premiered in London at the Lyric Hammersmith, before transferring to the Saville Theatre.^[2]

The production was directed by Vida Hope.^[3] It made a star of Fenella Fielding as Lady Parvula de Panzoust.^[4]

The musical has since been staged several times including twice at the Chichester Festival Theatre and several cast album recordings have been released.^[5][6] The musical has also been performed on BBC Radio, first broadcast in 1975.^[7][8]

Original cast

• Captain Dick Thoroughfare - Alan L Edwards
• Cardinal Pirelli - Geoffrey Dunn
• Carry - Denise Hirst
• David Tooke - Peter Gilmore
• Dr Dee - Lewis Henry
• Father Colley-Mahoney - Robert Bernal
• Granny Tooke - Doris Hare
• Lady Parvula de Panzoust - Fenella Fielding
• Lady Saunter - Celia Helda
• Lt. Jack Whorwood - Aubrey Woods
• Madame Mimosa - Marcia Owen
• Mrs Hurstpierpoint - Barbara Couper
• Mrs Q. Comedy - Sally Alsford
• Mrs Thoroughfare - Betty Hardy
• Mrs Yajnavalkya - Bertice Reading (played by Cleo Laine at Saville Theatre)^[9]
• Niri-Esther - Maxine Daniels
• Sir Victor Vatt - Roderick Jones
• Thetis Tooke - Patsy Rowlands^[3]

Songs

• Opening / Valmouth - Company
• Magic Fingers - Mrs Yajnavalkya
• Mustapha - Mrs Yajnavalkya
• I Loved a Man - Thetis Tooke
• What Then Can Make Him Come So Low? - Niri-Esther
• All the Girls Were Pretty - Mrs Hurstpierpoint, Lady Parvula, Mrs Thoroughfare
• Just Once More - Lady Parvula
• Lady of the Manor - Niri-Esther
• What Do I Want With Love - David Tooke
• My Big Best Shoes - Mrs Yajnavalkya, Grannie Tooke
• Niri-Esther - Jack Whorwood, Captain Dick
• The Cry of the Peacock - Mrs Yajnavalkya
• Little Baby Girl - Mrs Yajnavalkya
• The Cathedral of Clemenza - Cardianl Pirelli
• Only a Passing Phase - Lady Parvula
• Valmouth - Captain Dick
• Where the Trees Are Green With Parrots - Niri-Esther
• My Talking Day - Sister Ecclesia
• I Will Miss You - Grannie Tooke, Mrs Yajnavalkya
• Finale / Valmouth - Company^[1]

Critical reception

Plays and Players wrote "Sandy Wilson's lyrics include, by my reckoning, at least half a dozen potential hits beside 'Big Best Shoes'. Valmouth, in short, bewitches by its riches as the opening chorus swore it would."^[1]