Cox and Box by F.C. Burnand and Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) and Sweethearts by W.S. Gilbert (also of G&S fame) are now being developed and will premiere in the Summer of 2012. Martin Harris will direct both productions.
Cox and Box is an operetta based on the highly successful farce Box and Cox by John Maddison Morton. The story centres around the landlord, Bouncer, who lets a room to two lodgers at once; Mr Cox, a hatter who works by day and Mr Box, a printer who works by night. Inevitably the two bump into each other and hilarity ensues!
Publicity image for the 1869 production of Cox and Box
Many people will be familiar with Cox and Box, often performed alongside Gilbert and Sullivan operas such as The Pirates of Penzance or Trial by Jury, but in fact most people will have experienced a severely cut down version of the work in order for it to act as a short ‘curtain raiser’ for the bigger operas. The original production, which ran for 264 performances in the same venue in 1869, actually ran at about an hour in length. Then and for some years after it was the headline piece performed alongside other works which would act as ‘curtain raisers’ for it.
EXTRACT FROM THE FIRST REVIEW OF COX AND BOX
AN AMATEUR PRODUCTION PERFORMED AT THE ADELPHI THEATRE IN 1867:
“We feel compelled to say that Mr. Burnand has executed his task so well, and that Mr. Arthur S. Sullivan, our most rising composer, has written music for it so full of sparking tune and real comic humour that we cannot but believe that this musical version of a widely popular farce would have a genuine success if produced on the recognized stage by recognized professional players. It is quite as stirring and lively as anything by M. Offenbach, with the extra advantage of being the work of a cultivated musician, who under any temptation would scorn to write ungrammatically even if he could… The whole passed off amid roars of laughter, and a special call was made for Mr. Sullivan, musical director of the day, who bowed from his place in the orchestra.” The Times: 13 May 1867
EXTRACT FROM THE SUBSEQUENT REVIEW OF THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTION
PERFORMED AT THE ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION IN 1869:
“The whole, in short, is excellent of its class. In Mr. Arthur Sullivan Mr. Burnand was lucky enough to find not only a ready and skilful musician, but one quite able to understand and enter into the humour of the burlesque… The music improves on more intimate acquaintance. It has the genuine comic ring, is full of sparkling melody, and, farcical as is the libretto to which it is allied, essentially dramatic… The curtain fell amid loud and general applause and a call for the performers.” The Times: 30 March 1869
Sweethearts is a comic play billed as a ‘dramatic contrast’ which tells the sentimental and ironic story of the differing recollections of a man and a woman about their last meeting together before being separated and reunited 30 years later. It was first produced in 1874 in London running for 132 performances and was revived many times until at least the 1920′s. It’s producer, Squire Bancroft called it, “one of the most charming and successful plays we ever produced.” The piece was so successful and so well liked by both Gilbert and Sullivan, that in 1875 they collaborated and produced a song, also called Sweethearts, based on the play. This was in the same year that they worked together on their first opera, Trail by Jury, with producer Richard D’Oyly Carte.
Illustration by D.H. Friston of a scene from the original production
EXTRACT FROM THE ORIGINAL REVIEW OF SWEETHEARTS
PERFORMED AT THE PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE IN 1874:
“The subtlest of mental conflicts and the most delicate nuances of emotion are expressed in graceful dialogue…. That the piece is thoroughly successful, and that it will be much talked about as one of the theatrical curiosities of the day, there can be no doubt.” The Times: 9 November 1874
Cox and Box and Sweethearts will form a double bill, which will be available to book into theatres from Autumn of 2012.
