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

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Songs

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  • Opening / Valmouth - Company
  • Magic Fingers - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
  • Mustapha - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
  • 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 Vajnanalkaya, Grannie Tooke
  • Niri-Esther - Jack Whorwood, Captain Dick
  • The Cry of the Peacock - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
  • Little Baby Girl - Mrs Vajnanalkaya
  • 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 Vajnanalkaya
  • Finale / Valmouth - Company[1]

Critical reception

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Valmouth". www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  2. ^ Freedland, Michael; Coveney, Michael (27 August 2014). "Sandy Wilson obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Production of Valmouth | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  4. ^ "Obituary: Fenella Fielding". 11 September 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Cast list, Valmouth (1982) – Pass It On".
  6. ^ "Valmouth (The Chichester Festival Theatre Production) - Original Off-Broadway Cast | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  7. ^ Valmouth, BBC Radio Cast at CastAlbums.org
  8. ^ "The Monday Play". 24 April 1975. p. 31 – via BBC Genome.
  9. ^ "Valmouth Original West End Cast - 1958 West End". www.broadwayworld.com.