A Princess of Kensington

Performed at the Savoy, London.
A comic opera by Basil Hood, music by Edward German.
Opened 22nd January, 1903 - ran for 115 Performances.

Starring: Louie Pounds.

Editorial and Photos all as published in 'The Play Pictorial' No. X. (1903).

Cast		The principal players in this production.
Review		Review of the play.
Some Bright Verses		Some song verses from the play.
Scenes from the Play		A selection of scenes the play

THE CAST

REVIEW

IT appears from the Records preserved at the Savoy Theatre that, about one thousand years ago, Kenna, a lady of fairy origin who gave her name to Kensington, gave also her heart to a mortal, by name Albion, a prince of high degree, or at least Azuriel said she did, and being desperately in love with the lady himself, was also desperately jealous. But, if we are to believe the lady's own statement, Prince Albion had only fallen in love with her and that she pitied him as any woman, even though she were a fairy, might do. It might be presumed that, after a thousand years, death would have removed the prince, and Azuriel would once more have been happy.

But in matters of fairydom one cannot reckon without Puck, who, at any rate in this instance, had intervened to prolong the lovers' quarrel by a trifling period of nine or ten centuries by a mischievous piece of imposition. It is refreshing to find that though the fairy circle cannot be imposed on by mortals they can impose upon one another. Puck taught Kenna a spell (which was no spell) by which Albion might be laid asleep for a thousand years when mortals thought him dead. The time having elapsed, Azuriel's jealousy is once more inflamed at the thought that his rival may, at any time, appear on the scene.

But the spell being no spell, Albion is not likely to give any trouble in this respect. "He died well enough," says Puck, "for a man who had no previous experience." Now if Azuriel would only have believed this there would have been an end to the matter, but "there are three things that waste time in the telling: wisdom to a fool, folly to a wise man, and the truth to a jealous lover." Azuriel must be imposed upon again in order to counteract the first imposition, and to this end a fictitious Albion is to be found and married to a mortal maid.

Puck is not long in putting these matters in train. A young sailor from H.M.S. Albion is selected to take the place of Prince Albion. Unsuspicious of his fate, he is brought to Kensington Gardens. Thither also wander two young lovers-Brook Green and Joy Jellicoe. Here is a rare opportunity. Sir James Jellicoe has consented to the engagement of his daughter. Puck assumes the appearance of Sir James while that worthy is bathing, and refuses it. As Joy's father he encourages Jelf, the sailor, to make abrupt and violent love to the astonished girl, and in order that Azuriel may more closely watch events, he casts his spirit into that of Japp, the constable, and directs his attention towards the "Prince," otherwise Jelf, who bears the hated name of Albion in gold letters on his cap.

Bewilderment now reigns supreme; but yet one more complication. Jelf has been destined, this time by mere mortals, to help unravel another complication. Mr. Reddish, the keeper of an alehouse, has been greatly perturbed by the action of his niece who has converted the little inn into a coffee shop. The intimate friends of Mr. Reddish share his indignation, and one of them having a nephew--none other than William Jelf--it is decided that the only way to get back to palmy days of ale and gin is to marry Nell to William by hook or by crook, "if a crook or a hook can do it."

Which of these terms covers a revolver is not clearly stated, but Mr.Reddish proceeds to follow up the scheme with this useful weapon as an argument. Thus Jelf is destined by Puck as a bridegroom for Joy Jellicoe, and by Mr. Reddish and his friends in a similar happy capacity lor Nell.

After a deal of wasted effort on both sides, the problem is solved. Azuriel is convinced that Albion is really dead, Nell decides to marry William's uncle, Ben, who dreams of beer all day and therefore needs reforming, and peace is restored in fairyland, and in the heart of Brook Green and in the mind of William Jelf.

Author not credited.

Some Bright Verses

When I was told this maid was mine
  Whose heart is gold in human shrine,
I felt that struck with my good luck
  I stammered like a dumb thing.
My tongue refused its usual work,
  Although not used a job to shirk;
And though they knew what they should do
  My lips neglected something!
And this is what they should have said
  That I have got to go and wed
Another gell whose name is Nell,
  So I'm engaged to either!
And I'm aware they both love me,
  But I'll be fair as fair can be ;
And as I'm loth to marry both
  I'll up and marry neither!

PUCK.

But you'll have to cook your dinners yourself
Do you know what that will mean?

It will mean that you will find that you somehow fail
  With the soup, which you meant to be "thick ox-tail,"
  For it comes out thin and extremely pale;
And you give the potatoes a hopeless prod,
  But they won't get soft: and the fish, a cod,
  May taste very nice, but it looks so odd,
As (being a slippery sort of fish)
  It fell on the fender off the dish
  Not quite what a first-rate cook would wish!
And it's boiled too little, or else too long
  (You're not sure which, but there's something wrong);
And the joint has acquired the usual sin
  Of a burnt outside and a raw within,
And as for the pudding, you're free from doubt
  How that "will turn out "-for it won't "turn out"-
For your fingers fumble the steaming string,
  And when you undo it, the cloth will cling,
And the pudding appears like a shapeless mass
  That's been out in the rain all night on the grass!
And you say, "What a meal this meal might be
  If it hadnt been cooked by a cook like me."
And that is the sort of dinner I mean
  Will be swallowed by you and your own Brook Green
  By Mr. and Mrs. Green!

SCENES FROM THE PLAY

Click any image for a larger view
Kenna (Agnes Fraser)	Puck and Kenna	Four Jolly Sailor Men	Joy Jellicoe (Louie Pounds)	The Course of True Love
Joy and Brook Green	Puck	Joy with her Father	The Matter in a Nutshell	Puck [as Jellicoe] and Jelf
Jelf approaches Joy	Azuriel [as Constable] and Jelf	Brook Green with Puck	Peaseblossom and Puck