Herbert had authored a musical play The Prince of Borneo, which was staged in three different versions in three different continents under three different titles in search of success until it eventually emerged in 1909 as The Beauty Spot to music by Reginald De Koven,[6] who composed the score in 1907.[1]The Beauty Spot ran at the Herald Square Theatre on Broadway for 137 performances from 10 April 1909 to 7 August 1909.[2] Set in the South of France, the choreographer was Julian Alfred and the scenic designers were H. Robert Law, Edward G. Unitt and Joseph Wickes,[3] while Frank P. Paret was the musical director.[7]
The action is set in the Grand Hotel at Dinard in the South of France and its adjoining gardens. General Samovar's daughter Nadine is engaged to Nikolas Kromeski but is actually in love with Jacques Baccarel, an artist the General hates because of Jacques's avant-garde notions about painting. The General is unaware that Baccarel had once painted his wife Nichette and called the picture "The Beauty Spot". Samovar is also unaware that his nephew Nikolas Kromeski, a Dutch coffee planter, has returned from Borneo and has brought his wife Pomare, a native girl from Borneo, with him. Baccarel and Kromeski swap disguises, and the disguised Baccarel masquerading as Kromeski persuades Samovar to buy "The Beauty Spot" after some more clothing has been painted on the model. In the end Samovar is reconciled to Baccarel and his daughter Nadine marrying.[8]
"It is one of those aimless combinations of hurrah and hosiery that usually sprout with the Spring and continue to tra la when the days grow longer and hotter. Of its kind, it is a pretty good sort of a show too with plenty of dash and ginger, pretty girls and the kind of a story that can mean anything you want it to mean, and will not trouble you if you are not particularly fond of stories told in patches."[9]
Bathing Girls, Maids, Chairmen, Artists, Officers of the Fleet, Sailors, Models, Nautch Dancers, Aborigines, etc., etc.
Other productions
On 28 March 1910 a production including much of the original cast opened at the Alvin Theatre in Pittsburg with Jefferson De Angelis reprising his role as the flirtatious General Samovar while the other principal roles were also taken by the New York cast including George MacFarlane as Jacques Baccarel, Frank Doane in the character of the negro valet Chickoree, masquerading as a Prince of Borneo and Isabel D’Armond promoted to the leading role of Nadine, the General's daughter.[10]
The Beauty Spot, London (1917)
Programme cover for The Beauty Spot (1917) by Dolly Tree
On 22 December 1917 The Beauty Spot opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London[11] but this production shared only the title with its American counterpart.[12] The London version featured Evelyn Laye in an early appearance in a minor role.[5]
The Beauty Spot ran at the Gaiety Theatre from 22 December 1917 to 4 May 1918 (152 performances). The music was composed by James W. Tate[13] with lyrics by Clifford Harris and "Valentine". The book was by Arthur Anderson. The production was directed by J.A.E. Malone and the choreographer was Jan Oyra. The Musical Director was Arthur Wood.[12] The posters and programme covers were designed by Dolly Tree.
The London production was adapted from the French revue scenas of P. L. Flers and featured the dance partnership of the French danseuse Régine Flory and her Polish partner Jan Oyra. This version included a memorable dance sequence called 'The Spirit of Hashish' in which Régine Flory succumbed to the influence of drugs.
Synopsis
Napoleon Bramble has written a popular guide book to Baluchistan - where every woman wears a beauty spot – and it is selling well. The only problem is that the guide book is a fraud; Bramble has never visited Baluchistan and the book was actually written by a dead friend. Bramble's wife Josephine persuades him to write a book of his own. Bramble confides his secret to the journalist Paul Prince, and asks him to be a ghostwriter for his new book. However, the son of the dead friend arrives on the scene disguised as Schamyl from Baluchistan together with his lady-friend, Kadouja. Schamyl sees an opportunity for blackmail but before he can put his scheme into action falls in love with Bramble's daughter, Leonie, much to the annoyance of her fiancé, Benjy Cardigan. Cardigan suspects that Schamyl is a fraud and arranges a pageant of wild folkdancers from Baluchistan which exposes the fraudsters.[12]
