(Vivian Ellis, A. P. Herbert) Lizbeth Webb, Georges Guétary, Betty Paul, Anona Winn, Brian Reece.
- 1. Selections from BLESS THE BRIDE
Vivian Ellis at the piano with Orchestra
- 2. INTRODUCTION Narrated by Alastair MacIntyre
- 3. CROQUET, CROQUET Company
- 4. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE Brian Reece
- 5. THOMAS T. Lizbeth Webb
- 6. OH! WHAT WILL MOTHER SAY? Company
- 7. I WAS NEVER KISSED BEFORE Lizbeth Webb, Georges Guétary
- 8. MA BELLE MARGUERITE Georges Guétary
- 9. DUCKY Anona Winn
- 10. BLESS THE BRIDE and ACT ONE FINALE Company
- 11. BOBBING, BOBBING Company
- 12. MON PAUVRE PETIT PIERRE Betty Paul, Lizbeth Webb, Georges Guétary
- 13. THE ENGLISHMAN Brian Reece, Eric Fort, Edna Clement, Stewart Vartan
- 14. THIS IS MY LOVELY DAY Lizbeth Webb, Georges Guétary
- 15. THE FISH Company
- 16. TO FRANCE Georges Guétary and Company
- 17. MY BIG MOMENT Brian Reece
- 18. HERE'S A KISS FOR ONE-AND-TWENTY Company
- 19. FINALE: THIS IS MY LOVELY DAY Georges Guétary, Lizbeth Webb
- 20. GRAND FINALE Orchestra
- Bonus Tracks
- 21. I WAS NEVER KISSED BEFORE Georges Guétary, Lizbeth Webb
- 22. MA BELLE MARGUERITE (in French) Georges Guétary
- 23. TABLE FOR TWO Georges Guétary
- 24. THIS IS MY LOVELY DAY George Guétary, Lizbeth Webb
Label-Information:
Bless the Bride opened at London's Adelphi Theatre in April 1947 and became
one of Britain's biggest post war musicals, running a staggering 886
performances in spite of stiff competition from "imported" shows like
Oklahoma! and Annie Get Your Gun. 1947 was the year the engagement of
Princess Elizabeth to Lt. Philip Mountbatten was announced with the royal
wedding taking place in November the same year. As a result the country was
in a wedding frenzy which no doubt contributed to the show's success.
With an enchanting score by Vivian Ellis and lyrics by A. P. Herbert, the
romantic leads were played by French actor Georges Guétary and our own
"Champagne Soprano" Lizbeth Webb. Brian Reece, Anona Winn and Betty Paul
offered strong support.
Only four of the songs got recorded commercially with the show-stopping duet
"This is my lovely day" becoming a favourite at weddings. The cast, however,
were invited to record an hour's potted version of the show for radio
broadcast, and it is from these rare transcriptions we have restored for
this CD issue. For bonus tracks we include a recording by the composer
Vivian Ellis at the piano of selections from the show along with three of
the four commercially recorded songs - "Table for two", "I was never kissed
before" and "This is my lovely day" and Georges Guétary singing "Ma Belle
Marguerite" recorded in French for the French market.
This CD has been released with the blessing and support of Lizbeth Webb who
provided the stunning production photographs in the CD booklet.
