- Date: 1899
- Composer:
Leslie Stuart - Period: Post-Romantic (1870-1909)
Review
This musical comedy in two acts, with a book by the renowned Owen Hall (who, it is said, always wrote for cash down and never received royalties), and lyrics by Ernest Boyd-Jones and Paul Rubens, premiered at the Lyric Theatre, London, on November 11, 1899.The opening chorus "Flowers A-Blooming So Gay" sets the atmosphere of the Philippine Islands ("Roses softly blooming to your sweet perfuming say 'Goodbye,' Fragrancy distilling, Willing or unwilling, ye must die..."). This also describes the business of millionaire Cyrus W. Gilfain who manufactures a perfume called "Floradora."
Gilfain is courting the working girl Dolores (who is actually the rightful heir to the island of Floradora, Gilfain's real objective is thus to hold control through marriage). Dolores sings of her yearning for romance in the lovely ballad in waltz tempo "The Silver Star of Love" ("When love's star shines above me, When the calm of the night falls around, 'Tis the time when the heart tells of one who may love me..."). But Dolores is in love with the overseer Frank Abercoed, and they express their love in the duet "Somebody" in lilting tempo with sweeping arpeggios. Gilfain, however, wants Abercoed to marry his daughter Angela; but Angela loves Captain Arthur Donegal (of the 4th Royal Life Guards and Lady Holyrood's brother), and they sing of their attraction in the duet "Galloping" where love is compared to a wild steed.
At this point, Anthony Tweedlepunch, wandering showman, phrenologist, hypnotist, and palmist, enters the scene and is asked by Gilfain to pair off the islanders according to the "science" of phrenology. In a sort of Gilbert and Sullivan number for soloist and echoing chorus, Gilfain sings the humorous "Phrenology" ("There is nothing we disparage Like an ill-assorted marriage, You must choose your wife phrenologic care: For the realm beneath her bonnet Has your future mapped upon it, so when you're engaged take down her hair..."). Abercoed refuses this travesty and in his ballad "The Shade of the Palm" says goodbye to Dolores ("Queen of the Eastern sea! Fair one of Eden, look to the West for me!") as he leaves the land of the "shelt'ring palm" and heads back to Wales. In the Finale of Act I, the local girls and guys also rebel against this "scientific fraud," Dolores and Abercoed declare "This is not sorrow, this is not parting, This is the hour when two hearts unite...Seas may divide us...Years keep in longing....This bond we will never betray," and some songs are recapitulated.
In Act II, Gilfain tricks Abercoed by purchasing his family's castle to convert as an office to sell "Floradora." Several jolly character songs occur in this act: Lady Holyrood's "Tact" and "I've an Inkling," the jolly chorus and promenade "Tell Me, Pretty Maiden (Are There Any More at Home Like You?)" for elegantly dressed chorus men and women. Gilfain is eventually frightened out of the castle and all ends happily. ~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide
Albums with Complete Performances of the Work
| Title | Date |
| Florodoro | 1989 |
Albums with Excerpt Performances of the Work
| Title | Date |
| Gay 90's | 1993 |
| Treasures of Operetta | 2004 |
| Treasures of Operetta III | 1989 |
