Houseboat

D No: 606

Text - Author or Scripture: RWD and Joan Shaw Dirksen

Performing Forces: SATB, piano

Date Published: CE 93

Date of Composition: 1962

Notes: An operetta in two acts Libretto by Joan Dirksen, based on the book by John Kendrick Bangs. This is not a rewrite of the 1957 show. It is a wholly new version with a new plot, action, and ending involving new characters. Among them are Captain Kidd and his inept pirate crew. They, under the leadership of Lucretia Borgia, sneak aboard while the men are at the race track, cut the Houseboat loose, and set out to sea. To their dismay they discover that the women are below deck preparing and surprise party for the men. They have kidnapped the cream of Hades’ female society. Also new is a starring role for Sherlock Holmes who deduces “from footsteps on the shore” how and by whom the dastardly crime was perpetrated. Some music from the earlier version was retained and also some of Frank’s lyrics (noted below with asterisks; otherwise the new lyrics are by the composer. The first performance took place in May of 1962, the usual spring musical time in Whitby gymnasium, and again with staging, production and performance by the combined glee clubs of the National Cathedral School for Girls and the St. Alban School for Boys. In 1969 John Fenstermaker, who succeeded me as the glee clubs music director, repeated this operetta. Our daughter, Laura Dirksen, as a senior that year and played the role of Lucretia Borgia. John wrote his own “Cooking Song,” Lucretia’s big solo, and Miss Laura was some “ticked off,” but did it well. Index of musical numbers: Act I, scene 1— When you strike up conversation with a shade, Raleigh and men’s chorus; Don’t ever underestimate the power of women, men’s chorus; Scene 2—Marooned, Capt. Kidd and Lucretia Borgia, duet; Scene 3—Where there’s a man*, chorus; A touch of rose*, chorus; Should you mean yes, say “no,” Elizabeth I, solo; Henry, Henry, Henry!, the six wives of Henry VIII; Scene 4—Giving a party is play, women’s chorus; Yo heave ho!, Borgia, Kidd and pirates. Act 2, scene 1—Egad! How simple!, Sherlock Holmes and men’s chorus; Reprise, to end scene; Scene 2—There’s no nicer way to spend the day, the six wives of Henry VIII while playing Monopoly; My tutors in the good old days, Lucretia Borgias’s cooking song, solo; Don’t want to go to sea no more, Kidd and the pirates; There’s a house and a garden*, Dolly Madison, Martha Washington, Marie Antoinette and women’s chorus; Reprise—Yo heave ho!, to end scene, Borgia, Kidd and pirates; Scene 3—Sit down, sit down!,* soloists and men’s chorus; Finale reprise—Where there’s a man*. (Perf. time 1 hr. and 50 minutes.)