Merry Widow Gallery I

The original London cast program for The Merry Widow.

Act I: The recently widowed Sonia (Lily Elsie) is worth twenty millions -- making her the richest person in the kingdom of Marsovia. When Sonia travels to Paris, all of Marsovia fears some fortune hunter will marry her and take her fortune out of the country.

Baron Popoff (George Graves) welcomes Sonia to the Marsovian embassy in Paris, where a ball is being held in honor of their king's birthday. Popoff had hoped his attaché, Count Danilo, would be on hand -- but the rascal is missing in action. As Sonia's onetime sweetheart, he is his country's only hope. Without him, Popoff has little luck in warding off the legion of ravenous suitors pursuing Sonia.

Popoff does not realize his seemingly virtuous younger wife Natalie is having a torrid firtation (or worse!) with Parisian playboy Camille. Here we see William Weedon (Camille) and Lois Ewell (Natalie), who played Camille and Natalie in the original New York cast.

Nisch (W. H. Berry), the embassy messenger, is on hand when Danilo (Joseph Coyne) finally arrives -- tipsy and exhausted after a spree at the infamous Parisian night spot, Maxim's.

Baron Popoff discovers Danilo sound asleep on an embassy sofa. Despite threats and pleas, Danilo refuses to wake up, and more importantly refuses to woo Sonia. Although he still loves her, he refuses to look like a fortune hunter.

Sonia awakens Danilo, who seems shocked to see her He giggles nervously during their uneasy conversation. When Sonia begs him to stop laughing "in that silly way," he responds, "It's the only way I know!"

It is clear that the old lovers are still attracted to each other but each refuses to admit it. Sonia teases her old lover, saying the king of Marsovia -- who refused to let Danilo marry her when she was poor -- would now be delighted if Danilo married her . . . and her money. Danilo swear to Sonia that he will never say "I love you" to her. The battle is on.

Sonia selects the unwilling Danilo for a "ladies choice" dance. He tries to auction the dance off for charity, scaring off all the cheapskate pursuers. When Danilo then claims his dance, Sonia declines -- eventually giving in. When she compliments his dancing, Danilo responds, "One does what one can."