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''The Vagabond King'' is a 1925 operetta by Rudolf Friml in four acts, with a book and lyrics by Brian Hooker and William H. Post, based upon Justin Huntly McCarthy's 1901 romantic novel and play ''If I Were King''. The story is a fictionalized episode in the life of the 15th-century poet and thief François Villon, centering on his wooing of Katherine De Vaucelles (the cousin of King Louis XI), and relating how he becomes “king for a day” and defends France against the invading forces of the Duke of Burgundy. The original production opened on Broadway in 1925, starring Dennis King and ran for 511 performances. The operetta then played in London, toured extensively and enjoyed revivals and two film adaptations, including one with King and Jeanette MacDonald. ==Background== In 1901, writer Justin Huntly McCarthy sentimentalized Villon's career in a novel, ''If I Were King'', that borrowed the king-for-a-day theme, allowing Villon to defeat France's enemies and win the hand of an aristocratic lady, all in under 24 hours. The author adapted it as a Broadway play the same year〔(''If I Were King'' ), IBDB, accessed December 6, 2012〕 and in London in 1902, and it was revived several times.〔McCarthy, Justin Huntly (''If I were king: a romantic play in four acts'' ), Samuel French, Ltd., 1922 edition, accessed December 6, 2012〕 In 1923, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart were at the beginning of their careers. They created a musical version of the McCarthy play for a Manhattan girl's school and then looked for a more prestigious venue for their collaboration. Broadway backers turned down the young team, but producer Russell Janney "borrowed" their idea and commissioned the more established Rudolf Friml to compose, and Brian Hooker to adapt the piece into a musical, increasing the comedy roles.〔Everett, William A. (''Rudolf Friml'' ), pp. 57–71, University of Illinois Press, 2008 ISBN 0252033817〕 The original production opened at the Casino Theatre on September 21, 1925. It starred Dennis King as Villon and Carolyn Thomson as Katherine and ran for a very successful 511 performances. The production was lavish and used an unusually large pit orchestra.〔(''The Vagabond King'' ). MusicalTheatreGuide, accessed January 27, 2011〕 It received unanimously enthusiastic reviews.〔 The operetta then had a successful run in London in 1927 at the Winter Garden Theatre, running for 480 performances, and toured extensively. Its revivals include a 1943 Broadway revival.〔 It was also performed regularly in the 1970s and 1980s in New York by the Light Opera of Manhattan. A 1930 musical film with the same title was filmed in two-color Technicolor, with Dennis King reprising his stage role. Jeanette MacDonald and Lillian Roth co-starred. It was long thought lost, but was recovered and restored in 1998. Several non-Friml songs were added in this version. The film was remade in 1956 in regular Technicolor and VistaVision. It starred Kathryn Grayson, Oreste Kirkop, Rita Moreno, Walter Hampden and Cedric Hardwicke. Only a few songs were from the original, but new Friml numbers were added. Leslie Nielsen and Jack Lord were featured in villainous roles. This remake was not a success.〔 The McCarthy novel was adapted as a silent film in 1920 and as a 1938 nonmusical film, ''If I Were King''. It starred Ronald Colman as Villon. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Vagabond King」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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