Marigold
Book and Lyrics by Alan Melville
Savoy Theatre, London, May 1959
77 performances
Role: Archie Forsyth

Jeremy's Songs:

• Always Ask Your Heart - Jeremy (mp3 here) 

• Her Majesty's Health - Jeremy and Officers (mp3 here)

• Wonderful View - Jeremy and Sally Smith (mp3 here)

Liner notes by Pauline Grant
from the Marigold Original Cast Album 

Marigold is a gentle, tartan pastiche, as emotive as a valentine, designed expressly for the fugitives from the dynamic impact of contemporary American musicals. Its objective: nostalgia.

Act 1

On a summer afternoon in 1842, in Paradykes, Peebleshire, Mrs. Pringle, The Minister’s wife, and the Ladies Guild prepare for the annual Sale of Work. The gossip revolves endless round the proposed visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to Edinburgh Castle.

For a young lady of that leisurely era, Marigold, Mrs. Pringle’s ward, spends an extraordinarily busy afternoon. In strategical deference to the “Handbook for Young Ladies” she accepts the suit of Mr. James Payton, a local turnip farmer. ... She then receives the celebrated French actress, Mme Marly, who impetuously presents her with an expensive Paris gown. Our astonishment is only less than Marigold’s because we have already learned that Mme Marly is Marigold’s mother – separated for fifteen adventurous years, from Marigold’s father, Colonel Sellars.

On top of this, a crowd of Officers, from Colonel Sellars’ regiment, arrives – and long before the last heel has clicked we suspect that handsome Mr. Archie Forsyth has his own ideas on the pattern or Marigold’s future life.

... The Act ends ... with Marigold stealing from the Manse towards the high life of Edinburgh.

Act II

Her loyal officers are drinking Her Majesty’s health with patriotic ardour outside Archie’s quarters in Edinburgh Castle. Marigold arrives and sets about organizing, with military competence, a “Sixteensome” Reel for Officers and their Ladies. Before Archie completely regains his breath from this fascinating manoeuvre, he is deprived of it again by learning Marigold’s fixed intention to spend the night in his quarters.

Colonel Sellars finds his daughter hiding behind Archie’s curtains, and only Mrs. Pringle’s arrival as chaperone and ally prevents a court-martial casting its shadow over these innocent proceedings.

Just as everything seems to be straightening out, Archie’s Aunts arrive and, hearing that he intends to save Marigold from the turnips by marrying her himself, promptly cut him off without a penny. Mme Marly proves more than a match for Scottish obstinacy by settling an enormous dowry on Marigold. One is left with the impression that, with Marigold in charge, life for Archie and his fellow officers is going to be one long reel.

... Sally Smith is an enchanting heroine [as Marigold]. Her daisy- fresh singing ... captivates us as effortlessly as it did the handsome, dashing Archie Forsyth of Jeremy Brett.

From Flops of the 1950: Marigold

"Could there have been a more handsome leading man than Jeremy Brett, fine of voice and confident in song? He brings a welcome dash of masculinity to proceedings that are dominated by the female stars. "