A Runaway Girl

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"A Runaway Girl" is a musical comedy that premiered in London in 1898, with music by Ivan Caryll and lyrics by Harry Greenbank and Aubrey Hopwood. The show was a classic example of the British musical genre known as "the Edwardian musical comedy," which was popular in the early 20th century.

The plot of "A Runaway Girl" revolves around a wealthy young woman named Angela who runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage and winds up in a seedy part of London. There, she meets a group of colorful characters, including a lovelorn detective, a comic landlord, and a band of street urchins. The show features a number of catchy tunes, such as "Moonstruck" and "The Lass with the Delicate Air," and the production was known for its lavish costumes and elaborate dance numbers.

One of the most famous performers associated with "A Runaway Girl" was the actress and singer Marie Tempest, who played the lead role of Angela. Other notable members of the original cast included Hayden Coffin, who played the male lead, and Letty Lind, who played one of the street urchins.

The show was a critical and commercial success, running for more than 600 performances in its initial London run, and inspiring several successful productions in the United States and elsewhere. "A Runaway Girl" is now considered a classic of the Edwardian musical comedy genre and is still performed in revivals and adaptations today.