Little Nellie Kelly

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Introduction to "Little Nellie Kelly"

"Little Nellie Kelly" premiered in London’s West End at the New Oxford Theatre on July 2, 1923, running for 255 performances until February 16, 1924. Written, produced, and directed by George M. Cohan, this two-act musical comedy first dazzled Broadway in 1922 with 276 shows before crossing the Atlantic. Starring Roy Royston as Jack Lloyd and Elizabeth Hines as Nellie Kelly in its New York debut, the London cast featured Royston again alongside Anita Elson and the Forde Sisters. A Jazz Age tale of Irish-American romance, its catchy Cohan tunes like "Nellie Kelly, I Love You" and spirited dance numbers brought a slice of New York flair to London, delighting audiences with its blend of satire and sentiment amid the post-war boom.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

George M. Cohan, a Broadway titan, penned the book, music, and lyrics, infusing "Little Nellie Kelly" with his signature patriotic pep and comedic edge, honed from hits like "Little Johnny Jones." Julian Mitchell staged the musical numbers, adding razzle-dazzle to Cohan’s vision, while H. Robert Law and Joseph Wickes designed the vibrant sets. Charles J. Gebest led the orchestra, amplifying Cohan’s score. Roy Royston’s debonair Jack Lloyd and Charles King’s earnest Jerry Conroy led the Broadway cast, with London’s production spotlighting Royston and Elson, backed by producer C.B. Cochran’s knack for spectacle. This transatlantic team delivered a polished, high-energy romp that bridged American and British theatre traditions with flair.

A Jazz Age Romance Unfolds

Nellie Kelly, daughter of NYPD Captain John Kelly, works at DeVere’s Department Store, catching the eye of millionaire Jack Lloyd. Already loved by Irish laborer Jerry Conroy, she rebuffs Lloyd’s advances, prompting him to host a lavish Fifth Avenue party at his aunt Mrs. Chesterfield Langford’s home to woo her. Jerry crashes the bash, and chaos ensues when Mrs. Langford’s pearls vanish during a mystery play Nellie stages with pals Harold Westcott and Sidney Potter. Lloyd’s pursuit falters as Nellie and Jerry’s bond deepens, ending in a triumphant reunion. Songs like "The Voice in My Heart" and "Dancing My Worries Away" weave romance and mischief, poking fun at shop-girl tropes and Prohibition-era high society.

Performance and Reception

Opening after a Boston tryout and Broadway triumph, "Little Nellie Kelly" hit London with buzz, its 255-performance run outpacing many West End peers. Critics likely cheered Cohan’s “tuneful” score and Royston’s charm, though specific reviews are scarce. Audiences embraced its lively dance featuring the Forde Sisters and Cohan’s satirical jabs at Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and his own works, like "You Remind Me of My Mother." Its July 1923 debut, delayed from April, tapped into a roaring ‘20s appetite for American flair, succeeding "The Cabaret Girl" at the New Oxford. A 1924 Edinburgh tour followed, with Daisy Burrell as Nellie, cementing its appeal as a transatlantic crowd-pleaser, though it didn’t match Broadway’s nine-month haul.

Legacy in West End Theatre

"Little Nellie Kelly" bridged Broadway and the West End in the Jazz Age, its 255 London shows and Australian run Melbourne and Sydney in 1923-1924 highlighting Cohan’s global pull. Outshining his other musicals in performance count, it influenced the era’s shop-girl musical trend, though its 1940 Judy Garland film eclipsed the stage plot. Rarely revived today, its interpolations like Willy Redstone’s "Romany Tango" in Australia hint at its adaptability. A 1922 cast recording preserves its sound, but it remains a footnote beside giants like "The Phantom of the Opera." In London, it’s a spirited relic of 1920s optimism, blending Irish-American charm with Cohan’s indelible stamp on musical comedy’s evolution.