The Lady Slavey

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"The Lady Slavey" is a musical comedy in two acts, with music by Lionel Monckton and additional songs by Howard Talbot. The show premiered in 1896 at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London and was a hit, running for 509 performances. The show's book was written by Harry Greenbank and Arthur Conan Doyle, with additional lyrics by Greenbank and Adrian Ross.

The story takes place in the fictional kingdom of Banda-Paloo, where the wealthy Lady Crystal (known as "The Lady Slavey" due to her ownership of a popular pastry shop) falls in love with the impoverished Prince Agoon. However, their romance is threatened by the machinations of the villainous Marquis de Marque, who wants to marry Lady Crystal for her money and take control of the kingdom.

The show features several memorable musical numbers, including "The Girls of Gottenberg" and "I'm One of the Merry Malones". It also includes a subplot involving a group of Irish servants who work for Lady Crystal and provide comic relief with their antics.

"The Lady Slavey" was a popular success in its time and helped establish Monckton as one of the leading composers of British musical theatre. Although the show is not frequently revived today, its music and characters have endured in the memories of theatre historians and aficionados.