Two Merry Monarchs

[1] It starred Workman, Robert Whyte Jr., Lennox Pawle, Daisy le Hay and Roland Cunningham.

[2] There was a brief transfer to the Strand Theatre in London, which ran for an additional six performances, from 30 April to 6 May 1910, and a provincial tour in the late summer of 1910, both starring Hayden Coffin.

Neither of these works had been very successful (despite the cachet of W. S. Gilbert as librettist for the latter), so Workman decided to follow the prevailing tastes of the London public by presenting an Edwardian musical comedy for his third production.

[10] Producer Austen Hurgon picked it up for an attempt at a low-price season of musical comedy at the Strand Theatre, and the production was transferred in whole with the same cast, scenery and costuming, beginning on 30 April 1910.

Added to the cast were provincial musical comedy star Philip Smith as Rolandyl and West End leading-man Hayden Coffin as Prince Charmis.

[13] Workman's last production at the Savoy was a brief run of Gluck's Orpheus, which starred concert artist Marie Brema, and closed after 23 performances.

[14] Act I – A laburnum-hung Courtyard outside the Royal Palace of Esperanto A tocsin-bell summons the populace, who rush out to hear the king's herald, Helvanoise, announce a new law: Kissing is now forbidden for one year under penalty of banishment.

Princess Cynthia, King Paul's adopted daughter, is in love with Prince Charmis, the Governor of Police.

King Paul justifies his decision to enact the law, and when the crowd does not accept his argument, he weeps them into submission.

Nine hundred years ago, King Paul was an alchemist who discovered the Elixir of Life, and when he drank it, he became immortal.

King Paul tells Cynthia about her betrothal, and when she begins to cry, he gives her an "extra special sweet" to make her feel better.

The ballroom guests appear with Iris, who tells the ladies where they might get a kissing license, even though the men show no interest in purchasing one.

King Paul orders Rolandyl to set up his office in the reception room and sell licenses to the public.

Mandamus is appointed King of Utopia, Utops becomes his Lord Chief Justice, and Paul becomes Charmis' Governor of Police.

The Morning Post wrote, "The new musical piece produced at the Savoy Theatre differs in character from the productions for which the house was famous in the past.

"[17] The Era declared "The story becomes less easy to follow as the play proceeds; indeed, it serves as a thread on which to string musical numbers, dances and dialogue.