At the beach she attracts many admirers as a 'belle in a bathing suit', but has her heart set on English officer, Captain Ralph Edgerton. In order to escape them, Clare assumes the false identity of 'The Little Duchess' and flees Paris for the coast. The Parisian actress Clare de Brion and her uncle, Count Cassibianca, are hounded by creditors. Midway through the production's Broadway run, the show transferred to the Grand Opera House where it closed in April 1902 after 144 performances. After initial tryout performances in Baltimore and Washington D.C., the work premiered on Broadway at the Casino Theatre on October 14, 1901. The musical used sets designed by Ernest Albert, and costumes designed by Caroline Seidle, Will R. The cast also included Sydney Barraclough as the romantic male lead, Captain Ralph Edgerton. Marion who also starred in the production as Count Cassibianca. The original production of The Little Duchess was directed by George F.
The musical was created as a starring vehicle for Ziegfeld's longtime life partner, the actress Anna Held, who portrayed Clare de Brion, a.k.a 'The Little Duchess'. Produced by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., the work was an adaptation of Alfred Hennequin's 1878 play Niniche. The Little Duchess is a musical in three acts with music by Reginald De Koven and both book and lyrics by Harry B.
