The Merry Widow 101
Gallery I: Act I
Compiled by John Kenrick
The photos on this page are of The Merry Widow's first West End and New York productions in 1907. They are taken from period magazine articles and postcards in John Kenrick's personal collection. All these images are thumbnails -- click on them to see larger versions.
 The original London cast program for The Merry Widow. |
 Act I: The
recently widowed Sonia (Lily Elsie) is worth twenty millions -- making
her the richest person in the kingdom of Marsovia. When Sonia travels to Paris, all of Marsovia
fears some fortune hunter will marry her and take her fortune out of the country. |
 Baron Popoff (George Graves) welcomes Sonia to the
Marsovian embassy in Paris, where a ball is being held in honor of their king's birthday. Popoff had
hoped his attaché, Count Danilo, would be on hand -- but the rascal is missing in action. As Sonia's
onetime sweetheart, he is his country's only hope. Without him, Popoff has little luck in warding off
the legion of ravenous suitors pursuing Sonia. |
 Popoff does not realize his seemingly virtuous younger wife Natalie is having a
torrid firtation (or worse!) with Parisian playboy Camille. Here we see William
Weedon (Camille) and Lois Ewell (Natalie), who played Camille
and Natalie in the original New York cast |
| Popoff does not realize his seemingly virtuous younger wife Natalie is having a
torrid firtation (or worse!) with Parisian playboy Camille. Here we see William
Weedon (Camille) and Lois Ewell (Natalie), who played Camille
and Natalie in the original New York cast. |
 Nisch
(W. H. Berry), the embassy messenger, is on hand when Danilo (Joseph
Coyne) finally arrives -- tipsy and exhausted after a spree at the
infamous Parisian night spot, Maxim's. |
 Baron Popoff discovers Danilo sound asleep on
an embassy sofa. Despite threats and pleas, Danilo refuses to wake up,
and more importantly refuses to woo Sonia. Although he still loves her,
he refuses to look like a fortune hunter. |
 Sonia awakens Danilo, who seems shocked to see her He giggles nervously during
their uneasy conversation. When Sonia begs him
to stop laughing "in that silly way,"
he responds, "It's the only way I know!" |
| Sonia awakens Danilo, who seems shocked to see her He giggles nervously during
their uneasy conversation. When Sonia begs him
to stop laughing "in that silly way,"
he responds, "It's the only way I know!" |
 It is clear that
the old lovers are still attracted to each
other but each refuses to admit it. Sonia teases her old lover, saying
the king of Marsovia -- who refused to let Danilo marry her when she was
poor -- would now be delighted if Danilo married her . . . and her
money. Danilo swear to Sonia that he will never say "I love
you" to her. The battle is on. |
 Sonia selects the unwilling Danilo for a "ladies choice" dance. He
tries to auction the dance off for charity, scaring off all the
cheapskate pursuers. When Danilo then claims his dance, Sonia declines
-- eventually giving in. When she compliments his dancing, Danilo
responds, "One does what one can." |