Yes, Uncle!: History and Key Facts

Yes, Uncle! is a musical comedy with a book by Austen Hurgon and George Arthurs, music by Nat D. Ayer and lyrics by Clifford Grey. The story is based on the farce Le truc du Brésilien by Nicolas Nancey and Paul Armont, and the musical takes its title from the catch-phrase used by Bobby Summers and Mabel Mannering, addressing Uncle Brabazon Hollybone. It was produced by George Grossmith, Jr. and Edward Laurillard and opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London on 16 December 1917 and ran for a very successful 626 performances. The piece starred Fred Leslie as G.B. Stark, Margaret Bannerman as Joan and Leslie Henson as Bobby Summers. Later, Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard starred in the musical.

Yes, Uncle! was one of a number of very successful musical hits of the London stage during World War I (the others include the revue The Bing Boys Are Here (also with music and lyrics by Ayer and Grey), the musical The Maid of the Mountains, Chu Chin Chow, a mixture of comic opera and pantomime, The Happy Day (1916), Theodore & Co (1916) and The Boy (1917). Audiences wanted light and uplifting entertainment during the war, and these shows delivered it.

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