At the royal court, Victoria is unhappy with her life, and longs for something more. She meets her German first cousin Albert in 1836, and despite their different backgrounds, they feel an attraction. Her father dies and she accedes to the throne. As the romance grows, Victoria and Albert face the expectations of British society and political, diplomatic and court pressures. But these challenges strengthen their relationship, and he becomes her most trusted advisor.
The two marry in 1840 with royal pomp and fanfare. They share responsibilities and a vision for the future. Albert encourages the queen to embrace progress and modernization of the monarchy to support cultural and industrial progress; he also supports her intellectual pursuits. The two experience joys and triumphs, such as the birth of their nine children and the joys of parenthood, as well as tragedies, such as his declining health and early death in 1861, and her grief and loneliness after his death. They have a lasting impact on Great Britain and the monarchy.
The musical made its North American premiere at the ArtPark amphitheater in Lewiston, New York, in the summer of 1985. The production was directed by Brother Augustine Towey, C. M., and starred Barbara Marineau as Victoria. Charles Strouse was the creative advisor on the production.[3]I and Albert has not been performed on Broadway, but it was seen off-Broadway at York Theatre in 2007, starring Nancy Anderson and Gerritt Vandermeer, and directed by Michael Montel.[4]
Songs
Act I
Vivat! Vivat Regina! – Victoria, Company
It Has All Begun – Victoria, Lehzen and the People of England
Leave It Alone – Lord Melbourne
I've 'Eard the Bloody 'Indoos 'As It Worse – Street People
The Victoria and Albert Waltz – Instrumental
This Gentle Land – Albert
This Noble Land – Victoria, Lord Melbourne, Lord Palmerston, the Cabinet, Chorale
I and Albert – Victoria
His Royal Highness – Lord Palmerston, Lady Caro and the Foreign Office
Enough! – Albert
Victoria – Albert
All Glass – Albert, Victoria, Paxton, Royal Family and the public
Act 2
The Genius of Man – Company
His Royal Highness – Lord Palmerston and [?]
Just You and Me – Victoria, Albert and the Royal Children
Draw the Blinds – Victoria, Ladies-in-Waiting
The Widow at Windsor (lyrics by Kipling) – Second Troop, Queen's Own Dismounted Hussars
No One to Call Me Victoria – Victoria
When You Speak with a Lady – Disraeli
Go It, Old Girl! – Diamond Jubilee crowd
Finale: This Noble Land (reprise)
Reception
In the West End, the musical received mostly negative reviews, although the "splendour" of the production was praised, including its "clever" projections, along with James's performance.[1]
Recording
The cast album is a studio recording that reunited four of the original principals in London in 1981.[5]
References
^ abcEllacott, Vivyan. "I and Albert", Over the Footlights. Retrieved 23 December 2023
^Suskin, Steven. Show Tunes: The Songs, Shows and Careers of Broadway's Major Composers, Oxford University Press US, 2010 (Ed.4), ISBN0-19-531407-7, p. 291