Theatrical works
The following is a list of theatrical commissions composed, arranged, or directed by Frankel between 1935 and 1949.
Theatre scores (as composer)
1946
“Fatal Curiosity” (play by George Lillo)
Arts Theatre 5/12/46 - 29/12/46 (29 performances)
starring - Hugh Griffith dir.-Alec Clunes prod-Beatrix Lehmann
1948
“Adventure Story” (Terrence Rattigan)
St. James’s Theatre 17/3/49 - 18/6/49 (107 performances
starring - Paul Schofield [bit-part Greek soldiers incl. Terence Longden & Stanley Baker]
1949
“The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist”
Theatre scores (as arranger/MD)
1930’s
Charlot’s Char-a-bang! (Revue prod. by Andre Charlot)
Vaudeville Theatre 10/4/35 - 6/7/35 (101 performances)
music,book & lyrics by Arthur Macrea, Reginald Gardiner, John Tilley, Robert Nesbitt, Geoffrey Wright (later a pupil of BF) etc.
starring - Tilley, Gardiner, Richard Murdoch, Elsie Randolph et.al.
MD-John Borelli
m.arr - Borelli, Ben Frankel, Bretton Byrd & Herman Levy
Floodlight (Revue)
Saville Theatre 23/6/37 - 14/8/37 (51 performances)
music & lyrics by Beverly Nichols
starring - John Mills, Hermione Baddely etc
m.arr. & MD - Benjamin Frankel
Recording: exc. “I Will Pray” Frances Day, cond. BF on HMV 8667
Take it Easy (musical)
Palace Theatre 23/9/37 - 2/10/37 (12 performances)
book, music, lyrics (& starring) Herman & Sammy Timberg & Barbara Blair
cast also including - Billy Hartnell, Patricia Burke & Judy Kelly
MD - George Windeatt
m. arr. - Benny Frankel [Sammy Timberg is best known as Musical director of Fleischer Cartoons including ‘Popeye’ & Superman’ series in the 1940s]
The Melody that Got Lost (European operetta)
Phoenix Theatre 19/1/38 - 12/2/38 (28 performances)
original music by Kjeld Abell
starring - Esmond Knight
m. arr & MD - Benjamin Frankel
Operette (musical)
His Majesty’s Theatre 16/3/38 - 9/7/38 (133 performances)
book music & lyrics - Noel Coward
MD - Benjamin Frankel
Recording: selection on HMV C2999, cond by Frankel (and re-issued on CD for the Coward centenary: EMI 7243 5 21808)
“The Stately Homes of England”*; “Where are the Songs we Sang?”*; “Countess Mitzi”*; “Foolish Virgins”; “Operette”*; “Model Maid”; “Finale (Act 2)”; “Dearest Love”
Happy Returns (Variety Show)
Adelphi Theatre 19/5/38 - 6/8/38 (78 performances)
starring - Flanagan & Allan, Beatrice Lilley etc
MD-Francis Collinson
m.arr - Benjamin Frankel
Under Your Hat (musical)
Palace theatre 24/11/38 - 13/4/40 (514 performances)
music & lyrics - Vivian Ellis etc.
starring - Jack Hulbert & Cicely Courtneidge
MD- Lew Stone
m.arr - Ben Frankel
[adapted into movie (1940) MD-Stone with no mention of Frankel]
Let’s Pretend (revue)
St. James’s Theatre 26/12/38 - 14/1/39 (28 performances)
music - Nicholas Brodszky
lyrics - Sonny Miller, etc.
MD - Dennis Van Thal
m.arr - Ben Frankel
Sitting Pretty (revue)
Prince’s Theatre 17/8/39 - 2/9/39 (20 performances)
music - Manning Sherwin
lyrics - Douglas Furber
starring - Arthur Riscoe & Sydney Howard
MD-John Borelli
m.arr - Ben Frankel
1940’s
Come Out to Play! (revue)
Phoenix Theatre 19/3/40 - 25/5/40 (77 performances)
book, music & lyrics - Eddie Pola, Harry Parr-Davies, Roma Campbell-Hunter & Ben Frankel ( “Poor Chinese White” by Frankel/Pola, pub.Campbell Connelly)
starring - Sonnie Hale, Jessie Matthews, Shirley Lenner etc
MD (& arr) - Ben Frankel
Orchids and Onions (revue)
Comedy Theatre 1/4/41 - 6/5/41 (49 performances)
music & lyrics - Ian Grant & Jayne Ogden
starring - Albert Whelen, Polly Ward & Norman Hackforth
MD - Lew Stone
m.arr - Ben Frankel & J. Marr-Mackie
Big Top (revue)
His Majesty’s Theatre 8/5/42 - 29/8/42 (140 performances)
book - Herbert Farjeon music-Geoffrey Wright, Nicholas Brodszky & Harry Parr-Davies
starring - Fred Emney, Beatrice Lilley, Cyril Richard, Patricia Burke & ‘Mr.Cochrane’s Young Ladies’
MD (& arr) - Ben Frankel
Something in the Air (musical)
Palace Theatre 23/9/43 - 8/7/44 (335 performances)
book - Arthur Macrae & Jack Hulbert
music - Manning Sherwin lyrics - Harold Purcell & Max Kester
starring - Jack Hulbert & Cicely Courtneidge
MD - Robert Probst
m.arr - Ben Frankel
Sweet Yesterday (musical)
Adelphi Theatre 21/6/45 - 8/12/45 (196 performances)
music - Kenneth Leslie Smith
lyrics - James Dyrenforth & Max Kester
starring - Webster Booth & Anne Ziegler
MD - Herbert Lodge
m.arr - Ben Frankel
“Under the Counter” (musical-comedy) (as arranger)
Phoenix Theatre 22/11/45 - 5/7/47 (665 performances!)
music - Manning Sherwin
lyrics - Harold Purcell
starring - Cicely Courtneidge
produced - Jack Hulbert
MD - Robert Probst
m.arr - Ben Frankel
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