Harry B Smith

The Enchantress Harry B Smith

This often over looked Victor Herbert musical was considered at the time when it was first produced one of Herbert's best scores. Critics hailed the play as "all that a musical show should be." Critics also acknowledged the book by Harry B. Smith, the forefather of today's modern musical, as "excellent" with "a consistently interesting and engaging story" of a Prince who is enchanted by a commoner, a beautiful actress. If he marries her he must forfeit his kingdom thus causing the serio-comic plotting on the part of spies, conspirators, and ambitious Princesses. First produced in 1911, the musical is one of the few successful Herbert scores which lacked a significant revival after its initial production.