Castles in the Air

Castles in the Air is a musical comedy, with a book and lyrics by Raymond Wilson Peck and music by Percy Wenrich (additional lyrics by R. Locke). The story concerns two young men, Monty Blair and John Brown, who mistake an exclusive Westchester resort for an inn. They decide to pretend to be nobility, and Monty introduces John as a Latvian prince. Evelyn's uncle Philip decides to teach her a lesson about social climbing by taking her to Latvia, intending to expose John as an impostor. The plan backfires, though, because John really is a prince. The musical opened on Broadway in the Selwyn Theatre on September 6, 1926. It moved to the Century Theatre on December 6, 1926. The production was directed by Frank S. Merlin and choreographed by John Boyle and Julian Mitchell. It starred J. Harold Murray as John and Vivienne Segal as Evelyn. On June 29, 1927, a production opened in London, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Roles and original cast Monty Blair – Bernard Granville John Brown – J. Harold Murray Evelyn Devine – Vivienne Segal Philip Rodman – Stanley Forde General Slodak – Walter Edwin Count Draga – Richard Farrell Lieutenant – Edward Gorman Kemlar – William Hasson The Queen Regent – Thais Lawton Mme. Joujou Durant – Claire Madjette The Chancellor – Gregory Ratoff George Sedgwick – Allen Waterous Annie Moore – Joyce White Amos – Robert Williamson