Maytime (musical)

Maytime
Music	Sigmund Romberg
Lyrics	Rida Johnson Young
Book	Rida Johnson Young
Basis	Wie einst im Mai (German operetta).
Productions	1917 Broadway

Maytime is a musical with music by Sigmund Romberg and lyrics and book by Rida Johnson Young, and with additional lyrics by Cyrus Wood. The musical ran on Broadway from 1917 to 1918. The story is based on the 1913 German operetta Wie einst im Mai, composed by Walter Kollo, with words by Rudolf Bernauer and Rudolf Schanzer. Maytime introduced songs such as "The Road to Paradise", "Will You Remember?" and "Jump Jim Crow". It was the second longest-running book musical in the 1910s, and established Romberg as one of the leading creators of operettas.

The story, set in New York, is told in episodes covering a long period, from 1840 to the twentieth century. Wealthy young Ottillie van Zand is in love with Richard Wayne, an apprentice in her father's cooperage. Her father prefers her to marry a wealthy "drunken libertine". Though Ottillie and Richard are never able to consummate their love, their descendants eventually meet and marry.

The original Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on August 16, 1917 and later moved to the 44th Street, Broadhurst and Lyric Theatres, running for a total of 492 performances. It starred Peggy Wood and Charles Purcell and featured Ralph Herbert, William Norris and Gertrude Vanderbilt. The New York Times gave the show a rave review, saying that it had "delicate charm" and also blended "the tragedy of the individual" with "the eternal comedy of living".

It was adapted to film twice, in 1923 and again in 1937. The earlier version was thought to have been lost, but was found in 2009 in the New Zealand Film Archive and is undergoing restoration. The 1937 version had a changed story and score. Ohio Light Opera released a recording of the musical in 2005.

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