The Girls of Gottenberg
The Girls of Gottenberg is an Edwardian two‑act musical comedy created by George Grossmith, Jr. and L. E. Berman. The music is by Ivan Caryll and Lionel Monckton, with lyrics by Adrian Ross and Basil Hood. Some sources say P. G. Wodehouse wrote the words for one song, “Our Little Way,” but it wasn’t included in the show’s script and he isn’t officially credited.
Set in Germany, the comedy uses British stereotypes of Germans for its humor. It opened in London at the Gaiety Theatre on May 15, 1907 and ran for 303 performances. The cast included Grossmith, Jr., Edmund Payne and Gertie Millar, with a young Gladys Cooper in a small role as Eva. The show also played on Broadway at the Knickerbocker Theatre, opening September 2, 1908, and toured Australia.
One of the best‑known songs is “Berlin Is on the Spree.” Although popular in London in 1907, the show faced strong competition from other hits of the time, such as The Merry Widow and Miss Hook of Holland.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:01 (CET).