Eileen is a comic opera (sometimes described as a musical) with music by Victor Herbert and lyrics and book by Henry Blossom, based loosely on the 1835 novel Rory O'Moore by Herbert's grandfather, Samuel Lover. Set in 1798, the story concerns an Irish revolutionary arrested by the British for treason. Eileen, his nobly born sweetheart, helps him to escape by disguising him as a servant. After two Cleveland performances at the Colonial Theatre on January 1–2, 1917 titled Hearts of Erin, the musical moved on to Boston, changing its name to Eileen. It then opened at the Shubert Theatre on March 19, 1917 and ran for only 64 performances. It was produced by Joe Weber, formerly of the comedy duo Weber and Fields. It then toured, but a fire destroyed its sets and costumes three months into the tour. The show was not revived in New York until the end of the 20th century. In 1982, a single on-book concert performance was given at Manhattan's Town Hall, featuring E. G. Marshall as O'Day, Judy Kaye as Lady Maude and Roderick Cook as Sir Reginald. In 1997, it was produced and recorded by the Ohio Light Opera. In 2012, a small-scale production was given by the Light Opera of New York. Herbert was eager to write an "Irish" musical to celebrate the land of his birth. His score was well received by the critics, but the libretto received some harsh reviews. Alexander Woollcott wrote: "Mr Blossom [must have] gathered his material and atmosphere by reading for quite half an hour in some public library." Roles and original cast Eileen Mulvaney, niece of Lady Maude (soprano) – Grace Breen Captain Barry O'Day, a fine Irish Rebel (tenor) – Walter Scanlan Lady Maude Estabrooke, Eileen's Aunt – Olga Roller Colonel Lester, the local British authority – Edward Martindel Shaun Dhu, Barry's steadfast mate – Greek Evans Sir Reginald Stribling, a British Knight – Algernon Grieg Rosie Flynn – Louise Allen Biddy Flynn – F. Josie Claflin "Humpy" Grogan, the British tax collector – John B. Cooke Lanty Hackett – Harry Crosby Mickey O'Brien – Joseph Dillon Dinny Doyle – Scott Welsh Chorus of Villagers Synopsis Act I It is 1798, the year of the brutal uprisings of the United Irishmen, who seek to reclaim their lands from the British. Lady Maude, the attractive widow of Lord Estabrook, an English lady, is the mistress