Op stap

Summary

Musical comedy about a kind-hearted piano tuner with a mildly ironic outlook on life.

Janus Fortuin is a poor but contented piano tuner who lives in Amsterdam with his wife and daughter Polly. Polly's fiancé George dreams of a career in music. One day, Polly's rich uncle from Batavia arrives. When his relatives fail to recognise him, he decides to boards with them as a lodger. He brings the family into contact with the singer Bella Ramona, which leads to some misunderstanding and the plot thickens even more when a number of forged cheques turn up. In the end all is resolved. Barend goes home to Batavia and George finally hits the big time with his song 'Op stap'. Jan Fortuin is as poor as he ever was but not too miserable to sing the distinctly non-upwardly mobile song 'Als je voor een dubbeltje geboren bent, bereik je nooit een kwartje' ( If you were born to earn a dime, you'll never make a quarter).

The leading parts in Op stap are played by well-known music hall stars Louis and Heintje Davids, and Fien de la Mar. Jacques van Tol, one of the great Dutch lyricists, wrote the songs.