James John Cox, a journeyman hatter.
John James Box, a journeyman printer.
Sergt. Bouncer, late of the Hampshire Yeomanry.
The scene is laid in London; time, the present.
"Cox and Box" is of interest because it is the germ from which sprang the
long list of Sullivan's charming comic operas. Burnand, the author of the
libretto, has told the story of how they came to write this little
operetta. They had been to a private performance of Offenbach's "Les deux
Aveugles," and, Burnand wishing to present something of the same kind to
a party of his own friends, the notion suddenly occurred to him of
turning Morton's well-known farce of "Box and Cox" into an opera.
Sullivan took to the plan enthusiastically. Burnand reversed the title to
"Cox and Box," and turned Mrs. Bouncer into Sergeant Bouncer, so as to
admit of a martial air. They had but three weeks before them, but at the
end of that time the work was finished, Sullivan setting the music with
almost incredible rapidity. It made such a great hit that it was decided
to give it publicly, and at the last moment the composer wrote an
overture for it.
The story is the familiar old one which as "Box and Cox" was for so many
years and still is such a favorite on the stage. It turns upon the funny
experiences of Cox, the hatter, and Box, the printer, who are occupying
the same room, the one by night and the other by day, unbeknown to each
other, and for which Sergeant Bouncer gets double rent. At last they meet
in the room which each one claims as his own. After a ludicrous dispute
they gradually become reconciled to each other, but another dispute
ensues when Cox finds that the widow Penelope Ann, whom he is about to
marry, has been deserted by Box, the latter pretending to have committed
suicide to get rid of her. Cox insists upon restoring Box to the arms of
his intended, but Box declines his generous offer. Then they agree to
decide by lot which shall have her, but each tries to cheat the other.
The situation resolves itself satisfactorily when a letter comes to Cox
from Penelope Ann, announcing that she has decided to marry Knox. They
give three cheers for Knox, and Bouncer closes the scene with a joyous
rataplan in which all three join.
The situations are extremely humorous throughout, and the action moves
briskly. Though Sullivan wrote the music in great haste, it is in
perfect keeping with the fun of the farce and keeps up its interest to
the end. The principal numbers are Bouncer's rataplan song, "Yes, in
those Merry Days," and his duet with Cox, "Stay, Bouncer, stay"; Cox's
joyous song, "My Master is punctual always in Business," with its dance
at the end of each stanza; the characteristic serenade, "The Buttercup
dwells in the Lowly Mead" (Cox) and "The Floweret shines on the Minaret
Fair" (Box); Box's solemn description of his pretended suicide, "Listen!
I solemnly walked to the Cliff"; and the finale by the jolly triumvirate
with the "rataplan."
Trial by Jury.
[Operetta, in one act; text by Gilbert. First produced at the Royalty
Theatre, London, March 25, 1875.]