Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an elderly baronet.
Alexis, his son, of the Grenadier Guards.
Dr. Daly, vicar of Ploverleigh.
Notary.
John Wellington Wells, of Wells & Co., family sorcerers.
Lady Sangazure, a lady of ancient lineage.
Aline, her daughter, betrothed to Alexis.
Mrs. Partlet, a pew-opener.
Constance, her daughter.
[Chorus of peasantry.]
The scene is laid upon an English estate; time, the present.
The success of the two operettas, "Cox and Box" and "Trial by Jury," led
to the organization of a company under the management of Mr. D'Oyly Carte
for the production of the Sullivan-Gilbert collaborations, and the first
of its performances was "The Sorcerer." Incidentally it may be stated
that this opera introduced Mr. George Grossmith to the stage, and its
success led to a proposition from "Lewis Carroll" to Sullivan to set his
"Alice in Wonderland" as an opera, though the scheme was never realized.
The libretto is replete with humor, and the music is original and
characteristic, and particularly noticeable for its admirable parodies of
the Italian operas, and yet it is always scholarly.
The first act opens upon the grounds of Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre's
estate, where the villagers are gathered to celebrate the betrothal of
his son Alexis, and Aline, daughter of Lady Sangazure, with whom, fifty
years before, Sir Marmaduke had been in love. Mrs. Partlet, the
pew-opener, enters with her daughter Constance, who is hopelessly in love
with Dr. Daly, the vicar, for he cannot be made to understand, either by
her demonstrations or by the mother's hints, that he is the object of her
devotion. Alexis and Aline are congratulated by all, and sign the
marriage contract. When alone together, Alexis discourses upon his
favorite theory that all artificial barriers should be broken down and
that marriage should be contracted without regard to rank. To put his
theory into practice he procures from the firm of J. W. Wells & Co., the
old established family sorcerers of the place, a large quantity of their
love potion, which has no effect upon married persons but will cause
unmarried ones to couple without regard to rank or condition, mixes it
with the tea and serves it out to all who are in attendance at the
betrothal banquet. Gradually all fall insensible, and the act closes.
The second act opens upon Sir Marmaduke's grounds at midnight. The
guests, one after the other, are waking. Alexis tells Aline she must take
some of the potion so that he may be sure of her love, which she does
after much protesting. As they regain their senses, each guest makes
offer of marriage to the first one seen. Constance declares her love for
the old notary. Sir Marmaduke enters with Mrs. Partlet, the venerable
pew-opener, on his arm and announces his intention of marrying her. Wells
appears on the grounds in a remorseful condition as he beholds the
mischief he has caused, and Lady Sangazure proposes to him, and leaves in
great anguish when he declares he is already engaged to "a maiden fair on
a South Pacific Isle." Aline beholds Dr. Daly and begins to fall
violently in love with him and he with her. Alexis, in alarm at the
trouble he is making, seeks out Wells and demands that he shall remove
the spell. Wells explains that in order to do this, one or the other of
them must offer his life to Ahrimanes. Alexis is not willing to give up
Aline, and Wells is averse to losing his profitable business. They agree
to leave the decision to the guests, and the latter agree that Wells
shall make the sacrifice. He consents, and all go back to their old
lovers as he sinks through a trap amid red fire.
The most conspicuous numbers in the first act are Dr. Daly's ballad,
"Time was when Love and I were well acquainted"; the duet between Sir
Marmaduke and Lady Sangazure, "Welcome Joy, adieu to Sadness"; Alexis'
ballad, "Love feeds on many Kinds of Food I know"; Wells' long and
rollicking song, "Oh! my Name is John Wellington Wells"; and the
incantation music, "Sprites of Earth and Air." The second act opens with
a charming little country dance. The principal numbers which follow it
are Constance's aria, "Dear Friends, take Pity on my Lot"; the ensemble
for Aline, Alexis, Constance, and the Notary, "O, Joy! O, Joy!"; Alexis'
ballad, "Thou hast the Power thy Vaunted Love"; the quintette, "I rejoice
that it's decided"; Dr. Daly's humorous song, "Oh! my Voice is sad and
low"; and the final ensemble, "Now to the Banquet we press."
H. M. S. Pinafore; or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor.
[Comic opera, in two acts; text by Gilbert. First produced at the Opéra
Comique, London, May 28, 1878.]