Sir Richard Cholmondeley, lieutenant of the Tower.
Col. Fairfax, under sentence of death.
Sergt. Meryll, of the Yeomen of the Guard.
Leonard Meryll, his son.
Jack Point, a strolling jester.
Wilfred Shadbolt, head jailer of the Tower.
Headsman.
Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer.
Phoebe Meryll, Sergt. Meryll's daughter.
Dame Carruthers, housekeeper to the Tower.
Kate, her niece.
[Yeomen of the guard, gentlemen, citizens, etc.]
The scene is laid at Tower Green, London; time, the sixteenth century.
Although "The Yeomen of the Guard" has not enjoyed the popularity of some
others of Sullivan's works, the composer himself believed it to be the
best of his operas. The music is in some numbers a parody of the old
English; the story is melodramatic. Colonel Fairfax has been sentenced to
death for sorcery. As he has twice saved the life of Sergeant Meryll in
battle, the latter and his daughter, Phoebe, are anxious to save him
also. The chance comes when the brother of Phoebe, who has been appointed
a yeoman of the Guard, is induced to let Fairfax take his place in the
ranks. The latter is brought in to the lieutenant of the Tower and
declares his readiness to die, but asks, as he has been condemned for
sorcery through the machinations of one of his kinsmen who will succeed
to the estate in case he dies unmarried, that he will find him some one
whom he can marry at once. Elsie Maynard, a strolling singer, happens
along with Jack Point, a jester, and she agrees for a money consideration
to be married blindfolded to Fairfax, provided she can leave immediately
after the ceremony. She marries him, and then the question arises how to
get the yeoman suit to Fairfax in his cell and let him escape, as the
keys are in the possession of Wilfred, the head jailer, who is in love
with Phoebe. The problem is solved by Phoebe, who steals the keys,
releases Fairfax, and returns them before Wilfred discovers their
absence. The executioner comes forward, and the first act closes as he is
waiting for his victim.
The second act discloses the civilians and Dame Carruthers denouncing the
warders for permitting their prisoner to escape. Point arranges with
Wilfred that if he will discharge his arquebus and state that he has
killed Fairfax he shall be a jester. When the shot is heard, Wilfred and
Point notify the governor that Fairfax is dead. Dame Carruthers enters
and informs Meryll that from what she has heard Elsie mutter in her sleep
she is sure Fairfax is the man she married. Fairfax, in order to test
her, makes love to Elsie in Point's interests, but ends by falling in
love with her himself. In the dénouement, Leonard, son of Sergeant
Meryll, arrives with a pardon which had been kept back by Fairfax's
kinsmen. Now that he is free, Fairfax claims Elsie, Phoebe consents to
marry Wilfred, and the sergeant surrenders to Dame Carruthers.
The music is in humorous imitation of the antique, in which kind of work
Sullivan is always happy. The choruses are interesting, especially the
opening double one, "Tower Warders under Orders," which is swinging and
tuneful. The principal numbers in the first act are Dame Carruthers' song
with chorus, "When our Gallant Norman Foes"; Fairfax's sentimental song,
"Is Life a Boon"; the irresistibly funny chorus, both in music and words,
"Here's a Man of Jollity, jibe, joke, jollify; give us of your Quality,
come, Fool, follify"; the extremely melodramatic duet for Elsie and
Point, "I have a Song to sing"; Point's recitative and song, "I've Jest
and Joke"; Elsie's pretty ballad, "'Tis done! I am a Bride"; Phoebe's
graceful song, "Were I thy Bride"; and the trio in the finale, "To thy
Fraternal Care." The leading numbers of the second act are Point's
rollicking song, "Oh! a Private Buffoon is a Light-hearted Loon";
Fairfax's ballad, "Free from his Fetters Grim"; the quartette, "Strange
Adventure! Maiden wedded"; the trio, "If he's made the Best Use of his
Time," and the quartette, "When a Wooer goes a-wooing," which leads
through a melodramatic ensemble to the finale,
"Heighdy! heighdy!
Misery me, lackadaydee!
He sipped no sup and he craved no crumb,
As he sighed for the love of a ladyee."
The Gondoliers; or, The King of Barataria.
[Comic opera, in two acts; text by Gilbert. First produced at the Savoy
Theatre, London, December 7, 1889.]