PATIENCE

or BUNTHORNE'S BRIDE

Music by Arthur Sullivan: Lyrics and Libretto by W.S. Gilbert

Opéra Comique, London - 23 April, 1881 subsequently at the Savoy Theatre, 10 October, 1881

THE STORY

(Exterior of Castle Bunthorne/A Glade)

Reginald Bunthorne is idolised by the young maidens of the village for his aesthetic life-style. Much to their disappointment, though, he only has eyes for Patience. She is aware of his feelings but is unable to return his

affection as she believes herself incapable of loving anyone. When she is persuaded, however, that love is an unselfish emotion she sets about failing in love immediately out of a sense of duty. Although true love is revealed to her in the shape of Archibald Grosvenor whom she knew in her childhood, she is unable to accept his proposal. He is adored by women wherever he goes for his good looks and aesthetic tendencies and, for this reason, Patience realises that there would be nothing unselfish in loving so perfect a being. Instead she dutifully accepts Bunthorne's offer on the grounds that it would be an unselfish act to love him against her will. with Bunthorne unavailable, the village maidens quickly turn their attention to Grosvenor, much to Bunthorne's annoyance. He resents the presence of a rival depriving him of the adulation he is used to and, in an attempt to regain his past popularity, he forces Grosvenor to change his manner and appearance to one of a commonplace young man. Sick of the constant adoration he attracts, Grosvenor agrees. Consequently Patience is free to return to him as there is nothing unselfish in loving an ordinary man; the village maidens follow Grosvenor's example in abandoning aestheticism and pair up with members of the 35th Dragoon Guards who have been vying for their attention all along; and only Bunthorne is left without a bride.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS

(plus Chorus)

Patience (a Dairy Maid)
Reginald Bunthorne (a Fleshly Poet)
Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor
Archibald Grosvenor (an Idyllic Poet)
Colonel Calverley, Major Murgatroyd, Lieut. The Duke of Dunstable (Officers of Dragoon Guards)
The Lady Jane (a Rapturous Maiden)
The Lady Saphir (A Rapturous Maiden)
The Lady Angela (A Rapturous Maiden)
The Lady Ella (A Rapturous Maiden)

Chorus OF RAPTUROUS MAIDENS & OFFICERS OF DRAGOON GUARDS

Scenes and settings:

ACT 1: Exterior of Castle Bunthorne.
ACT II: A Glade

Musical Numbers

ACT I

1. Overture
2. Chorus of Maidens with Solos (Angela and Ella) - Twenty love-sick maidens we
3. Recitative - (Patience, Saphir, Angela and Chorus) - Still brooding on their mad infatuation
4. Song (Patience) ... " I cannot tell what this love may be
5. Chorus of Maidens - Twenty love-sick maidens we
6. Solo - (Colonel) and Chorus of Dragoons - The soldiers of our Queen
7. Chorus with Solos - (Angela, Ella, Saphir, and Bunthorne) - In a doleful train two and two we walk
8. Chorus of Maidens (Exit) - Twenty love-sick maidens we
9. Song - (Colonel) - When I first put this uniform on

   The Magnet and the Churn

10. Recitative & Song - (Bunthorne) - Am I alone and unobserved
11. Duet - (Patience and Angela) - Long years ago, fourteen maybe
12. Duet - (Patience and Grosvenor) - Prithee, pretty maiden
13. Duet - (Patience and Grosvenor) - Though to marry you would really selfish be
14. Finale - Let the merry cymbals sound

Act II

1. Chorus of Maidens - On such eyes as maidens cherish
2. Recitative - & Song - (Jane) - Sad is that woman's lot
3. Chorus of Maidens - Turn, oh turn in this direction
4. Song - (Grosvenor) & Chorus of Maidens - A magnet hung in a hardware shop
5. Song - (Patience) - Love is a plaintive Song
6. Duet - (Jane and Bunthorne) - So go to him, and say to him
7. Trio - (Duke, Major, and Colonel) - It's clear that rnediaeval art
8. Qunitet (Angela, Saphir, Duke, Major, and Colonel) - If Saphir I choose to marry
9. Duet - (Bunthorne and Grosvenor) - When I go out of door
10. Song - (Grosvenor) & Chorus of Maidens - I'm a Waterloo House young man
11. Finale ... After much debate internal

INSTRUMENTATION

(Total number of books = 21)