Music by Arthur Sullivan: Lyrics and Libretto by W.S. Gilbert
SYNOPSIS AND CAST
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.
Production by: Cecile Stamford
Musical Director: J S Wardale L.R.A.M.
CAST
| Colonel Calverley | Rex Bemrose |
| Major Murgatroyd | Percy Morgan |
| Lieut. The Duke of Dunstable | George Storer |
| Reginald Bunthorne | Jack Tivers |
| Archibald Grosvenor | David Moore |
| Mr Bunthorne’s Solicitor | Alfred Hinton |
| The Lady Angela | Valerie Tonks |
| The Lady Saphir | Patricia Whitmore |
| The Lady Ella | Jean Chandler |
| The Lady Jane | Mae Gregory |
| Patience | Joyce Ross |
| Rapturous Maidens | |
| K Baker | N Bemrose |
| H Chubb | I Coxeter |
| G Crandell | H Curtis |
| B Daveney | D Evans |
| H Ford | H Gibbs |
| E Hember | E Daryll-Joseph |
| G King | E McAthy |
| D Mill | E Mundon |
| S Spencer | L Shannon |
| M Thomson | E Walker |
| Officers of Dragoon Guards | |
| F Conning | H Ford |
| G Ganly | P Gibbs |
| H Henley | J Hudson |
| A Murray | R Laroche |
| L Slatter | I Stewart |
| K Warner | S Wilson |