Live at the Savoy

(oh, fie! our strephon's not a rogue!)

perhaps his brain is addled and it's very melancholy

(taradiddle, taradiddle, tol-lol-lay!)

i wouldn't say a word that could be reckoned as injurious,

but to find a mother younger than her son is very curious

and that's a kind of mother that is usually spurious

The opening night, uncut version of Ruddigore is so much more exciting than the sanitised revised version.

‘The Yeomen of the Guard’ from ‘Savoy operas’ by W. S. Gilbert; With illus. in colour by W. Russell Flint. Published 1909 by George Bell & Sons, London.

Patience being both the smartest and dumbest woman among them and looking FINE!

When you’re not even Early English

Realistic woman woman interaction where someone shares a story of their past affection and the other asks “👁️👄👁️Who is he”

Leave it to a maid to look for a love that’s completely unselfish. Put herself first? Never.

Bunthorne is just sighing, waiting for this to be over, only in it for 🙌The Attention

Jane… fire your cello teacher. It’s so much easier if you sit.

CUT IOLANTHE MUSIC FULL ORCHESTRATIONS NOT A DRILL

I’m still not hugely familiar with The Gondoliers, but this song got itself stuck in my head and I felt another Henry VI parody coming on. So here’s Henry’s account of most of what happens to him in Part II… as a G&S patter song. Someone stop me before I create an entire “What If Gilbert & Sullivan Wrote Shakespeare’s History Plays?” parody operetta.

KING HENRY Rising early in the morning, In an apprehensive mood, My thoughts full of dire warning: How will this new day conclude? I embark without delay On a most… eventful day.

This began a pleasant outing, With our falcons and no shouting, But my squabbling court are all at odds again, Like a sunny April morning That transforms with little warning To a darkened sky and floods of chilly rain. Buckingham brings news that makes this bad day worse: Apprehension of some sorcerers mid-curse, With intent to do me harm. And what is more, They were led by my dear auntie Eleanor! So I have to have her banished. But the scandal hasn’t vanished: There’s an uproar and my uncle’s forced to step down in disgrace From his role as Lord Protector. I already fear the specter Of some national emergency I’m unprepared to face. My authority is tested And my uncle is arrested ‘Midst a flood of accusations I am helpless to prevent. Come on, Henry, chill a minute! Hold a trial; he will win it! For I’m sure my uncle Humphrey is completely innocent.

Oh, philosophers may sing Of the joys of being King; But it’s really very stressful when your court won’t get along. No-one tells me what they’re doing But I know there’s trouble brewing And I have this dreadful feeling something’s very, very wrong.

I announce my uncle’s trial. He’s been murdered?! Full denial Of wrongdoing from his rivals in the court. Warwick says it’s Suffolk’s doing, So he’s banished. ‘Midst ensuing Chaos, comes a servant with a grim report: Beaufort’s gravely ill and soon will be a corse – He dies feverish and haunted by remorse. Then a messenger arrives with Suffolk’s head – Pirates captured him and now he, too, is dead. More bad news: now London’s falling To a rebel leader calling Himself “Mortimer”. (He’s really just a tailor named Jack Cade.) Meg and I must flee the palace To escape his vicious malice… Wait – the Commons have switched sides again and Cade has been betrayed. Crisis solved? While we’re still reeling, I’ve another awful feeling, Like a ship that ‘scapes a storm, then meets a vicious pirate threat. Suddenly – approaching horses: York’s returned with mighty forces Which he claims he’s only brought to rescue me from Somerset.