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By: W. S. Gilbert (1836-1911)

The Bab Ballads by W. S. Gilbert The Bab Ballads

The Bab Ballads are a collection of light verse by W. S. Gilbert, illustrated with his own comic drawings. Gilbert wrote the Ballads before he became famous for his comic opera librettos with Arthur Sullivan. In writing the Bab Ballads, Gilbert developed his unique “topsy-turvy” style, where the humour was derived by setting up a ridiculous premise and working out its logical consequences, however absurd. The Ballads also reveal Gilbert’s cynical and satirical approach to humour. They became famous on their own, as well as being a source for plot elements, characters and songs that Gilbert would recycle in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas...

The Story of the Mikado by W. S. Gilbert The Story of the Mikado

The Mikado is the ninth of the 14 Gilbert and Sullivan musical collaborations. It opened in 1885, had the second longest run for any work of musical theatre of the time, and remains the most frequently performed Gilbert and Sullivan. It was adapted as a children's book by W. S. Gilbert entitled The Story of The Mikado, which was Gilbert's last literary work (and published posthumously). It is a retelling of The Mikado, with various changes to simplify language or make it more suitable for children...

The Story of the H.M.S. Pinafore by W. S. Gilbert The Story of the H.M.S. Pinafore

H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation. This is not that opera.It was adapted as a children's book by W. S. Gilbert entitled The Story of HMS Pinafore, or The Pinafore Picture Book, and includes some lovely illustrations by Alice B...

Book cover More Bab Ballads

This is a subset of the first twelve poems from the second collection of Gilbert’s “Bab Ballads” – light verses poking fun at the life and people of his time in Gilbert’s unique “topsy-turvey” style. The epitaph on his memorial on the Victoria Embankment in London is “HIS FOE WAS FOLLY AND HIS WEAPON WIT”, an epitaph amply exemplified in these verses.

Book cover Pinafore Picture Book: The Story Of H.M.S. Pinafore (Version 2)

Pinafore’s sublimely silly story is made even sillier by this 1908 story version of the 1878 Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. Gilbert, the author of the operetta’s lyrics, writes this version of the story with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. Most adults and children will find this version vastly amusing. - Summary by David Wales

Book cover Sorcerer

Alexis Pointdextre gets his family sorcerer to brew up a love potion. But what happens when it gets out of control? This two act operetta was a success and convinced Gilbert and Sullivan to go ahead and collaborate on H.M.S. Pinafore the next year. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an elderly Baronet: Andrew Kennedy Alexis, of the Grenadier Guards - his son: rwraptor Dr. Daly, Vicar of Ploverleigh: Scotty Smith John Wellington Wells, of J. W. Wells and Co., Family Sorcerers: ToddHW Notary: Tchaikovsky Lady Sangazure, a Lady of ancient lineage: April Mendis Aline, her daughter - betrothed to Alexis: Annie Mars Mrs...

Book cover Tom Cobb; or Fortune's Toy

Tom Cobb: "Why, there's a squalid old pauper idiot, a patient of his, who's got no name of his own, and Whipple [Doctor] christened him "Tom Cobb", because he says he's the ugliest old lunatic he ever saw and reminds him of me. And all the boys in the neighborhood have taken it up, and he's been known as Tom Cobb for the last two years. That's pleasant of Whipple.... One Tom Cobb's enough at a time!" What happens to young Tom if the old Tom dies and all young Tom's bills are now erased since he be dead...

Book cover Gretchen

About as far from a rollicking Gilbert and Sullivan musical as you can get: this is Gilbert's tragic version of Goethe's Faust. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Dominic: David Purdy Anselm: Alan Mapstone Faustus: Mike Manolakes Gottfried: Kurt Mephisto: ToddHW Agatha: Diane Castillo Bessie: Kathi M. Walsheck Barbara: TJ Burns Lisa: Kelly S. Taylor Gretchen: Jenn Broda Martha: Sonia Friedrich: David Purdy Stage Directions: Adrian Stephens Editing: ToddHW

Book cover Dan'l Druce, Blacksmith

A drama from the Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan. Pursued by the Parliamentary Army after the Battle of Worcester, some Royalist soldiers take cover in Dan'l Druce's hut on the Norfolk Coast until they can escape. An event with long shadows that come back to disturb his life fourteen years later. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Sir Jasper Combe, a Royalist Colonel: Andrew James Dan'l Druce: Adrian Stephens Reuben Haines, a Royalist Sergeant: Alan Mapstone Geoffrey Wynyard, a Merchant Sailor: Tomas...

Book cover Sweethearts (Version 2)

Subtitled "An Original Dramatic Contrast", the play presents two neighbors, Harry and Jenny, parting in Act 1 and then meeting again 30 years later in Act 2 after Harry's return from India. - Summary by ToddHW Cast list: Mr Harry Spreadbrow: Rob Marland Wilcox, a Gardener: ToddHW Miss Jenny Northcott: Jenn Broda Ruth, a Maidservant: Sonia Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs Editing: ToddHW

Book cover Magnet and The Churn

volunteers bring you 21 recordings of The Magnet and The Churn by W. S. Gilbert. This was the Weekly Poetry project for April 26, 2020. ------ A bit of frivolity in these trying times. This Weekly Poem is taken from Bab Ballads and Savoy Songs by W. S. Gilbert. - Summary by David Lawrence

Book cover Engaged

This comedy is by Gilbert on his own without Sullivan. "Listen to me. You love this girl?" "I love her sir, a'most as weel as I love mysel' !" "Then reflect how you are standing in the way of her prosperity." "Sir, I'm puir on pocket, but I've a rich hairt." - Summary From The Play Cast list: Cheviot Hill, a young man of property: Matthew Reece Belvawney, his friend: skypigeon Mr. Symperson: Alan Mapstone Angus Macalister, a Lowland peasant lad: ToddHW Major McGillicuddy: Craig Franklin Belinda Treherne: Emmi Kranz Minnie, Symperson's daughter: Jenn Broda Mrs...

Book cover Broken Hearts

Gilbert of Gilbert and Sullivan fame also wrote non-musical plays without Sullivan as a partner. Here is a dramatic play far afield from the comedy musicals we often think of when we hear Gilbert's name: Prince Florian of Spain arrives on The Island of Broken Hearts, peopled by "we maidens all [who] have dearly loved, and those we loved have died. We, broken hearts, knit by the sympathy of kindred woe, have sought this isle far from the ken of man; and having loved, and having lost our loves, stand pledged to love no living thing again...

Book cover Gondoliers

In typical Gilbert and Sullivan "Topsy Turvy" style, the King of Barataria has gone missing! He was stolen as a baby and raised in secrecy as one of two gondoliers and his wife would like very much to know where he is! The Grand Inquisitor appears in Venice to take both Gondoliers to a life of luxury and rulership - but is dismayed to discover that both are reluctant to leave their wives behind. Somehow two husbands have managed to acquire three wives, and nobody is happy at the idea of marrying a vulgar fraction! This is a spoken "poetic" version of the libretto written by W...

Book cover Usher's Charge

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. In 1890, Gilbert produced Songs of a Savoyard, , a volume of sixty-nine detached lyrics from the Savoy Operas, each with a new title, and some of them slightly reworded to account for the changed context. - Summary by Wikipedia

Book cover Mikado, Or The Town of Titipu (version 2)

In the town of Titipu, flirting is punishable by death on the command of the Mikado himself! But what happens when the Lord High Executioner is himself condemned to die? And what secret does the wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo hide, that the Mikado and his entire entourage come to witness his execution? "The Mikado" premiered in 1885, when it broke all records for the longest-running musical. It remains arguably the most popular of the Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Occasionally described as "English ladies with knitting needles in their hair", Gilbert disguised his criticism of British politics by the Japanese setting...

Book cover Ballad: A Manager's Perplexities

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. Gilbert also wrote the Bab Ballads, an extensive collection of light verse accompanied by his own comical drawings. His creative output included over 75 plays and libretti, numerous stories, poems, lyrics and various other comic and serious pieces. His plays and realistic style of stage direction inspired other dramatists, including Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. - Summary by Wikipedia

Book cover Poetry Everywhere

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. Gilbert also wrote the Bab Ballads, an extensive collection of light verse accompanied by his own comical drawings. His creative output included over 75 plays and libretti, numerous stories, poems, lyrics and various other comic and serious pieces...

Book cover Iolanthe

Iolanthe is a fairy banished from fairyland for the crime of marrying a mortal. Her half-fairy, half-human son Strephon is a fairy down to the waist, but his legs are human. He loves Phyllis, but she is courted by the whole House of Lords and the Lord High Chancellor himself! Strephon decides the only way to win his love is to go into Parliament, with the help of his mother and all his fairy aunts. None of them understand politics, but that doesn't matter. He will soon make some changes, starting...

Book cover Pirates Of Penzance; Or The Slave Of Duty (Version 2)

In this recording, one person reads the entire play, all parts, including the stage directions. Even without the support of Arthur Sullivan’s music and the interpretation of actors, the consummate silliness of Gilbert’s libretto entertains. The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates...

Book cover Mikado, Or The Town Of Titipu

In this recording, one person reads the entire play, all parts, including the stage directions. Even without the support of Arthur Sullivan’s music and the interpretation of actors, the consummate silliness of Gilbert’s libretto entertains. The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, where it ran at the Savoy Theatre for 672 performances, which was the second longest run for any work of musical theatre and one of the longest runs of any theatre piece up to that time...

Book cover Bab Ballads (version 2)

The Bab Ballads are a collection of light verse by W. S. Gilbert, illustrated with his own comic drawings. Gilbert wrote the Ballads before he became famous for his comic opera librettos with Arthur Sullivan. In writing the Bab Ballads, Gilbert developed his unique "topsy-turvy" style, where the humor was derived by setting up a ridiculous premise and working out its logical consequences, however absurd. The Ballads also reveal Gilbert's cynical and satirical approach to humor. They became famous on their own, as well as being a source for plot elements, characters and songs that Gilbert would recycle in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas...

Book cover Patience (Bunthorne's Bride)

A comic operetta which is a satire on the themes of fashion and pretension and hero-worship. Bunthorne is a poet who pretends to be highly "idealised" in order to impress the ladies. They all worship him, except for Patience, the dairy maid, who is the only one he loves. However, his grand plan goes awry with the arrival of Grosvenor who is more idealised and more poetical then he is. The ladies all flock after Grosvenor instead, until Bunthorne curses him with poor fashion sense and stoutness! But will the curse bring Bunthorne his Patience?

Book cover H.M.S. Pinafore; Or, The Lass That Loved A Sailor

In this recording, one person reads the entire play, all parts, including the stage directions. Even without the support of Arthur Sullivan’s music and the interpretation of actors, the consummate silliness of Gilbert’s libretto entertains. H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique inLondon, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time...

Book cover Sweethearts

Sweethearts is a comic play billed as a "dramatic contrast" in two acts by W. S. Gilbert. The play tells a sentimental and ironic story of the differing recollections of a man and a woman about their last meeting together before being separated and reunited after 30 years.


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