The Sorcerer

By W. S. Gilbert

"The Sorcerer" is a two-act comic operain which a young man, Alexis, is obsessed with the idea of love levelling all ranks and social distinctions. To promote his beliefs, he invites the proprietor of J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers, to brew a love potion. This causes everyone in the village to fall in love with the first person they see and results in the pairing of comically mismatched couples. In the end, Wells must sacrifice his life to break the spell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DigiCat
• Release date: Jun 13, 2022
• ISBN: 8596547065616

W. S. Gilbert

W. S. Gilbert (1836-1911) was an English librettist, dramatist, and poet. Born in London, Gilbert was raised by William, a surgeon and novelist, and Anne Mary, an apothecary’s daughter. As a child he lived with his parents in Italy and France before finally returning to London in 1847. Gilbert graduated from Kind’s College London in 1856 before joining the Civil Service and briefly working as a barrister. In 1861, he began publishing poems, stories, and theatre reviews in Fun, The Cornhill Magazine, and Temple Bar. His first play was Uncle Baby, which ran to moderate acclaim for seven weeks in 1863. He soon became one of London’s most popular writers of opera burlesques, but turned away from the form in 1869 to focus on prose comedies. In 1871, he began working with composer Arthur Sullivan, whose music provided the perfect melody to some of the most popular comic operas of all time, including H. M. S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and The Mikado (1885). At London’s Savoy Theatre and around the world, The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company would perform Gilbert and Sullivan’s works for the next century. Gilbert, the author of more than 75 plays and countless more poems, stories, and articles, influenced such writers as Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, as well as laid the foundation for the success of American musical theatre on Broadway and beyond.

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W. S. Gilbert

The Sorcerer

EAN 8596547065616

DigiCat, 2022

Contact: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Aline's ballad

Aline and Lady Sangazure duet

Lady Sangazure's ballad

Original Act II opening chorus

Second incantation scene

Second verse of Constance's aria

Dramatis Personae

Table of Contents

Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre, an Elderly Baronet

Alexis, of the Grenadier Guards–His Son

Dr. Daly, Vicar of Ploverleigh

John Wellington Wells, of J. W. Wells & Co., Family Sorcerers

Lady Sangazure, a Lady of Ancient Lineage

Aline, Her Daughter–betrothed to Alexis

Mrs. Partlet, a Pew-Opener

Constance, her Daughter

Chorus of Villagers

Act I

Table of Contents

Exterior of Sir Marmaduke's Elizabethan mansion, mid-day.

CHORUS OF VILLAGERS:

Ring forth, ye bells,

With clarion sound--

Forget your knells,

For joys abound.

Forget your notes

Of mournful lay,

And from your throats

Pour joy to-day.

For to-day young Alexis–young Alexis Pointdextre

Is betrothed to Aline–to Aline Sangazure,

And that pride of his sex is–of his sex is to be next her

At the feast on the green–on the green, oh, be sure!

Ring forth, ye bells etc.

Exeunt the men into house.

Enter Mrs. Partlet with Constance, her daughter.

RECITATIVE

MRS. P. Constance, my daughter, why this strange depression?

The village rings with seasonable joy,

Because the young and amiable Alexis,

Heir to the great Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre,

Is plighted to Aline, the only daughter

Of Annabella, Lady Sangazure.

You, you alone are sad and out of spirits;

What is the reason? Speak, my daughter, speak!

CONST. Oh, mother, do not ask! If my complexion

From red to white should change in quick succession,

And then from white to red, oh, take no notice!

If my poor limbs should tremble with emotion,

Pay no attention, mother–it is nothing!

If long and deep-drawn sighs I chance to utter,

Oh, heed them not, their cause must ne'er be known!

Mrs. Partlet motions to Chorus to leave her with Constance. Exeunt ladies of Chorus.

ARIA–CONSTANCE

When he is here,

I sigh with pleasure—When he is gone,

I sigh with grief.

My hopeless fear

No soul can measure—His love alone

Can give my aching heart relief!

When he is cold,

I weep for sorrow—When he is kind,

I weep for joy.

My grief untold

Knows no to-morrow—My woe can find

No hope, no solace, no alloy!

MRS. P. Come, tell me all about it! Do not fear–I, too, have loved; but that was long ago!

Who is the object of your young affections?

CONST. Hush, mother! He is here!

(Looking off)

Enter Dr. Daly. He