Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was born at 17 Southampton Street just off the Strand in London on November 18th 1836. He was a man of a great many talents; dramatist; librettist; poet and illustrator. Of course he is better known as the collaborator with Arthur Sullivan of 14 light comic operas under that world famous moniker Gilbert Sullivan. They continue to be performed and to entertain millions every year from commercial theatres down to amateur dramatic societies and schools. Here we publish his libretto for The Pirates Of Penzance.
#24121 in eBooks 2014-10-15 2014-10-15File Name: B00IWTWCYS
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Obsessive LoveBy Ricardo MioThough not published in the First Folio of 1623; the play; a romance derived from Chaucerrsquo;s ldquo;Knightrsquo;s Tale;rdquo; has for the past fifty hears been included in practically all major editions of the Bardrsquo;s work. The play was first published in 1634; with a title page stating it was ldquo;written by Mr. John Fletcher and Mr. William Shakespeare.rdquo; Apparently; Shakespeare wrote Act I; the first scenes of Acts II and III; and most of Act V; Fletcher wrote the rest. The theme of the play is obsessive love.Synopsis: At a wedding celebration for Theseus; Duke of Athens; and his bride Hippolyta; three mourning queens urge Theseus to attack Creon; the King of Thebes; who slew their husbands and wonrsquo;t grant the simple dignity of having their bodies interred. Theseus grants their request and a battle ensues. Fighting for Thebes are two bothers; a.k.a; ldquo;The Two Noble Kinsmen;rdquo; and identical twins at that; named Palamon and Arcite (pronounced ldquo;Ar-sightrdquo;). Valiant though they are; the brothers are soon captured by Theseus. From their prison window (Act II); they see Emilia; sister of Hippolyta; both are immediately and irrevocably smitten by her beauty. Arcite is released but banished from Athens. Lovesick; he risks death by remaining in Athens. He disguises himself and goes into service for Emilia. Meanwhile; the jailerrsquo;s daughter has fallen head-over-in-heels in love with Palamon and; risking death to herself and that of her father; helps him escape; only to go mad after losing him (Act III). The two noble kinsmen; driven to obsession over their love of Emilia; fight one another to determine who should have her. Emilia; on the other hand; cannot decide which of the two she truly loves. In fact; she cannot tell them apart. The fight is stopped by Theseus who orders the brothers to return in a month and fight again; with the winner getting Emilia and the loser getting death. To restore the jailerrsquo;s daughterrsquo;s sanity (Act IV); someone else disguised as Palamon begins to woo her. The month passes. In Act V; hoping for success; Arcite prays to Mars while Palamon prays to Venus; and Emilia prays at Dianarsquo;s altar. Arcite wins the fight only to die later after falling from his horse. With his last dying breath he gives Emilia to Palamon; who has been saved from execution. The jailerrsquo;s daughter is miraculously cured (by sex) and prepares to marry her new lover. Harmony returns to Athens.Final note: the subplot of the jailerrsquo;s daughter is thought to be the work of Fletcher. Faults include the characterization of Emilia; who has been in love before and has no desire of marriage. At the altar of Diana; she prays to remain a virgin. Some prize. The play is seldom performed; the few revivals have strengthened the belief in its theatrical power. The verse by Shakespeare is exalted; while the verse by Fletcher holds its own. The main problem is Shakespeare is a better story-teller. The play falters when Fletcher is telling the story. The Folger Shakespeare Library edition is well-annotated and includes a summary plus an essay by Professor Dieter Mehl of the University of Bonn.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy donavon forquerexactly as advertised0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy JTJexcellnt
