Opera Chapter

Gilbert and Sullivan’s first collaboration, Thespis, was written at the instigation of an imaginative London showman named John Hollingshead. Londoners in those days were fond of frothy theatrical shows that traditionally opened during the Christmas holidays and continued for several weeks thereafter. Thespis was commissioned as such a “Christmas operatic extravaganza,” and ran for 63 performances following its opening on December 26, 1871. That was a long run for such a seasonal production, particularly when one considers that the show was slapped together in a hurry and was seriously under-rehearsed.

Sad to relate, nearly all of the music has been lost, although amateur operatic groups occasionally produce their own versions of the opera using Gilbert’s words and Sullivan’s music from other works or, perhaps, Sullivanesque music of their own composition.

The story concerns a troupe of actors who climb Mount Olympus on a picnic and discover the Roman gods, grown old and ineffectual. The actors agree to take over matters on Olympus while the gods go down to mingle with ordinary mortals to learn what they (the gods) can do to regain their old influence and prestige. Upon their return a year later the gods discover that the thespians, in their impractical way, have made a botch of things. They have, for example, given the Athenians a foggy Friday in November for six months–– and now propose to make up for it with “a blazing Tuesday in July for the next twelve.” Jupiter, in his wrath, sends the thespians back to earth and condemns them all to become “eminent tragedians, whom no one ever goes to see.”

The libretto used for this chapter is that edited by Rees (252).

In Roman mythology, the king of the gods, equivalent to the Greek Zeus.

Greek and Roman god of the sun. Also god of prophecy, song, music, manly youth, and beauty (75). Most of the stories about Apollo center on his lusty affairs with women of high or low degree.

Roman god of war, equivalent to the Greek Ares.

Roman goddess of the moon, equivalent to the Greek Artemis. A virgin, a huntress, and the twin sister of Apollo. Her private life was altogether in contrast to that of her twin.

Roman goddess of love and beauty, equivalent to the Greek Aphrodite.

In Roman mythology the messenger of the gods, equivalent to the Greek Hermes. He was sometimes considered the patron of thieves, among his many duties.

Actors and actresses. The word comes from the Athenian dramatist Thespis (sixth century B.C.), who is believed to have originated the tragic form of the drama.

These are the young lovers and require no definitions; but there is some debate about how their names should be pronounced. Most directors assume Gilbert was making puns, so Sparkeion should be pronounced SPARKee-un (something like Sparky one) and Nicemiss as NICE miss. Arthur Robinson (256) argues that the correct Greek pronunciations would be Spar-KEI-on and Ni-KAY-mis. He may be right, but I think we owe it to our audiences to go along with Gilbert’s apparent intent and wink at the correct Greek pronunciations. As Shepherd (263) and Walters (302) point out, Englishmen in Gilbert’s day almost always Anglicized foreign words. Younger readers should be made aware that “spark” once meant flirt.

Gilbert has given most of the actors artificial names appropriate to their roles, and they should be pronounced with that in mind.

A filter, or mask, worn over the face for warming or purifying the air breathed in.

What Americans call “galoshes”: rubber overshoes. Not the dainty footwear one would expect to find on the feet of a goddess. See also The Grand Duke.

A pill box shaped ornamental cap formerly worn at home by male smokers (75). They were Turkish in origin, and often came to Britain as souvenirs of eighteenth century grand tours to Vienna and Istanbul (43).

To scold me (229).

Rees (251) provides this definition: “Small, tasteless, and most probably useless placebos; they were sold for the treatment of vague disorders and were usually consumed by people who felt that it was a long time since they had taken any medicine.”

A peruke is a wig. An invisible peruke is one so skillfully fitted that only your wigmaker knows.

A hairpiece in the form of a rolled-up bun at the back of the neck. Very fashionable at that time.

A hair dye that was advertised as producing “that rich golden colour so much admired in ladies and children.” Auric pertains to gold, comous to hair.

Face powder. English ladies in the nineteenth century tried to remain pale because tanned skin was associated with a working-class existence. Recall, for example, Ralph Rackstraw’s “honest brown right hand.” In Pride and Prejudice (20) the snobbish Miss Bingley criticizes the heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, by remarking, “She has grown brown and coarse!” Pearly white or gray powder was most effective in covering any such signs of exposure to the sun (251). You will now understand why the Mikado’s threat to darken ladies’ faces with permanent walnut juice was so frightening.

A powder puff shaped rather like a hare’s foot (251). Stedman (274) mentions that originally they truly were made from hares’ feet.

The Corps of Commissionaires was organized in Victorian times to find jobs for former military men of good character. They had their own uniform and could be hired for light duty such as doorkeepers, hall porters, and messengers (162).

A minor parochial official, or other liveried flunky; sometimes a watchman. Often presented as personifying stupid officiousness (43).

Garbage man or trash collector.

Gifts of cash, food, or anything else given to servants, mail carriers, trash collectors, paper carriers, and the like, on Boxing Day (the first weekday after Christmas). In bygone days the gifts were collected in boxes, which explains the term (58, 107, 229, 245, 257).

Poems intended to be sung, or lyric poems of exalted tone.

The Greek god of marriage.

In Roman mythology the god of love, equivalent to the Greek Eros. He was supposedly the son of Mercury and Venus, but his mother’s personal life was such that one could never be sure as to his sire. He is generally portrayed as a winged infant with bow and arrow, and is most in demand around Valentine’s Day.

Pertaining to the heavens.

Mercury is implying that his services rank him at the bottom of the celestial hierarchy (11).

Simpletons.

Elevated to the rank of baron.

Elevated to the rank of earl. (You will find a summary of these noble ranks on page 85.)

Scold, censure, berate. In short, yell. See also The Grand Duke.

The fabled drink of the gods, conferring immortality.

In this case, to cause pain.

The god of wine. Bierce (39) defines him as “A convenient deity invented by the ancients as an excuse for getting drunk.”

Roman goddess of wisdom, equivalent to the Greek Athena.

Polishing paste, for silverware, with chalk powder content. Mercury has made a verb of the expression, meaning to polish.

Another name for Jupiter.

Offerings to the gods, given in keeping with vows.

Insane.

In Greek mythology, the equivalent of hell.

Upper middle-class Victorians were much enamored of the Swiss Alps, and mountain climbing was a popular sport. The Alpine Club was formed in London in 1857 for the express purpose of fostering this interest and is still extant.

A trip arranged by Cook’s Travel Bureau, not an expedition of chefs. Thomas Cook and Son was the first modern travel agency and created the package holiday (142). In 1841 the company arranged what is believed to have been the first publicly advertised railway excursion in England (284).

Literally, “in head to head”: a private conversation, often of a romantic nature.

A drink consisting of claret (red Bordeaux wine), ice, carbonated water, lemon, sugar, and other flavorings (56). Samuel Johnson opined claret was so weak “that a man would drown in it before it made him drunk” (45).

The OED (140) defines burrage as an obsolete form of borage, which is a genus of plants of the family Boraginacae: “Formerly much esteemed as a cordial, and is still largely used in making cool tankard, claret cup, etc.” We understand it is also good in lemonade.

Festive, merry, jovial and all those other adjectives applicable to a gathering of G&S admirers. Hyder (161) says “convivial parts” is probably a euphemism for “stage drunks.”

Low comedy is defined as depending “on physical action, broadly humorous or farcical situations, and often bawdy jokes” (250). You can take it from there.

An obsequious servant. In this case simply a contemptible person. See also The Zoo.

Repulsive.

Hate used as a verb. (In melodramas the villain frequently interpolates meaningless syllables to emphasize his exaggerated oratory.)

A riddle, the answer to which involves a play on words. Particularly popular with third grade kids. See also The Yeomen of the Guard.

Pertaining to one totally lacking faith in one’s fellow man.

From the context we may conclude that Thespis is talking about a railroad line. The “junction” in the name implies that it is a connector between two or more main lines. Turnbull (294) suggests that an 1871 audience would have recognized “North South East West Diddlesex junction” as “any” railway company. He adds that the “Diddle” might be taken to imply shady management.

Friendly, relaxed, and ready for any sort of social intercourse.

Five-pound notes––about $25 in those days. Turnbull (294) says this would be what a railway guard would earn for three or four days of work in the 1870s.

Remorse.

The word has various meanings. Perhaps the best fitting definition deals with words that arouse deep religious devotion (75).

The fireman in a steam locomotive.

Sugar-topped buns containing fruit, nuts, and raisins –– usually split, and buttered. The name comes from their city of origin (142, 257).

Station baggage carriers.

Horses used in fox hunting.

Rail yard employees who throw switches to divert trains from one set of tracks to another.

It was then a lower-middle class suburb in the southwest part of London (166, 245). It is now a London borough (142).

A railroad spur where rail cars can be temporarily idled.

A city in Scotland, to say nothing of another in Australia. (But Gilbert meant the former.)

Another city in Scotland.

Then a working-class town about seven miles east and a little north of London; now a London suburb.

Policemen. The word goes back to the English statesman Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), who established the metropolitan police force in England. He became Prime Minister in 1841 and served in that office for five years (105). Brewer (56) adds that the nickname “Bobby” was derived from Peel’s first name.

Workhouse, a place where poor people were lodged and given work. In the USA a workhouse is more likely a jail for petty criminals, and as Goodman (142) describes the old British workhouses, they weren’t much better. Turnbull (294) sadly informs us that the old Savoyard Rutland Barrington ended his days in one.

Rees (251) defines these simply as matches. Perhaps they were an oversize variety especially suited to igniting stubborn pipes.

This is the old name for what is now called Piccadilly Circus. It’s not the kind of circus with lions and tigers; but it does have a statue surrounded by loafers, surrounded by vehicular traffic, surrounded by shoppers (and street vendors), surrounded by stores––all in a swirling pattern of concentric circles.

Paper chemically treated so that contact with a piece of glowing string will cause a sudden little flash and puff of smoke (254). The consumed paper leaves no ash (245).

Princess of Argos. To protect her virginity, her father locked her in a bronze tower. Zeus (Jupiter), not one to overlook such a challenge, “transferred himself into a golden shower, and descended through the apertures of the roof into her embrace.” The “issue” was Perseus. All this is from Lemprière’s Classical Dictionary (187) –– as is much of the rest that follows. Young women who are free with their favors may wish to file these unique explanations for future reference.

Queen of Sparta, who carried on with Zeus, who came calling in the form of a swan, or so she claimed. Their offspring were Pollux and Helen. Leda also produced two legitimate offspring, Castor and Clytemnestra (54, 187).

A Phoenician charmer who was abducted by Jupiter, who assumed the form of a bull (thus cowing her), “and swam with his prize to the island of Crete.” The results of all this swimming, and so forth, were Minos, Sarpedon, and Rhadamanthus.

The common horde (Greek). Cameron (66) says the preferred spelling is “hoi polloi.” To this Aurora (15) adds that the correct pronunciation also includes that initial h.

Pertaining to Thessaly, or Thessalia, the northeastern region of ancient Greece. I suppose Gilbert chose that location because it chimes in well with both “Thespis” and “Theatres.” On the other hand there is a darker meaning to the word, namely treacherous (56). Stone (284) mentions that there really is a Thessalian Theatre.

A comic stage piece that derives its laughs from ridiculing or vulgarizing some serious subject. A travesty or parody.

A large printed advertising poster assembled from six separate sheets.

A strong theatrical spot light generated by projecting a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen on a small piece of quicklime (calcium oxide). Invented by British army engineers in 1824, it was quickly adapted for magic lanterns (early form of slide projectors) and later for the stage (253).

The famous Venus de Milo statue in the Louvre derives its name from the island of Milo, or Melos, on which it was discovered in 1820. Venus here is clearly afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease. Mr Milo, indeed!

A stage scrim: a thin semi-transparent screen filling the proscenium and partially or totally obscuring the stage, depending on the source of light. Gauzes may also be used to cover openings upstage.

Short for incognito: in disguise, with hidden identity.

Gods.

Clothes. Rag collectors in the streets used to call, “Any old clo?” (274).

Another name for Apollo, particularly when in his role as sun god.

One of the muses. She was the daughter of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, and her official duties required her to preside over eloquence and heroic poetry. Apollo was her half-brother and, if you’ll recall, he too was supposed to preside over some of the arts. In their collaborative efforts with the Hellenic Arts Council they worked so intimately that they became the parents of Orpheus. You never can tell where committee work may lead.

Drinking parties.

The food of the gods, which, like nectar, conferred immortality.

To intoxicate, make drunk.

Rosé or other wine (274).

In Roman mythology the god of fire and metalworking.

Arcadia, the poetic land of rustic contentment in the Peloponnesus, which is a large peninsula in the southern part of Greece, and location of Sparta.

A common nail. They are nearly three inches long and there are from 70 to 90 of them in a pound. The “penny” term dates back to fifteenth century England. Nail sizes then were designated by the retail price per hundred (229). The prices have changed, but the designation has not.

Having eyes that point in different directions, perhaps cross-eyed (229).

In Greek mythology, the god of the lower world, also known as Hades. He is also sometimes known as the giver of wealth, hence the term plutocrat.

Burden or responsibility.

Life insurance company.

Presumably the bankruptcy court.

Popping the question. Proposing marriage.

The confectioner who decorates wedding cakes.

Expert.

Use sneaky, evasive arguments.

“To make use of false pretences or unfair shifts” (115).

To avoid doing what one should.

The British prime minister’s residence has been at 10 Downing Street since 1735. The street, built in 1684, was named after its original developer, the speculative contractor Sir George Downing. After the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 all those properties, which had been owned by the Earl of Lichfield, became forfeit to the crown. Number ten was included. Later, during the reign of George II, the house became vacant. The king offered it to his prime minister, Sir Robert Walpole. That gentleman replied that it should not be a personal gift but should be attached to the office of prime minister, and so it remains to this day (140).

John Lemprière’s definitive compendium of who’s who on Olympus (187). The book, first published in 1788, was founded on Sabatier’s Dictionaire des Auteurs Classiques (105).

Lemprière (187) tells us Issa was “a daughter of Macareus, the son of Lycaon. She was beloved by Apollo, who to obtain her confidence changed himself into a shepherd to whom she was attached.”

“A virgin of Achaja, who rejected the addresses of Apollo, and threw herself into the sea to avoid his importunities. The god made her immortal” (187).

This mythological lady was loved by Apollo, who made her pregnant, but later killed her because she had an affair with Ischys the Thessalian. According to some accounts, Diana killed her because of her infidelity to Apollo, and Mercury saved the child from her womb. The child was Aesculapius, whose name reappears in The Zoo.

Gilbert (or his printer) may have misspelled this. He presumably means Clymene {KLY-men-ee}, an oceanid (a sea nymph and inferior deity), “the mother of Phaeton by Apollo” (187).

Daughter of Peneus. Apollo carried her off to Africa, where she produced Aristaeus as a souvenir of her travels. The ancient Greek state of Cyrenaica was named after her.

Daughter of Daedilion, panted after by both Apollo and Mercury. To obtain her unwitting favors, Mercury lulled her to sleep with his caduceus (that winged staff with entwining serpents). Apollo, disguised as an old woman, managed to share those favors as well. She says.

A nymph, and yet another victim (whether willing or not) of Apollo’s versatile courting techniques. She bore him two offspring, Philander (named in honor of his father?) and Phylacis. These children were exposed to the wild beasts of Crete, but a motherly goat nursed them and preserved their lives.

A term applied to a person held in pity or contempt. In this case we may infer that Daphne was using it as a euphemism for a woman of easy virtue, which is a euphemism for a wayward woman, which is a euphemism for a slut. Oh, I could go on. The point is that proper Victorian ladies liked their words to be well insulated from anything sounding the least bit vulgar.

Married.

The door of his house, meaning he may take you home as his bride.

Low, vile, and contemptible.

Accepted principles or proverbs.

Free. From the Latin gratia, a favor.

The longest trial in the history of English courts, at least until 1871. Concerned with sorting out the rightful heir to the Tichborne estates, the trial lasted 188 days. (Trial by Jury takes less than an hour.) Goodman (142) says both Gilbert and Sullivan attended the case as spectators.

Equipped with a big hour glass and scythe.

Meets with insuperable difficulties.

Also known as Mitylene, also Lesbos. Historic island of the Aegean archipelago, famous for wine and dissolute manners. “An abode of pleasure and licentiousness” (187). Mitylene is now the principal city of the island of Lesbos (66).

A bubbly drink made by fermenting ginger, cream of tartar, sugar, etc. (75). Goodman (142) describes it as “a very fine soft drink.” See similar terms in The Grand Duke and The Zoo.

The Roman goddess of agriculture, equivalent to the Greek Demeter.

Go away!

Notorious, or thorough.

[Note: A comprehensive mastery of these terms will give you an automatic diploma in classical studies at any truly liberal arts college. Tell the admissions officer we said so.]