2007 Season - Genesius Guild

Gilbert & Sullivan: “Patience”

The first production is an operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan:
“Patience,” a comedy which is best known for its caricature of Oscar Wilde in the person of Reginald Bunthorne, an affected - but not very good - poet.

A chorus of maidens lament that Bunthorne is not in love with them, but with a dairymaid named Patience. She, on the other hand, doesn't understand why people in love always seem so unhappy.

Military men (dragoons) enter and sing of their profession. The maidens were engaged to the men, but now refuse to marry them because they love Bunthorne and his poetry. Bunthorne woos Patience, but she rejects him, preferring Archibald Grosvenor, a true, beautiful poet. But, since Patience thinks sacrifice is perfect love, she won’t marry Grosvenor. She would be too happy with him.

Bunthorne announces that, since Patience won’t marry him, he will hold a raffle with himself as the prize. But she now says she will. Since she detests him, it would be a great sacrifice; hence, perfect love. The maidens now agree to marry the dragoons, but when Grosvenor enters, they are smitten by the romantic poet.

Lady Jane loves Bunthorne, but he dislikes her. Patience and Grosvenor have a funny scene, revealing their ill-fated, star-crossed love. Lady Jane and Bunthorne plot to drive Grosvenor away.

After a duel of words, Bunthorne convince each other to change their ways. Now that Bunthorne is a kinder, gentler man, Patience decides she must not truly love him.

At the end, poetry loses out to ordinary life and all the lovers are satisfied with each other. Only Bunthorne is left alone, completely crushed.