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    Utopia Limited: or The Flowers of Progress
    Utopia Limited: or The Flowers of Progress
    Utopia Limited: or The Flowers of Progress
    Ebook151 pages2 hours

    Utopia Limited: or The Flowers of Progress

    By W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan

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    About this ebook

    The partnership between William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Seymour Sullivan and their canon of Savoy Operas is rightly lauded by all lovers of comic opera the world over. Gilbert’s sharp, funny words and Sullivan’s deliciously lively and hummable tunes create a world that is distinctly British in view but has the world as its audience. Both men were exceptionally talented and gifted in their own right and wrote much, often with other partners, that still stands the test of time. However, together as a team they created Light or Comic Operas of a standard that have had no rivals equal to their standard, before or since. That’s quite an achievement. To be recognised by the critics is one thing but their commercial success was incredible. The profits were astronomical, allowing for the building of their own purpose built theatre – The Savoy Theatre. Beginning with the first of their fourteen collaborations, Thespis in 1871 and travelling through many classics including The Sorcerer (1877), H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), The Mikado (1885), The Gondoliers (1889) to their finale in 1896 with The Grand Duke, Gilbert & Sullivan created a legacy that is constantly revived and admired in theatres and other media to this very day.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCopyright Group
    Release dateJun 1, 2016
    ISBN9781785437359
    Utopia Limited: or The Flowers of Progress
    Author

    W. S. Gilbert

    W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) were theatrical collaborators during the nineteenth century. Prior to their partnership, Gilbert wrote and illustrated stories as a child, eventually developing his signature “topsy-turvy" style. Sullivan was raised in a musical family where he learned to play multiple instruments at an early age. Together, their talents would help produce a successful series of comic operas. Some notable titles include The Pirates of Penzance, The Sorcerer, H.M.S. Pinafore, and The Mikado.

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      Book preview

      Utopia Limited - W. S. Gilbert

      Utopia Limited by Gilbert & Sullivan

      Or, The Flowers of Progress

      Libretto by William S. Gilbert

      Music by Arthur Sullivan

      The partnership between William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Seymour Sullivan and their canon of Savoy Operas is rightly lauded by all lovers of comic opera the world over. 

      Gilbert’s sharp, funny words and Sullivan’s deliciously lively and hummable tunes create a world that is distinctly British in view but has the world as its audience.

      Both men were exceptionally talented and gifted in their own right and wrote much, often with other partners, that still stands the test of time.  However, together as a team they created Light or Comic Operas of a standard that have had no rivals equal to their standard, before or since. That’s quite an achievement.

      To be recognised by the critics is one thing but their commercial success was incredible.  The profits were astronomical, allowing for the building of their own purpose built theatre – The Savoy Theatre.

      Beginning with the first of their fourteen collaborations, Thespis in 1871 and travelling through many classics including The Sorcerer (1877), H.M.S. Pinafore (1878), The Pirates of Penzance (1879), The Mikado (1885), The Gondoliers (1889) to their finale in 1896 with The Grand Duke, Gilbert & Sullivan created a legacy that is constantly revived and admired in theatres and other media to this very day.

      Index of Contents

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      SCENES

      MUSICAL NUMBERS

      ACT I

      ACT II

      GILBERT & SULLIVAN – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

      GILBERT & SULLIVAN – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

      Utopia, Limited, or The Flowers of Progress was the thirteenth collaboration between Gilbert & Sullivan and premiered on October 7, 1893 at the Savoy Theatre and ran for 245 performances.

      DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      King Paramount, the First (King of Utopia)

      Scaphio and Phantis (Judges of the Utopian Supreme Court)

      Tarara (The Public Exploder)

      Calynx (The Utopian Vice-Chamberlain)

      Imported Flowers of Progress:

      Lord Dramaleigh (a British Lord Chamberlain)

      Captain Fitzbattleaxe (First Life Guards)

      Captain Sir Edward Corcoran, K.C.B. (of the Royal Navy)

      Mr. Goldbury (a company promoter; afterwards Comptroller of the Utopian Household)

      Sir Bailey Barre, Q.C., M.P.

      Mr. Blushington (of the County Council)

      The Princess Zara (eldest daughter of King Paramount)

      The Princesses Nekaya and Kalyba (her Younger Sisters)

      The Lady Sophy (their English Gouvernante)

      Utopian Maidens:

      Salata

      Melene

      Phylla

      SCENES

      ACT I - A Utopian Palm Grove

      ACT II - Throne Room in King Paramount's Palace

      MUSICAL NUMBERS

      Introduction

      ACT I

      1. In lazy languor motionless (Phylla and Chorus of Girls)

      2. O make way for the Wise Men (Chorus)

      2a. In every mental lore (Scaphio and Phantis)

      3. Let all your doubts take wing (Scaphio and Phantis)

      4. Quaff the nectar (Chorus)

      4a. A King of autocratic power we (King with Chorus)

      4b. Although of native maids the cream (Nekaya and Kalyba)

      4c. Bold-faced ranger (Lady Sophy with Chorus)

      5. First you're born (King with Scaphio and Phantis)

      6. Subjected to your heavenly gaze (King and Lady Sophy)

      7. Oh, maiden rich in Girton lore (Zara, Fitzbattleaxe., Troopers, and Chorus)

      8. Ah! gallant soldier (Zara, Fitzbattleaxe., Troopers, and Chorus)

      9. It's understood, I think (Zara, Fitzbattleaxe., Scaphio, and Phantis)

      10. Oh, admirable art (Zara and Fitzbattleaxe.)

      (11. Cut song for Zara, Youth is a boon avowed, (sung on the first night.)

      12. Act I Finale: Although your Royal summons to appear (Ensemble) and When Britain sounds the trump of war (Zara, Sir Bailey Barre, and Chorus)

      12a. What these may be" (Zara, Dramaleigh, Blushington, and Chorus) and A company promoter this (Zara, Goldbury, and Chorus)

      12b. I'm Captain Corcoran, K.C.B. (Capt. Corcoran with Chorus) and Ye wand'rers from a mighty State (Quartet, Chorus, and Soli)

      12c. Some seven men form an association (Mr Goldbury with Chorus), Well, at first sight it strikes us as dishonest (Ensemble), and Henceforward of a verity (King Paramount and Ensemble)

      ACT II

      13. Oh, Zara! and A tenor, all singers above (Fitzbattleaxe.)

      14. Words of love too loudly spoken (Zara and Fitzbattleaxe.)

      15. Society has quite forsaken (King with Chorus of Six Flowers of Progress)

      16. Entrance of Court

      17. Drawing Room Music

      18.This ceremonial, Eagle high in cloudland soaring" (King and Ensemble)

      19. With fury deep we burn" (Scaphio, Phantis, and King Paramount)

      20. If you think that when banded in unity" (King, Scaphio and Phantis)

      21. With wily brain (Scaphio, Phantis, and Tarara)

      22. A wonderful joy our eyes to bless (Mr. Goldbury)

      23. Then I may sing and play? (Nekaya, Kalyba, Lord D., and Mr Goldbury)

      24. Oh, would some demon pow'r, When but a maid of fifteen year (Lady Sophy)

      25. Ah, Lady Sophy, then you love me! (King and Lady Sophy)

      25a. Oh, rapture unrestrained (King and Lady Sophy)

      25b. Tarantella

      26. Upon our sea-girt land (Chorus)

      27. Finale Act II: There's a little group of isles beyond the wave (Zara, King Paramount, and Ensemble)

      ACT I

      OPENING CHORUS

      In lazy languor—motionless,

      We lie and dream of nothingness;

      For visions come

      From Poppydom

      Direct at our command:

      Or, delicate alternative,

      In open idleness we live,

      With lyre and lute

      And silver flute,

      The life of Lazyland.

      SOLO—PHYLLA

      The song of birds

      In ivied towers;

      The rippling play

      Of waterway;

      The lowing herds;

      The breath of flowers;

      The languid loves

      Of turtle doves—

      These simply joys are all at hand

      Upon thy shores, O Lazyland!

      (Enter CALYNX)

      CALYNX

      Good news!  Great news!  His Majesty's eldest daughter, Princess Zara, who left our shores five years since to go to England—the greatest, the most powerful, the wisest country in the world—has taken a high degree at Girton, and is on her way home again, having achieved a complete mastery over all the elements that have tended to raise that glorious country to her present pre-eminent position among

      Civilized nations!

      SALATA

      Then in a few months Utopia may hope to be completely Anglicized?

      CALYNX

      Absolutely and without a doubt.

      MELENE (lazily) 

      We are very well as we are.  Life without a care—every want supplied by a kind and fatherly monarch, who, despot though he be, has no other thought than to make his people happy—what have we to gain by the great  change that is in store for us?

      SALATA

      What have we to gain?  English institutions, English tastes, and oh, English fashions!

      CALYNX

      England has made herself what she is because, in that favored land, every one has to think for himself.  Here we have no need to think, because our monarch anticipates all our wants, and our political opinions are formed for us by the journals to which we subscribe.  Oh, think how much more brilliant this dialogue would have been, if we had been accustomed to exercise our reflective powers!  They say that in England the conversation of the very meanest is a coruscation of impromptu epigram!

      (Enter TARARA in a great rage)

      TARARA

      Lalabalele talala!  Callabale lalabalica falahle!

      CALYNX (horrified) 

      Stop—stop, I beg! 

      (All the LADIES close their ears.)

      TARARA

      Callamalala galalate!  Caritalla lalabalee kallalale poo!

      LADIES

      Oh, stop him!  stop him!

      CALYNX

      My lord, I'm surprised at you.  Are you not aware that His Majesty, in his despotic acquiescence with the emphatic wish of his people, has ordered that the Utopian language shall be banished from his court, and that all communications shall henceforward be made in the English tongue?

      TARARA

      Yes, I'm perfectly aware of it, although—(suddenly presenting an explosive cracker).  Stop—allow me.

      CALYNX

      (pulls it).  Now, what's that for?

      TARARA

      Why, I've recently been appointed Public Exploder to His Majesty, and as I'm constitutionally nervous, I must accustom myself by degrees to the startling nature of my duties. Thank you.  I was about to say that

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