3 October: Yeomen of the Guard

On 3 October 1888, Gilbert and Sullivan's Yeomen of the Guard was performed for the first time, at the Savoy Theatre. It was the eleventh collaboration of fourteen between Gilbert and Sullivan.

1. The alternative title for The Yeomen of the Guard is The Merryman and His Maid.
2. It's the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera to start with a solo rather than a chorus.
3. It's the only Gilbert and Sullivan opera to feature a character who really existed. Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir Richard Cholmondeley was the actual Lieutenant of the Tower from 1513 to 1520, during the reign of Henry VIII.
4. It was the only time that Gilbert made a musical contribution as well as writing the lyrics. He had a particular song, a sea shanty, in mind when he wrote the words to I have a song to sing, O. Sullivan at first had difficulty setting the words to music, so Gilbert hummed the sea shanty to him, after which he knew exactly how to write it.
5. It's also the only one which doesn't have a completely happy ending with all the major characters marrying the person they were in love with. Jester Jack Point loses his beloved Elsie to his rival Colonel Fairfax, and according to the stage direction “falls insensible at their feet”. George Grossmith, the first person to play the part, was a comic actor and made it look as if the fall was meant to be funny; but Henry Lytton, who played the part later, made it clear in his interpretation that the jester had literally died of a broken Heart. Gilbert never stated which interpretation was correct, leaving actors free to interpret it whichever way they like.
6. For several years before this, Sullivan had been threatening to leave the partnership because he wanted to write more serious operas. Yeomen was a compromise on Gilbert's part. He'd been trying to interest Sullivan in a topsy turvy plot in which the characters swallow a magic pill, without success. Sullivan was "immensely pleased" with the slightly more serious plot.
7. Gilbert said the idea for Yeomen of the Guard came from an advertising poster he saw while waiting for a train. It was for The Tower Furnishing and Finance Company, illustrated with a Beefeater.
8. A summary of the plot: Phoebe is in love with one of the prisoners at the Tower, Colonel Fairfax, who is due to be executed for sorcery. Wilfred, the head jailer and assistant torturer is in love with Phoebe but she wants nothing to do with him. Phoebe's father Sergeant Meryll announces that her brother Leonard has been appointed a Yeoman for his valour in battle. He is on his way from Windsor, and might be bringing a reprieve for Fairfax. Sergeant Meryll hopes so, as Fairfax is an old friend of his. However, when Leonard arrives, there is no reprieve. So they hatch a plot. They'll spring Fairfax from his cell and Fairfax will dress up as Leonard, who will go into hiding. Meanwhile, Fairfax is distraught because if he died unmarried his estate goes to Sir Clarence Poltwhistle, his evil cousin, who was the one who accused him of sorcery in the first place. He says he will give any random passing woman a hundred crowns to marry him before he is executed. Enter some travelling players, a jester, Jack Point, and the young singer he is in love with, Elsie. Elsie's mother is very ill and she needs money to buy medicine for her, so she agrees to marry Fairfax, since he will be executed straight after the wedding so she will be free to marry Jack. The wedding takes place in secret. Meanwhile, Phoebe manages to distract Wilfred, steal the keys to the cell and her father lets Fairfax out. Fairfax, disguised as Leonard announces his own escape. Jack persuades Wilfred to pretend he has shot Fairfax dead, so he can marry Elsie, but Elsie has by now fallen in love with Leonard/Fairfax. The real Leonard returns with Fairfax's reprieve. Jack, realising he has lost Elsie forever, falls insensible (possibly dead) at their feet.
9. Both Gilbert and Sullivan believed their best joint work was The Yeomen of the Guard.
10. A quote from Yeomen is inscribed on the memorial to Sullivan in London's Victoria Embankment Gardens: "Is life a boon? If so, it must befall that Death, whene'er he call, must call too soon".

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