Sullivan wrote this piece five years before his first opera with W. When one of them has the day off, they meet each other in the room and tempers flare. The story concerns a landlord who lets a room to two lodgers, one who works at night and one who works during the day. It was Sullivan's first successful comic opera. Burnand and music by Arthur Sullivan, based on the 1847 farce Box and Cox by John Maddison Morton. Little Buttercup now comes out with her secret, which solves the whole difficulty.Poster for the 1869 production at the Royal Gallery of IllustrationĬox and Box or, The Long-Lost Brothers, is a one-act comic opera with a libretto by F. But when Sir Joseph also learns from Ralph that Josephine was eloping, he angrily orders Ralph put in irons. The Captain thereupon intercepts the elopers and, when he learns that Josephine was actually running away to marry Ralph, he is so incensed that he cries, 'Damme!' Unfortunately, Sir Joseph and his relatives hear him and are horrified at his swearing Sir Joseph sends him to his cabin in disgrace. Meanwhile Dick Deadeye has made his way to the Captain, and informs him of the planned elopement of his daughter with Ralph. He thinks that she accepts him, whereas actually she is reaffirming her acceptance of Ralph and they all join in a happy song. This Sir Joseph does, not realizing that his words are as applicable to Josephine in relation to Ralph as they are to himself in relation to Josephine. The Captain suggests that perhaps his daughter feels herself inferior in social rank to Sir Joseph, and urges him to assure her that inequality of social rank should not be considered a barrier to marriage. But Sir Joseph soon appears and tells the Captain that Josephine has thoroughly discouraged him in his suit he wishes to call the match off. Little Buttercup tries to comfort him, and prophesies a change in store. The act ends with the general rejoicing of the sailors at Ralph's success only Dick Deadeye croaks his warning that their hopes will be frustrated.Īct II opens with the Captain in despair at the demoralization of his crew and the coldness of his daughter towards Sir Joseph. Josephine finds him insufferable and, when Ralph again pleads his suit and finally threatens suicide, she agrees to elope. Like the Captain, he is very punctilious, demanding polite diction among the sailors at all times. He explains how he became Lord of the Admiralty and examines the crew, patronizingly encouraging them to feel that they are everyone's equal, except his.

Sir Joseph appears, attended by a train of ladies (his relatives, who always follow him wherever he goes). The generally happy atmosphere on deck is marred only by Little Buttercup's hints of a dark secret she is hiding, by the misanthropic grumbling of Dick Deadeye, and by the love-lorn plaints of Ralph and Josephine.

When Act I opens, the sailors are merrily preparing the ship for Sir Joseph's inspection. The Captain has, in fact, been arranging a marriage between his daughter and Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty, who is of the class above even the Corcorans. Class pride, however, stands in the way of the natural inclinations of both the Corcorans to reciprocate Ralph's and Buttercup's affections. Likewise, Little Buttercup, a buxom peddler-woman, has fallen in love with the Captain himself. Some time before Act I opens, Ralph has fallen in love with Josephine, the daughter of his commanding officer, Captain Corcoran. Gilbert Music by Arthur Sullivan Production Runs Pinafore or, The Lass That Loved A Sailorīook by W.

Buttercup song gilbert sullivan