Mary A. Finn:
I once heard that originally, the two Phyllis/Strephon duets were
interchanged with each other. That is, "If We're Weak Enough to Tarry" was
done in the first act, and "Thou The
Is this true? If so, why was the switch made, and why wasn't it ever
switched back?
Michael Walters:
Yes and no. The position is that originally there was only one duet, the one
which is now in Act 2 was in the Act 1 position. It was later moved to Act
2, and the one now in Act 1 inserted. But I think this all took place before
the opening night. However, I agree that they do actually make better sense
reversed, and I can claim to have instrumental in having the performed this
way in a production many years ago.
Tom Shepard:
I don't agree. The plot is more advanced in Act 2 which energizes the duet,
whereas in Act I, we learn of the love between them BEFORE we learn about
their plans to defy the law.
Gwyn Aubrey:
Well, isn't the whole point of "If We're Weak Enough to Tarry", from a dramatic standpoint, that Phyllis and Strephon have gone through all the trials, tribulations, etc. and they've decided to get married fast before
anything else hits?
Marc Shepherd:
I agree that if you just read the texts of the two duets, the
Act II duet makes more sense in Act I, and the Act I duet makes
more sense in Act II.
I suspect the reason G&S made the shift is that the current
Act I duet would slow down the action in the Act II position.
In Act I, it is placed where a slow number does not injure
the pacing of the work.
I've often said that the worst mistake they made in RUDDIGORE
is making a slow, 3-verse ballad the penultimate number in
the opera: it halts the action at exactly the time when it
should be speeded up.
I believe that similar considerations led G&S to put "None
shall part us" in Act I and "If we're weak enough" in Act II.
Updated 28 November 1997