INTRODUCTION
The Beauty Stone was deliberately conceived as a musical drama different from every other production that had preceded it at the Savoy Theatre. It is an intelligent, well-crafted play with complex characters developed through compelling situations and where the internal conflicts of the characters are as important as the external plot. However, the Savoy audience wanted humor. This and competition from the new theatrical art form of musical comedy produced at other London theatres sealed the opera's doom.
As with our other web operas, full lyrics and dialogue are included. We have also included disc and track references to the Beauty Stone CD of a performance by The Prince Consort on 18th June 1983. This two CD set can be obtained from Sounds on CD.
These midi files were sequenced by Colin Johnson.
Dramatis Personæ
Philip, Lord of MirlemontKnights, Dames, Pages, Aldermen, Soldiers, Townsfolk, Country-folk, Dancers, Lute-players, Serving-men, and the rest.
Guntran of Beaugrant
Simon Limal (a Weaver)
Nicholas Dircks (Burgomaster of Mirlemont)
Peppin (a dwarf)
A Seneschal
A Lad of the Town
Baldwyn of Ath
The Lords of Sirault, Velaines, and St. Sauveur
The Devil
Laine (the Weaver's daughter)
Joan (the Weaver's wife)
Jacqueline
Loyse, from St. Denis
Isabeau, from Florennes
Barbe, from Bovigny
A Shrewish Girl
A Matron
Saida
The story is laid in the Flemish town of Mirlemont in the beginning of the 15th century.
Scene 1. - The Weaver's Home.
Scene 2. - The Market-place.
ACT II.
Scene 1. - A Hall in the Castle.
Scene 2. - The Weaver's Home.
Scene 3. - Between the Castle and the North Gate.
ACT III.
Scene 1. - The Terrace of the Castle.
Scene 2. - The Market-place.
MIDI Karaoke Version |
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The special MIDI Karaoke version of this opera highlights the lyrics on the screen while you are listening to the music. In order to play the Karaoke music files you must have a MIDI Karaoke player on your PC - see our MIDI Karaoke Help Page for information on downloading a free player. To follow the Karaoke version, start with the links immediately below, and then continue with the Karaoke version links at the bottom of each dialogue page. Alternatively, they may all be downloaded as a single ZIP file. [83.6KB]
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THE WEB OPERA
Act One
Scene 1
- No 1 - Click, clack - Duet - Simon and Joan
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 2 - Hobble, hobble, and now we've caught her - Chorus
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 2a - Maidens and men of Mirlemont town - Chorus
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 3 - Dear Mary Mother - Prayer - Laine
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 4 - Who stands within? - Quartet
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 5 - Since it dwelt in that rock - Recit and Song - The Devil
- >>Spoken Dialogue
Scene 2
- No 6 - The bells are ringing o'er Mirlemont Town - Chorus
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 7 - My Name is Crazy Jacqueline
- >>Spoken Dialogue,
- No 8 - Songs of the Competitors
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 9 - Finale Act I
Act Two
Scene 1
- No 10 - With cards and dice - Chorus
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 11 - Though she should dance - Scene with Eastern Maidens
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 12 - I Love Thee - Duet - Laine and Philip
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 13 - 'll tell them what thou wast - Sung by Laine, Saida, Philip, The Devil, Guntran, Three Lords, and Chorus of Men
- >>Spoken Dialogue
Scene 2
- No 14 - I would see a maid - Sung by Simon and Joan
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 15 - Haste three! haste thee! - Sung by Simon, Joan, Saida, Laine, and The Devil
Scene 3
Act Three
Scene 1
- No 17 Part 1- An hour agone 'twas the moon that shone - Sung by Laine
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 17 Part 2 - The White Moon Lay on the Ruined Hay - Sung by Laine
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 18 Why dost thou sigh and moan? - Sung by Jacqueline
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 19 - Mine, mine at last! - Sung by Saida
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- Song - With roses red they crowned her head - Sung by Laine
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 20 - So all is lost for ever! - Scena - Saida and the Devil
Scene 2
- No 21 - O'er Mirlemont City the banners - Chorus and Dance
- >>Spoken Dialogue
- No 22 - Hail to the lord of our land - Finale Act III
- To Beauty Stone Home Page
- To Web Operas Home Page
- To Gilbert and Sullivan Archive MIDI Home Page.
- To Gilbert and Sullivan Archive Home Page.