Showing results by author "W. S. Gilbert" in All Categories

Dive into the delightfully whimsical world of Pinafore, where the hilarity of this 1908 childrens adaptation of the classic 1878 Gilbert and Sullivan operetta comes to life! With wit and charm, Gilbert himself crafts this version, ensuring that both adults and children will find themselves in stitches. Prepare for a laugh-out-loud experience that resonates with the playful spirit of the original story. - Summary by David Wales

Dive into the whimsical world of H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, a delightful comic opera penned by the brilliant duo of Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert. Premiering in London on May 25, 1878, this enchanting tale captivated audiences for an impressive 571 performances, marking it as a milestone in musical theatre history. Though this isnt the opera itself, it is a charming adaptation by Gilbert titled The Story of HMS Pinafore, or The Pinafore Picture Book, featuring enchanting illustrations by Alice B. Woodward. Here, you’ll find Gilberts clever prose and poetry, ...

Step into the whimsical world of The Mikado, the beloved ninth collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan. Premiering in 1885, this enchanting musical became a theatrical sensation, boasting the second-longest run of its time and earning its title as the most frequently performed work of Gilbert and Sullivan. W. S. Gilbert later adapted it into a delightful childrens book, The Story of The Mikado, which stands as his final literary contribution, published posthumously. This charming retelling simplifies the original tale, making it accessible and engaging for young readers, with Gilberts ...

A collection of the funny, curious verse written during the 19th and 20th centuries, read by some of Britain's most renowned actors. Humorous and whimsical verse are collated together in these timeless readings of poetry from our funniest writers. Performed by Sir John Gielgud; Imogen Stubbs; Tim Pigott-Smith; Peter Orr; Wendy Hillier.

The Bab Ballads is a delightful collection of light verse crafted by the talented W. S. Gilbert, featuring his own whimsical comic illustrations. Written before he gained fame for his iconic comic opera librettos with Arthur Sullivan, these Ballads showcase Gilberts innovative topsy-turvy style, where absurd premises lead to hilariously logical consequences. Infused with his signature cynicism and sharp satire, the Ballads not only captivated audiences on their own but also served as a rich source for characters, plot elements, and songs that would later appear in Gilbert and Sullivans operas....

Dive into the whimsical world of the Bab Ballads, a delightful collection of light verse crafted by the ingenious W. S. Gilbert, complete with his own charming illustrations. Long before he achieved fame for his comic opera librettos in collaboration with Arthur Sullivan, Gilbert was honing his craft with these Ballads, characterized by his signature topsy-turvy style. Here, he masterfully sets up absurd scenarios and explores their ludicrous outcomes, all while weaving in his trademark cynicism and satire. The Bab Ballads not only stand on their own as a remarkable literary achievement but ...

Frederick is freed of his indentures to the ferociously temperate Pirates of Penzance. What will he do with his newfound freedom?

King Claudius, when a young man, wrote a five-act tragedy which was damned, and all reference to it forbidden under penalty of death. The King has a son - Hamlet - whose tendency to soliloquize has so alarmed his mother, Queen Gertrude, that she has sent for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to devise some Court revels for his entertainment. Rosencrantz is a former lover of Ophelia, to whom Hamlet is betrothed, and they lay their heads together to devise a plan by which Hamlet may be put out of the way. Some Court theatricals are in preparation.

This is the sweet story of a paralyzed man in Venice who sees out of his window a young girl across the way. Unbeknownst to her, she brightens his days over the course of several years, and he begins to fall in love with her. One day he throws out a flower into the canal between them to say "good morning", and she responds in kind. They still haven't spoken a word, but his heart is lifted. Until, that is, the young maid grows up, and the gondolier boys start calling on her.

A great collection of short stories based on the theme of love. Stories by famous writers including Katherine Mansfield and Oscar Wilde.

Stanley Holloway reads a selection of Gilbert's Bab Ballads, the light verse which when published were accompanied by his own comic drawings.

There is something about the number 3. The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two. Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and literary avenues that classic authors were so adept at creating.