Merry England from 4YA

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 46, 30 May 1930, Page 5

Merry England from 4YA

Story of German’s Famous Opera ~ DWARD GERMAN’S popular light opera, "Merrie BHngland," will be performed from 4YA next week. The opera is in two acts, the text being written by Basil Hood. It was first produced at the Savoy Theatre, London, on April 2, 1902. The Principal Characters are:-~ Queen Blizabeth See HOCHST HHS ETOH ESCEEREHEEHEEEHEHATHEOSESES Contralto The Barl of BSsex caccceccccvcnccscscnscssscccsevevers Baritone ¢ Gir Walter Raleigh ...cccccce censccsccsscensvescaceesecoes Tenor Walter Wilkins, a player in Shakespeare’s Company ».«+s. Baritone Long Tom and Big Ben, Royal Foresters ....ceseeeeoee Baritones A Tailor and a Baker .....ssececcceeccccccececcsececsecss Tenors A Tinker and @ Butcher ....cceceecscncecaccccnece veee Baritones Miss Bessie Throckmorton, Maid-of-Honour to the Queen .. Soprano Jill-All-Alone, a supposed Witch ...ccccccegececsssecee Contralito The May Queen seccecccecvcccccssccsccvcvecscesscoeses SOPLano _ he story of "Merrie England" is laid in the glorious days of Queen Blizabeth, -who, together with those famous personages of her reign, the Harl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh, appeared in the opera, the’ scene of which is laid in the heart of mediaeval England, by the Thames near Windsor. Act 1 opens to the strains of the May Day revels. ‘The Queen of May and her supporters are chosen, and Raleigh, disguised as Robin Hood, appears on the scene. His lady love, Bessie Throckmorton, Maid-of-Honour to the Queen, comes forward to meet him. The Witch, Jill-All-Alone, finds an acrostic which Raleigh has given to Bessie, and which she has lost. The Harl of Essex, to whom Jill brings the lost property, sees it addressed to Bessie, and believes that Queen Bess is the .object of Raleigh’s attentions. He shows the acrostic to the Queen, who is not displeased, until she hears from Raleigh’s lips that the verses were intended for Bessie Throckmorton, whom he loves. In anger the Queen banishes Raleigh, orders Bessie into imprisonment, and has Jill-All-Alone thrust within the castle walls to be burned for a witch. In Act 2, the Queen goes hunting in Windsor Forest, where the forest folk give a performance for her entertainment. Wssex causes the apparition of Hearne the Hunter to appear before the Queen, tradition having it’ that the ghost is seen only when the sovereign meditates a wrong. The Queen relents, and all are pardoned. The strains of Raleigh’s and Bessie’s wedding music, this delightful opera draws to a close.