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Overview

Synopsis

Originally taken from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and transplanted by a group of rustic ‘Mechanicals’ into Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the story of Pyramus and Thisbe is a familiar one. Two lovers are unable to be together due to their feuding families. A crack in an interconnecting wall allows the two to communicate their love, and they arrange to meet each other near Ninny’s tomb. When Thisbe arrives, Pyramus is not there. She sees only a Lion with a bloody mouth, and assumes the worst. In her haste to leave she drops her veil. Pyramus arrives to find only a veil, and the bloodied Lion, and assumes her dead. He throws himself on his sword in sorrow, only for Thisbe to return and find his body. She also takes her life, and their blood stains the fruits of the mulberry bush.

In Lampe’s operatic adaptation, the Mechanicals are transplanted from Shakespeare’s play, to perform their scene as an opera, while a group of gentlemen remark on the absurdity of operatic convention. With some beautiful vocal writing to rival any of the great baroque opera composers, such as Hasse and Handel, and the opportunity to use all of the genius of Shakespeare’s comedy, Lampe’s opera Pyramus and Thisbe should definitely be performed more often.

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Act Five of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
1
First Produced
1745
Genres
Dark Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Tragedy
Settings
Period, Fantasy/Imaginary
Time & Place
ancient times, myth
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal For
Chamber Opera, College/University, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Pyramus

Lead

Male

Tenor

Thisbe

Lead

Female

Soprano

Semibrief

Supporting

Male

Spoken

1st Gentleman / 2nd Gentleman

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Wall

Featured

Male

Tenor

Moonshine

Featured

Male

Tenor

Lion

Featured

Male

Baritone, Bass

Prologue

Featured

Male

Spoken

Master / Prompter

Featured

Male

Spoken

Songs

The scene breakdown below is given from the edition by Peter Holman, 1995.

‘Are the properties and everything ready for the performance?’ - Master, Prompter, Semibrief, 1st Gentleman

‘If we offend, it is with our good will’ - Prologue, 1st Gent, 2nd Gent

Overture

‘Who comes here?’ - 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘In this same interlude’ - Wall

The Wall’s Song 'The Wretched Sighs And Groans' - Wall

‘Who would desire lime and hair to sing better?’ - 2nd Gent, 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘O grim-looked night’ - Pyramus

Aria 'And Thou, O Wall' - Pyramus

Recitative ‘Thanks, courteous wall’ - Pyramus

Aria 'O Wicked Wall' - Pyramus

‘The wall methinks, being sensible, should curse again’ - 1st Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘The promised joys that lovers feel’ - Thisbe

Aria 'Fly, Swift Good Time' - Thisbe

‘O Wall, full often hast thou heard’ - Thisbe, Pyramus

Whispering Duet 'Not Shafalus to Procrus’ - Thisbe, Pyramus

Recitative ‘O kiss me through the hole of this vile wall’ - Pyramus, Thisbe

Duet 'I Go Without Delay' - Pyramus, Thisbe

Recitative ‘Thus have I, Wall, my part discharged so’ - Wall

‘Now is the mural down between the two neighbours’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘You ladies, you whose gentle hearts do fear’ - Lion

Aria 'Ladies Don't Fright You' - Lion

‘A very gentle beast, and of a good conscience’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘This lanthorn doth the horned Moon present’ - Moon, 2nd Gent, 1st Gent

Aria 'The Man In The Moon I Am, Sir' - Moon

‘I am weary of this moon’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Moon

Recitative ‘This is old Ninny’s tomb’ - Thisbe

Aria 'Where Is My Love, My Pyre Dear' - Thisbe

‘O! O! O! O!’ - Lion, Thisbe, 1st Gent, 2nd Gent

Arioso 'Sweet Moon, I Thank Thee' - Pyramus

Recitative ‘But stay, O spite!’ - Pyramus

Aria 'Approach, Ye Furies Fell' - Pyramus

‘This passion - and the death of a dear friend’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

‘Recitative ‘O wherefore, nature, didst thou lions frame’ - Pyramus

Arioso ‘Come tears, confound’ - Pyramus

Aria 'Now I Am Dead' - Pyramus

‘So, there’s an end of Pyramus’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Recitative ‘Asleep, my love?’ - Thisbe

Aria 'These Lily Lips' - Thisbe

‘Moonshine and Lion are left to bury the dead’ - 1st Gent, 2nd Gent, Semibrief

Dance

Epilogue, Recitative ‘Gentlemen and ladies, we’ve a boon to ask’ - Pyramus, Thisbe

Duet 'Thus Folding, Beholding' - Pyramus, Thisbe

Chorus ‘Now, e’er you remove’ - Tutti

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Wendy Silvester

Wendy Silvester

Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.