Explore this Show
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
- Music
- John Frederick Lampe
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
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
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.