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Overview

Synopsis

In the small town of Loxford in East Sussex, the old-fashioned autocrat Lady Billows is in a tizzy. She has assembled a committee of the most important people in town to try to find a suitable Queen for their annual May Day Feast, but none of the young women in town are of suitable moral character. It is pointed out that there is one person in town who is virginal, obedient, upstanding, and moral—Albert Herring, the greengrocer’s son. Albert, timid from years living under his mother’s thumb, is crowned the King of the May. What no one expects is that this event will lead to an evening of drunken debauchery for Albert! Benjamin Britten’s only true comic opera, Albert Herring explores the themes of losing innocence, social stratification, Victorian morality, and coming of age, all cast in the setting of the composer’s brilliantly witty chamber score.

Show Information

Based On Book By
Guy de Maupassant
Category
Opera
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1947
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
april and may 1900; loxford, a small (imaginary) town near east suffolk, england
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Small
Dancing
None
Ideal For
Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Lady Billows

Lead

Female

Albert Herring

Lead

Male

Tenor

Sid

Lead

Male

Baritone

Nancy

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Florence Pike

Supporting

Female

Mr. Gedge

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Mr. Upfold

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Superintendent Budd

Supporting

Male

Bass

Mrs. Herring

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Miss Wordsworth

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Emmie

Featured

Female

Soprano

Cis

Featured

Female

Soprano

Harry

Featured

Male

Treble/Boy Soprano

Songs

Act I

Scene 1: The Home of Lady Billows (Florence, Lady Billows, Vicar, Mayor, Miss Wordsworth, Superintendent Budd)

Scene 2: Mrs. Herring’s Greengrocery in Little Street (All)

Act II

Scene 1: The Vicarage Garden (All)

Scene 2: Mrs. Herring’s Greengrocery in Little Street (Albert, Sid, Nancy, Mrs. Herring)

Act III:

Scene 1: Mrs. Herring’s Greengrocery in Little Street (All)

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

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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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