Overview
Synopsis
Since the death of her husband, Mrs Waters has not considered the possibility of remarrying. The constant proposals from Harry Benn are putting her off even more. Even if she were interested, he is far too old for her, and he drinks too much. She should know, she serves him every night at The Beehive. No, she is quite content being the landlady, and keeping the inn in good order takes up enough of her time.
When she is surprised in the night by a handsome stranger trespassing in her house, she has half a mind to shoot him. He insists it is not necessary, he is only pretending to be a burglar for a strange plan concocted by Benn, in which Benn would come to Mrs Waters aid when she screams out. Seizing the opportunity to pay Benn back for this, and his constant whining at her, they stage the scene to make it look like she has been surprised by Travers and accidentally shot him and killed him. Their plot is successful, and with some quick thinking they even manage to convince Benn, and a Policeman, that he imagined it all.
Through the laughter, Mrs Waters and Travers form a bond of friendship, and he leaves her after breakfast with the possibility of something more.
Ethel Smyth’s The Boatswain’s Mate is a delightful romcom that was popular from its first performance. Over a century later its score, plot, and strong feminist themes still engage audiences with just as much vibrancy.
Show Information
- Music
- Ethel Smyth
- Libretto
- Ethel Smyth
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Boatswain's Mate by W.W. Jacobs
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1916
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- England, 20th Century
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Professional Opera, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
With her use of English folksongs, nursery rhymes, quotations from Beethoven’s fifth symphony, and a rewriting of her own March for Women, it is no wonder that Ethel Smyth’s The Boatswain’s Mate achieved such immediate popularity. First performed in 1916, highlight recordings were released as early as 1917 by music giant HMV.
In contrast to The Wreckers, with its sweeping Romantic score and desperate lovers, The Boatswain’s Mate is a farcical comedy
to read the context for The Boatswain's Mate and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
This piece can be performed either in two parts, with an interval before the Intermezzo, or as one act totalling around 75 minutes.
Part One
On a warm summer’s evening, Harry Benn is enjoying a mug of beer outside The Beehive inn, and singing a bit to himself (‘When rocked on the billows, that roughest of pillows’). A serving girl, Mary Ann, is sitting nearby, holding a bundle of things and waiting. She catches Benn’s eye as he sings, and he gets embarrassed and stops.
Mary Ann is
to read the plot for The Boatswain's Mate and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
Overture
Part 1
Scene One
- Intro ‘When rocked on the billows, that roughest of pillows’ - Ben, Mary Ann, Mrs Waters
- Dialogue ‘So you’re going to spend the night with your mother?’ - Benn, Mary Ann
Scene Two
- Scene ‘As I was saying when the girl come in’ - Benn, Mrs Waters
- Dialogue ‘It’s a strange thing, Mr Benn’ - Mrs Waters, Benn
Scene Three
Scene Four
- Dialogue ‘Well, old cock, if stamping about and swearing’ - Travers, Benn
- No. 1 Duet for two Piccolos
- No. 2 ‘A friend and I were on the pier’ - Travers, Benn
- Dialogue ‘If you’ve quite done’ - Benn, Travers
- No. 3 ‘That’s the plan, is it?’ - Travers, Benn
- Dialogue ‘At 2.30 sharp I’ll be here’ - Travers, Benn
Scene Five
- Dialogue ‘Well Mr Ben, done any business?’ - Mrs Waters, Benn
Scene Six
- Dialogue ‘Pussy, pussy, pussy!’ - Mrs Waters
- Scene ‘Supposed you mean to do a given thing’ - Mrs Waters
- Aria ‘What if I were young again’ - Mrs Waters
Scene Seven
- Dialogue ‘Well there’s a cure for dreaming’ - Mrs Waters
- Chorus ‘O Mary I try to forget you!’ - Three Laborers, Mrs Waters, Chorus
Intermezzo
Part Two
Scene One
- Scene ‘If those cats don’t wake her’ - Travers, Ben
Scene Two
Scene Three
- Duet ‘I thought I heard a noise’ - Mrs Waters, Travers
Scene Four
- Trio ‘Murder’, ‘I’m coming’ - Mrs Waters, Benn, Travers
Scene Five
- Trio ‘I’d not have missed that’ - Travers, Mrs Waters, Benn
Scene Six
- Quartet ‘Well I’m sure!’ - Mrs Waters, Benn, Policeman, Travers
- Quartet ‘Drink or love’ - Benn, Travers, Policeman, Mrs Waters
Scene Seven
- Scene and Duet ‘There, that’s done!’ - Mrs Waters, Travers
Scene Eight
- Aria ‘A wrinkle!’ - Mrs Waters, Mary Ann, Travers
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
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.