Overview
Synopsis
The Earl of Dunmow has fallen on hard times, and has plans to improve his fiscal situation through a liaison between his daughter, Susan, and Prince Phillipe, the son of the Grand Duchess of Monteblanco. The Earl and his wife, the Countess of Dunmow, decide to host the Duchess and her son for a dinner party, but nothing seems to be going to plan. A cooking disaster threatens to ruin the evening, and incredible embarrassment ensues when the Duchess and her son arrive via the large back door and straight into the kitchen!
Having never been in a kitchen in her life, the Duchess naturally admires the unconventional decor of the drawing room. She is rather shocked to find the house running on a reduced staff, in fact, no staff at all except a weekly visit from Mrs Kneebone. She agrees to a tour of the small garden, to leave her son and Susan to meet. Susan has refused to put on the expensive evening-gown her parents have bought, particularly while she is helping out in the kitchen. Prince Phillip mistakes her for the hired help at first, but soon takes a fancy to her, when he realises that her culinary skills are a great match for his appetite. They bond over a jar of pickled walnuts, and he declares his love in the form of a French song. Their betrothal is secured by a generous offer from the Duchess to forget about a dowry.
Lennox Berkeley’s A Dinner Engagement is a popular ensemble piece, taking only seven performers and a small orchestra. In the style of a classic British sitcom, it suits many audiences and settings. Its music interweaves different melodies throughout, to culminate in a wonderful septet which combines three separate arias.
Show Information
- Music
- Lennox Berkeley
- Libretto
- Paul Dehn
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1954
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Period, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- London, 1950s, Chelsea
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- None
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Ensemble Cast, Professional Opera, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Elderly, Late Teen Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
Songs
Author’s Note: This opera is through composed, so there are no strict scene delineations. The breakdown below is given as a guide only, and may differ from other breakdowns.
Scene One
- ‘Salt, pepper, olive oil’ - Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy
- ‘I'm sorry, Milady, I came through the front door’ - Mrs. Kneebone, Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow
- ‘In the summer of my time’ - Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Mrs. Kneebone
- ‘At Missis Ellibank's in Wimbledon’ - Mrs. Kneebone, Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow
- ‘Mother, please can I help?’ - Susan, Lady Dunmow, Mrs. Kneebone, Lord Dunmow
- ‘He was a quiet little boy’ - Lady Dunmow, Susan, Mrs. Kneebone, Lord Dunmow
- ‘Prenez 6 belles tomates’ - Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow, Mrs. Kneebone, Susan
- ‘Is this the residence of the Earl and Countess of Dunmow?’ - Prince Philippe, Mrs. Kneebone
Scene Two
- ‘So this, dear Lady Dunmow, is your drawing room’ - Duchess, Lady Dunmow, Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow
- ‘I never moved a muscle’ - Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Duchess, Prince Philippe
- ‘Forgive my curiosity, but is your servant that young girl …?’ - Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Duchess
- ‘Come and see our little garden’ - Lady Dunmow, Lord Dunmow, Prince Philippe, Duchess
- ‘This way, Ma'am, through the back door’ - Lord Dunmow, Duchess, Prince Philippe, Susan
- ‘Oh, shall I kneel in shame … ?’ - Susan, Prince Philippe
- ‘I like to imagine how these must have looked' - Susan, Prince Philippe
- ‘Mon aimee attend la lune’ - Prince Philippe
- ‘Kiss her at once!’ - Duchess, Prince Philippe, Susan, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy
- ‘Let her beauty be her dowry’ - Duchess, Susan, Prince Philippe, Lord Dunmow, Lady Dunmow, Boy, Mrs. Kneebone
- ‘My Lords, Ladies, Duchess and gentlemen!’ - Mrs. Kneebone, Prince Philippe, Susan
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.