The Grand Duke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Grand Duke
Prince and Princess of Monte Carlo, characters in The Grand Duke
Written by	W. S. Gilbert (words) Arthur Sullivan (music)
Date of premiere	7 March 1896
Place of premiere	Savoy Theatre London, England
Original language	English
Genre	Operetta
Setting	Grand Duchy of Pfennig Halbpfennig

The Grand Duke; or, The Statutory Duel is a fun and exciting operetta created by the famous team of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. It was the very last of their fourteen operettas together. This show first opened on 7 March 1896 in London, England. It ran for 123 performances, which means people enjoyed watching it for a few months!

What is an Operetta?

An operetta is like a lighter, more humorous version of an opera. It mixes singing, acting, and spoken dialogue. Imagine a musical play where characters often sing their feelings and plans. Gilbert and Sullivan were masters at creating these kinds of shows. Their operettas are known for their clever words, catchy music, and funny stories.

The Famous Duo: Gilbert and Sullivan

W. S. Gilbert wrote the words, also known as the "libretto," for the operettas. He was known for his witty and often silly plots. Arthur Sullivan composed the music, which was always beautiful and memorable. Together, they created many popular shows. These include The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado. The Grand Duke was their final collaboration.

The Story of The Grand Duke

The story of The Grand Duke takes place in a fictional country called the Grand Duchy of Pfennig Halbpfennig. The plot involves a group of actors who plan to overthrow the Grand Duke. They decide to use an old law called a "statutory duel." This duel is not fought with swords. Instead, the people involved draw cards to decide who wins. The loser is considered legally dead.

Characters and Comedy

The operetta is full of funny characters and confusing situations. The main characters try to figure out who is "legally dead" and who is still alive. This leads to many mix-ups about who is married to whom. The humor comes from these misunderstandings and the clever ways the characters try to solve their problems. It's a show that makes you laugh at the silly rules and the characters' reactions.

Premiere and Legacy

The Grand Duke first premiered at the Savoy Theatre in London. This theatre was built especially for Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas. While The Grand Duke was not as popular as some of their earlier works, it still has many fans today. It shows Gilbert's sharp writing and Sullivan's lovely music. It remains an important part of their amazing collection of works.

Images for kids

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  An early poster for The Grand Duke

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  Ilka Pálmay as Julia Jellicoe

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  Programme from the original production of The Grand Duke

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  "Ludwig and his Julia are mated."

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  Charles Kenningham as Ernest

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  Drawing of the original Act I set

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  Passmore as Rudolph

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  Florence Perry as Lisa

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  Bab drawing of Rudolph

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  Rosina Brandram as the Baroness