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Selworthy returns from the Americas hoping to reunite with Perdita, only to learn that she married his old friend Pennyfather. Once he hears how Perdita has changed, Selworthy decides he escaped an unhappy match and forgives his friend.
Stockbroker Fred Fancourt courts his cousin Dora, who has become absorbed in literature and says she will marry only a poet. Through charades, each challenges the other's ideal of a spouse, and they agree to part; they later reconcile and presumably marry.
In Elizabethan London, Doris Shelton helps fugitive Sir Philip Carey escape after he is accused of plotting against the Queen. Her fiancé Martin becomes jealous when Philip poses as an apprentice, but later takes Philip’s place in custody. The Queen eventually pardons the prisoners, and Doris and Martin are reunited.
Dorothy Bantam and her cousin Lydia disguise themselves as village girls and meet debt-ridden Geoffrey Wilder and his friend Sherwood. The men fall in love with the disguised women, then mistake them for their true identities at a house party and briefly become enamored of each other’s companions. Dorothy and Lydia test their fidelity, and the couples reconcile and marry after Squire Bantam agrees to forgive Wilder’s debts.
After an argument, Mr. Liverby refuses to speak to his wife. She plants a fake love letter to make him jealous, but another letter from a young man appears. He turns out to be Liverby’s nephew, seeking his aunt’s help to regain a job; Liverby reinstates him and forgives his wife.
When the Jarramies’ butler and cook leave before an important dinner, Mrs. Jarramie rubs an antique lamp and summons Ben-Zoh-Leen, who serves as both. Her husband employs the genie as a political canvasser. Misreading a telegram, Mrs. Jarramie sends her husband to Timbuctoo, but then locks the lamp in a safe. Ernest Pepperton finds the combination, frees the lamp, and brings Mr. Jarramie home; Pepperton is forgiven and the genie gains his freedom.
Piscator is fishing when Amandus asks to drown himself over a failed romance. Amanda arrives with the same intention. As the two reveal that their former loves have betrayed them and that each has been insulted by the other’s former partner, they fall in love with one another and abandon suicide.
A mysterious potion makes drinkers become what they have pretended to be. When a troupe of players, a band of brigands, and villagers all drink spiked wine while acting out disguises and deceptions, they are transformed accordingly. Ultrice eventually gives up the antidote, the potion’s effects end, and the characters return to themselves.
The banished Grand Duke and his court live in a lonely glen. His daughter Viola has never met anyone outside their party. Her cousin Otho arrives disguised as a friar, then as the Spectre Knight, wins her love and reveals himself after overthrowing the usurper. The Duke approves their marriage and the court can return home.
Dolly loves sailor Peter, but her uncle Captain Flint takes her to sea while seeking a more advantageous match. On Mocha, the Sultan buys Dolly from Flint. Peter rescues her, but Admiral Sneak captures and sells her to the Sultan; Dolly agrees to marry the Sultan in exchange for Peter’s freedom. She tricks the Sultan into marrying Isadora instead, and Dolly and Peter reunite.
A substantially rewritten version of Alfred Cellier’s comic opera. The 1887 revision changes characters and their relationships; the source does not provide a separate plot summary.
In Topsyturveydom, people are born old and grow younger, wisdom is mocked and folly prized. Parliament seats are bought and legislators are rich donkeys. Visitor Satis falls in love with Tipto, the king’s grandmother, and she returns his love despite the country’s custom of marrying people one hates. The king offers his grandmother to Satis as a punishment, so the pair can marry happily.
Selworthy returns from the Americas hoping to reunite with Perdita, only to learn that she married his old friend Pennyfather. Once he hears how Perdita has changed, Selworthy decides he escaped an unhappy match and forgives his friend.
Stockbroker Fred Fancourt courts his cousin Dora, who has become absorbed in literature and says she will marry only a poet. Through charades, each challenges the other's ideal of a spouse, and they agree to part; they later reconcile and presumably marry.
In Elizabethan London, Doris Shelton helps fugitive Sir Philip Carey escape after he is accused of plotting against the Queen. Her fiancé Martin becomes jealous when Philip poses as an apprentice, but later takes Philip’s place in custody. The Queen eventually pardons the prisoners, and Doris and Martin are reunited.
Dorothy Bantam and her cousin Lydia disguise themselves as village girls and meet debt-ridden Geoffrey Wilder and his friend Sherwood. The men fall in love with the disguised women, then mistake them for their true identities at a house party and briefly become enamored of each other’s companions. Dorothy and Lydia test their fidelity, and the couples reconcile and marry after Squire Bantam agrees to forgive Wilder’s debts.
After an argument, Mr. Liverby refuses to speak to his wife. She plants a fake love letter to make him jealous, but another letter from a young man appears. He turns out to be Liverby’s nephew, seeking his aunt’s help to regain a job; Liverby reinstates him and forgives his wife.
When the Jarramies’ butler and cook leave before an important dinner, Mrs. Jarramie rubs an antique lamp and summons Ben-Zoh-Leen, who serves as both. Her husband employs the genie as a political canvasser. Misreading a telegram, Mrs. Jarramie sends her husband to Timbuctoo, but then locks the lamp in a safe. Ernest Pepperton finds the combination, frees the lamp, and brings Mr. Jarramie home; Pepperton is forgiven and the genie gains his freedom.
Piscator is fishing when Amandus asks to drown himself over a failed romance. Amanda arrives with the same intention. As the two reveal that their former loves have betrayed them and that each has been insulted by the other’s former partner, they fall in love with one another and abandon suicide.
A mysterious potion makes drinkers become what they have pretended to be. When a troupe of players, a band of brigands, and villagers all drink spiked wine while acting out disguises and deceptions, they are transformed accordingly. Ultrice eventually gives up the antidote, the potion’s effects end, and the characters return to themselves.
The banished Grand Duke and his court live in a lonely glen. His daughter Viola has never met anyone outside their party. Her cousin Otho arrives disguised as a friar, then as the Spectre Knight, wins her love and reveals himself after overthrowing the usurper. The Duke approves their marriage and the court can return home.
Dolly loves sailor Peter, but her uncle Captain Flint takes her to sea while seeking a more advantageous match. On Mocha, the Sultan buys Dolly from Flint. Peter rescues her, but Admiral Sneak captures and sells her to the Sultan; Dolly agrees to marry the Sultan in exchange for Peter’s freedom. She tricks the Sultan into marrying Isadora instead, and Dolly and Peter reunite.
A substantially rewritten version of Alfred Cellier’s comic opera. The 1887 revision changes characters and their relationships; the source does not provide a separate plot summary.
In Topsyturveydom, people are born old and grow younger, wisdom is mocked and folly prized. Parliament seats are bought and legislators are rich donkeys. Visitor Satis falls in love with Tipto, the king’s grandmother, and she returns his love despite the country’s custom of marrying people one hates. The king offers his grandmother to Satis as a punishment, so the pair can marry happily.