Our 1999 production was a show we had never performed before, Gilbert & Sullivan's 14^th and final collaboration. The Grand Duke did not attract the success of its predecessors and closed after a relatively short run in 1896. In intervening years it has not been often performed, due largely to its original length and the over-complication of the plot.

We were delighted to be permitted to perform the UK première of a new edition by John Burrows. This new edition, which received its world première in Washington DC during 1996, streamlines the music and dialogue and eliminates the unnecessary digressions that handicap the original. As a result the operetta flows more smoothly without losing the essential elements of plot - and is, as a bonus, considerably shorter!

The citizens of Pfennig-Halbpfennig have hatched a plot to depose the despised and miserly Grand Duke Rudolph within the next 24 hours. They plan to replace him with Ernest Dummkopf, the manager of a theatrical troupe. In return Dummkopf promises his troupe positions about the Court in order of seniority, beginning with his English leading lady Julia Jellicoe as Grand Duchess.

Ludwig, the troupe's comedian who was due to marry Lisa that day, arrives and admits he has inadvertently revealed the conspiracy to the Grand Duke’s detective. Everyone panics, being sure that the Grand Duke will hang them for treason, but a Notary reveals that an old law, due to expire the next day, permits a "statutory duel" in which the duellists draw cards instead of fighting with swords. The loser forfeits all his civil rights and becomes "legally dead", while the winner is obliged to take on all the loser’s responsibilities. The duel is quickly arranged, Ludwig emerges as the victor, and sets off to denounce Dummkopf as instigator of the plot (being "dead" Dummkopf is immune from punishment).

The Grand Duke is planning his own marriage to the wealthy (and equally miserly) Baroness von Krakenfeldt when he hears about the impending coup. Ludwig suggests to him that they fight a statutory duel, pointing out that if Ludwig wins, Ludwig will have to take Rudolph’s place and face the coup. Ludwig duly wins the duel and the people celebrate his brief day of power, before he outfoxes them by renewing the Act for a further hundred years and incidentally making himself monarch for life. Julia claims the position of Grand Duchess by right of professional position and Lisa is abandoned.

Ludwig transforms the Court into a replica of Ancient Greece. All are celebrating his wedding to Julia when the Baroness arrives and demands that Ludwig marry her instead. She was after all engaged to Rudolph and on winning the duel Ludwig adopted all Rudolph’s obligations. As the Court head off to the wedding both Dummkopf and Rudolph are discovered in the town cemetery bemoaning their lot.

A party of strangers is seen approaching the Palace. This turns out to be the Prince of Monte Carlo with his daughter and a motley band of attendants. He has brought the Princess to marry the Grand Duke, to whom she was betrothed in infancy. The claim of the Princess has priority over the Baroness and so Ludwig is faced with his fourth wife in 24 hours. However before any ceremony can take place Rudolph, Dummkopf and the Notary reappear and reveal that the duels have not after all been conducted quite according to the rules…

 ACTRESSES and CITIZENS

Rosemary Blackler, Gwenneth Clarke, Deborah Dowsett, Joyce Elliott, Rachel Fortescue, Gill Horton, Christl Hughes, Patricia Johnson, Emily McDonald, Jane McDonald, Pam Meade, Suzanne Parrott, Helen Rae, Sarah Robinson.

Ron Billings, Alan Bullas, Peter Charleston, Philip de Voil, Nick Faulkner, Alan Gale, Keith Goode, Trevor Harvey, Ray Kendrick, Paul Nicholls, Geoff Orrill, David Robinson, Ron Smith, Richard Smithson, Frank Williams.