Savoy Opera - Companion Pieces

Companion Pieces

The fashion in the late Victorian era and Edwardian era was to present long evenings in the theatre, and so full-length pieces were often presented together with companion pieces. During the original runs of the Savoy Operas, each full-length work was normally accompanied by one or two short companion pieces. A piece that began the performance was called a curtain raiser, and one that ended the performance was called an afterpiece. W. J. MacQueen-Pope commented, concerning the curtain raisers:

This was a one-act play, seen only by the early comers. It would play to empty boxes, half-empty upper circle, to a gradually filling stalls and dress circle, but to an attentive, grateful and appreciative pit and gallery. Often these plays were little gems. They deserved much better treatment than they got, but those who saw them delighted in them. ... served to give young actors and actresses a chance to win their spurs ... the stalls and the boxes lost much by missing the curtain-raiser, but to them dinner was more important.

The following table lists the known companion pieces that appeared at the Opera Comique or the Savoy Theatre during the original runs and principal revivals of the Savoy Operas through 1909. There may have been more such pieces that have not yet been identified. In a number of cases, the exact opening and closing dates are not known. Date ranges overlap, since it was common to rotate two or more companion pieces at performances during the same period to be played with the main piece.

Many of these pieces also played elsewhere (and often on tour by D'Oyly Carte touring companies). Only the runs at the Opera Comique and the Savoy are shown here.

Title Librettist(s) Composer(s) Theatre Opening Date Closing
Date		 Played With
Dora's Dream Arthur Cecil Alfred Cellier Opera Comique 17 November 1877 7 February 1878* The Sorcerer
The Spectre Knight James Albery Alfred Cellier Opera Comique 9 February 1878 23 March 1878 The Sorcerer
28 May 1878 10 August 1878 Pinafore
Trial by Jury W. S. Gilbert Arthur Sullivan Opera Comique & Savoy 23 March 1878 24 May 1878 The Sorcerer
11 October 1884 12 March 1885
22 September 1898 31 December 1898
6 June 1899 25 November 1899 Pinafore
Beauties on the Beach George Grossmith George Grossmith Opera Comique 25 May 1878 5 August 1878 Pinafore
14 October 1878 5 December 1878*
A Silver Wedding George Grossmith George Grossmith Opera Comique part of 1878 Pinafore
Five Hamlets George Grossmith George Grossmith Opera Comique ? 1878 12 October 1878 Pinafore
Cups and Saucers George Grossmith George Grossmith Opera Comique 5 August 1878* 20 February 1880 Pinafore
After All! Frank Desprez Alfred Cellier Opera Comique 16 December 1878* 20 February 1880 Cups and Saucers
? Feb. 1880 20 March 1880 Children's Pinafore
Savoy 23 November 1895 4 March 1896 Mikado & Grand Duke
4 April 1896 8 August 1896
7 May 1897 16 June 1897 Yeomen
In the Sulks Frank Desprez Alfred Cellier Opera Comique 21 February 1880 ? Pirates
21 February 1880 20 March 1880 Children's Pinafore
3 April 1880 2 April 1881 Pirates
23 April 1881* 2 May 1881 Patience
Savoy 11 October 1881 14 October 1881
Uncle Samuel Arthur Law George Grossmith Opera Comique 3 May 1881 8 October 1881 Patience
Mock Turtles Frank Desprez Eaton Faning Savoy 11 October 1881 22 November 1882 Patience
25 November 1882 30 March 1883 Iolanthe
A Private Wire Frank Desprez Percy Reeve Savoy 31Mar. 1883 1 January 1884 Iolanthe
The Carp Frank Desprez & Arnold Felix Alfred Cellier Savoy 13 February 1886 19 January 1887 Mikado
21 February 1887 5 November 1887 Ruddigore
Mrs. Jarramie's Genie Frank Desprez Alfred Cellier & François Cellier Savoy 14 February 1888 ? Nov. 1889 Pinafore, Pirates, Mikado, Yeomen
Captain Billy Harry Greenbank François Cellier Savoy 24 September 1891 16 January 1892 Nautch Girl
1 February 1892 18 June 1892 Vicar of Bray
Mr. Jericho Harry Greenbank Ernest Ford Savoy 18 March 1893 15 April 1893 Haddon Hall
3 June 1893 1 July 1893 Jane Annie
Quite an Adventure Frank Desprez Edward Solomon Savoy 15 December 1894 29 December 1894 The Chieftain
Cox & Box F. C. Burnand Arthur Sullivan Savoy 31 December 1894 16 March 1895 The Chieftain
Weather or No Adrian Ross & William Beach Bertram Luard-Selby Savoy 10 August 1896 17 February 1897 The Mikado
2 March 1897 24 April 1897 His Majesty
Old Sarah Harry Greenbank François Cellier Savoy 17 June 1897 31 July 1897 Yeomen
16 August 1897 20 November 1897
10 December 1897 12 March 1898 The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein
22 March 1898* 21 May 1898 Gondoliers
Pretty Polly Basil Hood François Cellier Savoy 19 May 1900 28 June 1900 Rose of Persia
8 December 1900 20 April 1901 Patience
The Outpost Albert O'Donnell Bartholeyns Hamilton Clarke Savoy 2 July 1900 3 November 1900 Pirates
8 November 1900* 7 December 1900 Patience
The Willow Pattern Basil Hood Cecil Cook Savoy 14 November 1901 29 November 1901 Ib and Little Christina
(revised version) 9 December 1901 29 March 1902 Iolanthe
A Welsh Sunset Frederick Fenn Philip Michael Faraday Savoy 15 July 1908 17 October 1908 Pinafore & Pirates
2 December 1908 24 February 1909

*Indicates an approximate date.

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