Original Plays, Second Series

"Original Plays, Second Series" by W. S. Gilbert is a collection of theatrical works written during the late 19th century. This volume showcases a range of original plays, including well-known titles like "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "The Pirates of Penzance." The works explore themes of love, societal norms, and human folly through witty dialogue and engaging characters, aimed at entertaining viewers and provoking thought about the conventions of the time. The beginning of the collection introduces "Broken Hearts," an original fairy play set on a tropical island. It features a deformed dwarf named Moussa, who is deeply discontent with his appearance and seeks transformation through a mysterious book filled with sorcery. The narrative highlights the poignant interactions between Moussa and the lovely Lady Hilda, as well as other characters involved in love and loss. The world they inhabit brims with fantastical elements, such as the exploration of love’s complexities and the longing for acceptance, setting a whimsical yet reflective tone that invites readers and audiences to contemplate the nature of beauty and desire. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his collaboration with composer Arthur Sullivan, which produced fourteen comic operas. The most famous of these include H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and one of the most frequently performed works in the history of musical theatre, The Mikado. The popularity of these works was supported for over a century by year-round performances of them, in Britain and abroad, by the repertory company that Gilbert, Sullivan and their producer Richard D'Oyly Carte founded, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. These Savoy operas are still frequently performed in the English-speaking world and beyond.