The plot of Haste to the Wedding is, in Gilbert's his own words, "a very free adaption" of Eugène Labiche and Marc-Michel's 1851 farce Le Chapeau de Paille d'Italie. Gilbert had adapted this French play in 1873 under the title The Wedding March, and later wanted to collaborate with Sullivan on a musical setting of the piece, but nothing came of the project. Eventually, Gilbert got George Grossmith, the Savoy's principal comedian, to compose the music. Haste to the Wedding opened on 27 July 1892.

• Synopsis, by Arthur Robinson.

• Programme, dated 18 August 1892.

• Reviews
  • from The Times, 28 July 1892
  • from The Daily Telegraph, 28 July 1892
  • from The Pall Mall Gazette, 29 July 1892
  • from The Galsgow Herald, 28 July 1892
  • from The Era, 30 July 1892
  • from The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, 30 July 1892
  • from The Graphic, 6 August 1892
  • from The Speaker, 6 August 1892
  • other short notices.

• Libretto: Submitted to the G&S Archive by Ian Bond. In Microsoft Word [124Kb] and PDF [162Kb] formats.

• Vocal Score: Submitted to the G&S Archive by Ian Bond. This may be downloaded in two parts: Act I [PDF, 6.08Mb] and Acts II & III [PDF, 7.84Mb]

• Web Opera: As usual, you can follow the libretto and hear all the music as MIDI files.

• Source of Scores: Vocal scores and libretti of Haste to the Wedding may be rented from St. David's Players of Cullompton, Exeter, England. Send queries to Ian Bond at Ian@kentisview.freeserve.co.uk

Page modified 18 Nov 2013