Patience

Act 1

Outside Castle Bunthorne, twenty lovesick maidens await the arrival of their dear love,the aesthetic poet Reginald Bunthorne. Despite their mad love for him, his affections lie with Patience,the village milkmaid. Yet Patience confesses to the maidens that she has never been in love, and she finds the maidens lovestruck manner to be most confusing. She is especially confused by how the maidens could so quickly move on from the Dragoon Guards they were all engaged to a year ago.

These Dragoon Guards return to the village to claim their brides, only to find their betrothed besotted with Bunthorne as he recites his latest poem to them. Yet when is is alone, Bunthorne reveals his is actually a sham, only pretending to be a poet due to his narcissistic desire to be adored. He then reveals to Patience his love for her but, confused by his poetic manner and behaviour, she refuses him.

As a broken hearted Bunthorne retreats to his adoring crowd of maidens, Lady Angela explains to Patience that true love must be utterly unselfish, and asks whether Patience has truly never love anyone. Patience reveals she had an affection for a childhood friend from many years ago. This youth was none other than Archibald Grosvenor, who suddenly returns to Patience confessing that he too remains in love with her. Unfortunately, such is Grosvenor’s beauty that he is fated to be madly loved at first sight by every woman he meets. Patience realises that as true love must be unselfish, it would be truly selfish to monopolise his beauty for herself. Both broken hearted, they depart.

The maidens gather excitedly at the news that Bunthorne is to pick one of them to be his bride. The Dragoons return and make a heartfelt plea to the maidens to reconsider, but they refuse, instead eagerly awaiting the announcement of who will become Bunthorne’s bride. However, Patience gate-crashes the ceremony, announcing she will marry Bunthorne despite her dislike of him, as it is truly unselfish to love someone as awful as he is. The now despondent maidens return to their betrothed Dragoons, until Grosvenor appears, and the maidens swiftly switch allegiance to him, much to the horror of Patience, Bunthorne, and Grosvenor.

Act 2

With the other lovesick maidens now besotted with Grosvenor, Lady Jane remains loyal to Bunthorne, awaiting the day that Patience breaks his heart so she will be the only remaining maiden left for him. After many days of adulation, Grosvenor reveals to the maidens that their love for him is hopeless, as he remains madly devoted to Patience. Meanwhile Patience remains steadfast in her duty to love Bunthorne, despite how miserable it makes her, and she wishes that love was purer than the duty she had burdened herself with. Bunthorne however is more preoccupied with how Grosvenor has now stolen the affections of all the young maidens and, with help from Lady Jane, resolves to beat him at his own game.

Eager to make an impression on the maidens, the Colonel, Major, and Duke from the Dragoons try their best to imitate Bunthorne and Grosvenor’s aesthetic style. Lady Angela and Lady Saphir are impressed by their efforts, but this leaves the trio in a quandary as it means one will be left without a bride. As they retreat to resolve the issue, Bunthorne confronts Grosvenor, insisting that he discards aestheticism, or else has a curse placed on him. Grosvenor accedes to Bunthorne’s request, and resolves to become a “commonplace young man”. Bunthorne is flushed with victory, though he has little idea of what the consequences of this victory will be.

Cast

Crew

Orchestra