Patience or Bunthorne's Bride, with libretto by William S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan, debuted on 23 April 1881 in London. Like much of the Gilbert and Sullivan canon, this comic opera satirized the popular culture of the day. In this opera, Gilbert chose to satirize the aesthetic poetry movement led by Oscar Wilde.
Cast of Patience:

- Colonel Calverley - Baritone

- Major Murgatroyd - Baritone

- Lieutenant the Duke of Dunstable - Tenor

- Reginald Bunthorne (A Fleshly Poet) - Light Baritone

- Archibald Grosvenor (An Idyllic Poet) - Baritone

- Mr. Bunthorne's Solicitor - Non-singing

- Lady Angela - Mezzo-Soprano

- Lady Saphir - Mezzo-Soprano

- Lady Ella - Soprano

- Lady Jane - Contralto

- Patience (A Dairy Maid) - Soprano

Chorus of Dragoon Guards and Rapturous Maidens

Act One

The opera opens with the rapturous maidens singing in the grounds of Castle Bunthorne. They are in love with the poet Reginald Bunthorne who in-turn is in love with the dairy maid Patience. Patience a happy free spirited girl professes not to love anyone. The ladies leave to sing at the door of the castle.

The Dragoon Guards enter, returning to the village to reclaim their loves from a visit to the village the previous year. At this point, we are introduced to the Duke who has joined the army to escape the adoration of people enamored by his wealth. Shocked to find the ladies no longer falling for their charms the soldiers are even more amazed when they see the new object of the ladies desire the poet Bunthorne. After reading a poem to Patience, Bunthorne leaves the stage.

Before leaving the stage, the ladies explain that they can no longer love the military men, as they are not aesthetic. Taking this as an insult to the British uniform, the soldiers also leave the stage.

Reginald Bunthorne returns admitting that his aestheticism is a sham. This fact he then admits to Patience in the hope that she will return his love. Patience still unsure of love rejects him.

Confused by all the talk of love Patience asks for help from the Lady Angela. Angela tells Patience that it is a duty for someone to fall in love. Questioning how Patience could never have fallen in love Angela finds that apart from a maiden aunt the only person who Patience has loved was a childhood companion, a young boy who she hasn't seen for fourteen years.

When Angela leaves, Patience resolves to fall in love with someone. The first person she meets following this is her former companion, Archibald Grosvenor, now grown

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