I. INTRODUCTION

II. GENERAL

1. General Thoughts
2. The Genesis of Patience
3. Reginald Bunthorne
4. The Duke of Dunstable
5. The Nature of Love
6. Oscar Wilde, Aestheticism and Effeminacy

III. THE MUSIC OF PATIENCE

IV. THE STAGING OF PATIENCE

V. UPDATING PATIENCE

1. General Debate
2. Updating "Heavy Dragoon" -
   • Discussion
   • Updated versions of "Heavy Dragoon"
3. A German Translation of Patience
4. Downdating Patience
5. The Updates -
   • A hippy version from Richard Blight
   • "Doris de Lay" from Ralph McPhail
   • "The Health Spa" by Sarah Mankowski
   • An all-black notion and debate
   • The Unnecessary Update
6. The Sequels -
   • An Edwardian sequel from Larry T. Garvin
   • "Anxiety" by David Craven
   • "Bring Back Bunthorne" by Frances Yasprica

VI. MISCELLANEOUS

1. Patience Puzzles
2. Related Websites
3. Also in 1881
4. Answers to the Puzzles
5. List of Contributor

Patience, or Bunthorne's Bride, was first produced on April 23rd, 1881, at the Opera Comique, where it was an instant success. Later that year, it reopened at the new Savoy Theatre, where the success continued.

Patience is a satire on the aesthetic movement of the time, which was made popular by such people as James Whistler, John Ruskin and, most notably, Oscar Wilde. More than a century later, Patience continues to be one of the more popular and successful Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

The following discussion from members of the SavoyNet mailing list may shed some light on why this is so. Please bear in mind that the contributors are expressing their personal opinions.

Page Created 21 August, 2011