The opera originally opened on 17 November 1877 at the Opera Comique in London, where it ran for 178 performances. It was considered a success by the standards of that time and encouraged the collaborators to write their next opera, H.M.S. Pinafore.
From Gilbert's Bab Ballads:
(The air is charged with amatory numbers)
Producer/Director : Graham Weston
Musical Director : David Hall
| Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre : (an elderly baronet) | Richard Buxton |
| Alexis : (of the Grenadier Guards, his son) | Steven Greenwood |
| Dr Daly : (Vicar of Ploverleigh) | Robert Thurman |
| The Notary: | Alan Evans |
| John Wellington Wells: (of JW Wells & Co) | Malcolm Parkinson |
| Lady Sangazure : (A Lady of Ancient Lineage) | Stephanie Roe |
| Aline : (her daughter betrothed to Alexis) | Carol Parkinson |
| Mrs Partlet: (a Pew Opener) | Penny McGoverin |
| Constance : (her daughter) | Helen Fox |
| Hercules : (Mr Wells' Page) | Peter Sugden |
Rita Jno-Baptiste, Jean Greenwood, Lyndsey Hall, Margaret Hanson, Antonia McGoverin, Deirdre O'Shea, Lisa O'Shea, Catherine Roberts, Fiona Baker, Jennifer Day, Tracey Hook, Sally Roberts, Debbie Stringer, Marie Sugden, Kathryn Thurman, AJ Jno-Baptiste, Richard Brook, Tony Johnson, Steve Roe, Ian Townend, Andrew Stopford, Peter Sugden, Kelvin Waites.