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.