Rip van Winkle is an operetta in three acts with music by Robert Planquette. The original French libretto was by H. Meilhac and Ph. Gille, but the English adaptation produced at the Comedy Theatre, London, on 14 October 1882 was by H. B. Farnie.

Dramatis Personæ

The following cast changes occur as Children in Act I later become Adults...

MIDI Files

• Overture

ACT I

• No. 1 - Opening Chorus, Scene and Couplets - "Far and near our cry be heard, Long life to great George the Third! ..."
• No. 2 - Exit of Peasants, etc. - "Yes, it is a common thing, thus to use one's Queen or King..."
• No. 3 - Air - Rip Van Winkle - "Oh! where's my girl of whom I'm fond?  Wherever can my darling be? ..."
• No. 4 - Canoe Song - Gretchen & Rip - "Where floweth the wild Mohawk river, a-down the long rushes that quiver..."
• No. 5 - Chorus of Cowards - "Can't you see we're coming?  (Hang their horrid drumming...)"
• No. 6 - Legend of the Kaatskils - Gretchen & Chorus - "From deep forest hoary, lift in awful glory mountains grey and old..."
• No. 7 - Trio and Air - Rip Van Winkle & Children - "Ere the marriage contract is drawn, what have you got to live upon? ..."
• No. 8 - Rondo - Katrina & Chorus - "'Tis the hour we girls ne'er fail, with a pitcher and a tale, at the old draw-well..."
• No. 9 - Finale Act I - "When I come back 'twill be no more to roam; thenceforth to stay with thee at home..."

ACT II - Scene 1

• No. 9a - Entr'acte & Melodrame
• No. 10 - Lantern Chorus & Ballad - Gretchen & Katrina - "By the thicket path we are trudging slow..."
• No. 10½ - Exit & Reprise - "Our search in vain, let's home again!  By the thicket path we are trudging slow..."
• No. 11 - Patrol Chorus - "Keep all in step!  Keep all in step!  Keep all in step!  The night is dark and low'ring..."
• No. 12 - Trio - Gretchen, Rip & Derrick - "Now won't you come along with me?  You do not care for me I see! ..."
• No. 13 - Echo Song - Rip van Winkle & Chorus - "Ho! ho! ho! ho!  Friend echoes, why do ye fail? ..."
• No. 13½ - Melodrame - (The Demon Dwarf)

ACT II - Scene 2

• No. 14 - Scene - Rip & Chorus, and Sea Song - Hudson, - "Hendrick Hudson I am call'd, from the underwaters hailing..."
• No. 15 - Nine-Pins Song - 2nd. Lieutenant & Chorus - "Say, my lads, what game we'll play?"
• No. 16 - Serenade - 1st. Lieutenant & Chorus - "I've had lady-loves in my day, with lips rose-red and a lustrous eye ..."
• No. 17 - Pas Seul - Danse des Buveurs, and Pas de Fascination
• No. 18 - Finale Act II - "Sunk to sleep on the ground, he's spell-bound!   Slumber, mortal bold..."

ACT III - Scene 1

• No. 18a Entr'acte and Woodcutters' Chorus - "Before our broad axes, lo! they fall, the kings of the forest, old and tall! ..."

ACT III - Scene 2

• No. 19 - Election Chorus, Couplets & Ensemble - Katrina - "Whatsoever may be won in this afternoon's elections..."
• No. 20 - Rondo - Katrina & Chorus - "Folks do say, who are wise and able, that when tongues got all mixt at Babel..."
• No. 21 - Letter Song - Alice - "I dare not break the seal!  What fear, what doubt I feel... I've liv'd so long with sorrow..."
• No. 22 - Hammock Song - Lieutenant van Slous & Chorus - "Oh, proud and high the feeling, o'er the sailor stealing..."
• No. 22½ - Melodrame - Entrance of Rip Van Winkle
• No. 23 - Song - Rip Van Winkle - "The thirsty sun burns on the noon-tide brink, yet hotter, yet hotter! ..."
• No. 24 - Trio - Alice, Van Slous, & Rip - "I know you not!  My father's dead! ... Old man, I fear your reason's fled! ..."
• No. 25 - Chorus - "Some say, now that the voting is done, the finish will be exciting..."
• No. 26 - Finale Act III - "From deep forest hoary, lift in awful glory, mountains grey and old, that myst'ry and tradition hold! ..."

 MIDI files

Illustrated Music Covers of dances arranged from tunes in this operetta

External Links

Vocal Score at IMSLP

Rip Van Winkle at Wikipedia

British Musical Theatre

Page modified 29 May 2017