Welcome to the 1990 production of The Sorcerer

Synopsis

This charming piece, Sullivan's first successful full-length work with Gilbert, takes place in the grounds of Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre's country mansion, where the scene is one of happiness as his son, Alexis, is to be betrothed to Aline, the only daughter of Lady Sangazure.

Gilbert here indulges in a favorite theme of his, the "magic lozenge", by having Alexis (through his desire to have everyone as happily married as he is to be) invite John Wellington Wells, the noted necromancer from No 70 St. Mary Axe, to come to the village to bring this about.
The potion is prepared with suitable incantations and is given to all and sundry in their tea.

In Act II, the spell has worked but everyone has fallen in love with the first person they have set their eyes on, so matters become a little complicated.

When Aline and Dr Daly, the elderly Vicar and Alexis's old tutor, fall in love Alexis asks Wells to remove the spell but this can only be achieved by the death of either Alexis or Wells. Everyone agrees that it must be Wells, who disappears in a cloud of smoke, after which there is general rejoicing and the village settles down once more with the right partners to a life of unimpaired happiness.