Gilbert and Sullivan's Improbable New Musical: The Fringe Lozenge: Script and Lyrics

This is the show Gilbert and Sullivan might have written, if the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (and the term “musical”) had been around in their day! Set at the Fringe, the show follows the quest of two companies, each going to extreme lengths to secure a good review. The plot includes the usual Gilbertian elements: an abandoned baby, sense of duty, love across ranks and an implausible, contrived finale. The picture is completed by unusual flat-sharing arrangements and a magic lozenge. The songs feature all-new lyrics to Sullivan’s music, from across the range of operettas.This show was originally written for Coily Dart Theatre’s production at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017, where it achieved a sell-out run and was awarded a Fringe Laurel. The show has the flexibility to be performed by either a small or large cast - with the original production featuring a cast of six (four of whom played multiple roles). The music that accompanies the lyrics is referenced by the name of the operetta and the name of the melody used. Some of the musical numbers have been shortened, by reducing the number of verses to which lyrics have been set. Where this happens it is indicated in the script. Optional notes around props and the co-ordination of scene changes have been included in this text, reflecting the setting of the original performance. For Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts, the book also includes a light-hearted quiz, relating to references made within the show.