Albert Herring (1976)

Act. I. The lights go up to reveal the solarium of Lady Billows’ house where Florence, her housekeeper and devoted assistant, is tidying up the room. Lady Billows herself is half heard calling instructions from her room and Florence checks off in her notebook what she has to see to that morning. A knock is heard and Florence admits in succession Miss Wordsworth, the Vicar, the Mayor and Superintendent Budd, who together form the committee which is to decide between the rival candidates for the position of Queen of the May. Sud- denly, her Ladyship enters, greets the committee and they sit down. Lady Billows rhapsodises on the subject of the position of May Queen and grows eloquent as she considers the “state of complete moral chaos” from which it is expected to retrieve the town. The names are put forward by each member of the committee but vetoed with uncommon gusto by Florence. Lady Billows denounces the town and the girls in it; all seems to be lost.

It is the moment for a·brain-wave, and Superintendent Budd has it: why not a King of the May? There are no virgins in Loxford but Albert Herring is as “clean as newbown hay.” Lady Billows at first rejects the suggestion but gradually comes round. “Right! We’ll have him! May King! That’ll teach the girls a lesson!” she says and leads off the fugal finale

The interlude prepares us for the village children. The lights go up to reveal the interior of Mrs. Herring’s grocer’s shop, outside which can be seen playing Emmie, Cis and Harry. The ball bounces into the shop, and Harry goes in after it, taking the opportunity to pinch some apples for himself and the others. They are interrupted by Sid, who empties Harry’s pockets and then shouts for Albert. The hero makes his en- trance and Sid tempts him to break the apron strings with a recital of the pleasures of independence. Albert tries not to listen, and Sid is just about to leave when Nancy, his girl friend, comes in. Sid buys her a couple of peaches and tells her to bring them that night for a walk together in the moonlight. They go off together leaving Albert alone to think about what he has seen and heard. He wonders if his mother’s strictness really leads to anything valuable and reflects on what he misses.

Florence comes into the shop and asks for Mrs. Herring to tell her that the Festival Committee is about to pay a visit. There is no time for further explanation before Lady Billows is upon them announcing, among other things, the information that the May King prize consists of twenty-five golden sovereigns. The visiting party makes its way home, and the winner is left alone with the jubilant Mrs. Herring, who is on- ly momentarily put out when Albert says firmly that he in- tends to refuse the prize. Mum’s firmness wins out as she sends him upstairs to repent his abortive rebellion.

Act II. The lights go up to reveal the inside of a marquee set up in the vicarage garden. Sid tells Nancy what has been going on down at the church and takes her outside to tell her of his scheme. Miss Wordsworth brings in the children to run through the anthem they are going to sing in celebration of Albert’s coronation as King of the May. The rehearsal comes to an end, and teacher and children leave the garden just as Nancy and Sid return. Sid pours rum into the lemonade glass in Albert’s place and all is ready for the reception of the of- ficial procession. Miss Wordsworth hurries the children back, the ensemble enters, flowers are presented to Lady Billows, Albert and Mrs. Herring, and Miss Wordsworth and the children are thanked for their contribution to the festivities. All take their places to a confused burble of conversation and the Vicar rises to introduce the first speaker.

This, of course, is Lady Billows. She loses her notes but general applause covers the gap and she presents Albert with his prize of twenty-five sovereigns. In turn, and each intro- duced by the Vicar, come speeches from the Mayor, Miss Wordsworth and Mr. Budd. Finally, Albert himself is called upon to make some sort of reply. He can get no further than “Er .. . er .. . thank you .. . very much,” but rejoicing is general. Albert manages to call for three cheers for her Ladyship. He drinks to the toast, enormously likes what he tastes, asks for more, and receives a sudden attack of the hic- cups! He is cured by drinking from the wrong side of his glass, and the scene ends as the feast gets under way.

The interlude continues with the noise of the feast for a bit, then changes character as May Day turns into May Night and becomes a nocturne. Albert returns to the shop and runs through a variety of subjects, from the necessity of finding some matches to the charms of Nancy – and at the mention of her, Sid’s whistle can be heard outside in the street as he at- tempts to hurry the keeping of their rendezvous. Outside, Nancy comments sympathetically on Albert’s plight and shyness; they kiss and go off, leaving behind a much shaken Albert.

For the first time Albert sees himself as others see him, a shy, gawky, mother-ridden boy. He remembers the money in his pocket and decides to toss for it, whether he shall go off on a spree .. . or not. It comes down heads “for yes,” he hears Sid’s whistle far off, imitates it, and starts off to find out what he has been missing all this time.

Act III. The prelude immediately suggests the atmosphere of a man-hunt which follows the discovery of Alber’s disappearance. Sid comes wearily into the shop, complaining to Nancy that one can hear nothing but Albert’s name everywhere. Mrs. Herring comes down, a picture of in- consolable grief. She has only one photograph of Albert but Superintendent Budd welcomes it for identification purposes. Soon after, Lady Billows and Florence enter to comment on the inadequacy of the steps which have so far been taken to find Albert, but a procession appears escorting the Mayor, who carries a tray on which is Albert’s orange wreath – “- Found on the road to Campsey Ash, crushed by a cart.”

There ensues the Threnody in which each individual has a characteristic verse to himself, the others meanwhile continuing the lament. Albert enters to ask what is going on and im- mediately a storm of recrimination and questioning breaks around his head. He must explain everything at once, and only Sid and Nancy take his part. Albert starts to tell them a story in which more is hinted at than actually described. All are horrified, especially when he blames everything on the life of repression he has been forced to lead. Albert seems mild and inoffensive, warm and curiously full of understanding, even wisdom. Its effect on everyone is electrical; they have met their match and can no longer patronize their innocent May King.

The opera concludes as Albert, Sid, Nancy and the three children sing of his moment of triumph and Albert tosses his orange-blossom wreath into the audience.