page_title: Claude Duval (opera)
section_title: Plot
hierarchical_section_title: Claude Duval (opera) / Plot
caption_attribution_description: English: Claude Duval painting by William Powell Frith
context_page_description: Claude Duval – or Love and Larceny is a comic opera with music by Edward Solomon to a libretto by Henry Pottinger Stephens. The plot is loosely based on supposed events in the life of the seventeenth century highwayman, Claude Duval.
  The piece was first produced at the Olympic Theatre, London, on 24 August 1881, under the management of Michael Gunn. It ran until the end of October. From January to March 1882, a D'Oyly Carte touring company played the work in the British provinces. Another D'Oyly Carte company played it in New York in March and April 1882 under Richard D'Oyly Carte's personal supervision, in tandem with Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience. In New York, a few local references were interpolated into Blood-red Bill's comic song, "William's Sure to Be Right."
context_section_description: The following synopsis is condensed from the plot summary printed in The Era's review of the premiere.
  Act 1
  In 1670 at Newmarket Heath, Duval's gang of highwaymen are disguised as gypsy fortune-tellers, and local maidens come to have their fortunes told.  Charles Lorrimore arrives; he has attached himself to the losing faction at court and is fleeing from arrest. The gang captures him, but Duval has met Lorrimore before and likes him.  Lorrimore tells Duval that he is in love with Constance, the niece of the old miser McGruder, who has gained possession of the Lorrimore estate.  Soon a coach bearing McGruder and his two nieces crosses the Heath and is waylaid by the gang.  Duval persuades Constance to dance a minuet with him and then she and her travelling companions are allowed to go on their way without further interference.
  Act 2
  On the village green of Milden Manor, Festivities are in progress to celebrate the forthcoming marriage of Constance to Sir Whiffle Waffle, a very rich and extremely silly baronet, the match being at her miserly uncle's insistence.  There is a secret meeting between the lovers, and it is discovered that the military are approaching to arrest Lorrimore.  Duval changes cloaks with him and is arrested in his stead.
  Act 3
  The highwaymen, disguised as guests, have infiltrated Milden Manor with a view to robbing it.  In the Great Hall of the Manor, Duval's lieutenant, Blood-red Bill, charms McGruder's sister Betty into handing over the keys to a chest containing documents of great value. One document proves that the estates belong to Lorrimore, and another is a free pardon with the name of the beneficiary left blank. The estates are restored to Lorrimore, and Duval, having escaped from the military, writes Lorrimore's name in the pardon.  All ends happily with the union of the lovers and the discomfiture of Sir Whiffle Waffle.
caption: Frith's 1860 painting of Duvall's coach robbery, was replicated in Act 1
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