When a reverend disapproves of his daughter’s suitor, he manipulates the church in an effort to discourage their union and find a more favorable partner. It is a drastic decision that effects those inside and outside of the congregation. Rev. William Barlow is the leader of a Low Church, where his curate is a pompous young man named Henry Sandford. Despite his brash persona, Henry and Barlow’s daughter, Dorothy, have fallen in love. Barlow disapproves of the union and makes a sudden shift from Low Church to High Church, infuriating Henry. The young man resigns, making Dorothy available to Tommy Merton, whom her father considers a more suitable match. Barlow’s meddling leaves the church in disarray with multiple members reeling from the fallout. This comic opera debuted in 1882 but didn’t find its audience until nearly a decade later. With the story, Grundy and Solomon deliver a warning about the dangers of good intentions. The Vicar of Bray proves that every man, regardless of their station, is flawed. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Vicar of Bray is both modern and readable.
