ACT ONE
First scene
England, 18th century. Tom Rakewell is courting Anne Trulove outside
her father’s house in the country. Trulove has doubts about his
daughter’s proposed marriage and tries to arrange a regular job for Tom
as accountant (“The woods are green”); but he resists the idea and,
left on his own, declares his intention to live by his wits trusting to
good luck (“Since it is not by merit”). When Tom expresses his wish for
money, Nick Shadow appears and tells him that an unknown uncle has left
him a substantial fortune (quartet “I wished but once”). He then
invites Tom to employ him as a servant and go with him to London to
sort out his inheritance.
Second sceneMother Goose’s brothel, London. Whores and roaring boys sing in honour
of Venus and Mars (“With air commanding and weapon handy”). Shadow
introduces his new master to the sleazy aspects of London life and
teaches him the real meaning of beauty, pleasure and love. But this
reminds Tom of Anne and he become uneasy and laments his betrayal of
love (cavatina “Love, too frequently betrayed”), yet accepts Mother
Goose’s invitation to spend the night with her.
Third sceneMeanwhile, back in Trulove’s house the country. Anne sings to the full
moon her sorrow and wonders why she has not heard from Tom. She knows
somehow that he is in danger, and sets out for London to aid him (aria
and cabaletta “Quietly, night, O find him and caress… I go, I go to
him”).
ACT TWO
First scene An elegant room in Tom Rakewell’s house, in London. Tom is bored with
his dissolute life (“Vary the song, O London, change!”). He utters his
second crucial wish, for happiness, whereupon Nick Shadows makes the
odd suggestion that he demonstrate his freedom by marrying Baba the
Turk, the famous bearded lady (“In youth the panting slave”). With a
grim laughter the two men make the deal: with one shot Tom can get rid
either of passion and reason, tyrants who keep him from being free (“My
tale shall be told”).
Second scene
Autumn, evening. The street in front of Tom’s house. Anne finds Tom’s
London house, but does not dare to enter (“Although the heart for love
dear everything”). She steps aside only to see him emerge from a sedan
chair which also contains Baba, whom he has just married. Tom tells
Anne to leave (“Anne, here!”), and as Baba complains about her
husband’s attentions, he tells her Anne is a milkmaid come to demand
the payment of an old debit (terzetto “Could it then”).
Third scene
Inside Tom’s house. Tom is clearly finding his eccentric marriage
intolerable, as Baba is a chatterbox with a fiery temper (“As I was
saying”). He silences her by throwing his wig over her face, then falls
asleep. (Pantomime) Nick enters with a fantastic Baroque Machine and
demonstrates how, through the use of a hidden compartment in the
machine, it appears to turn stones into bread. Tom cries out in his
sleep that he wishes it were true, and waking, finds the machine he has
dreamt of. Nick hints that if such machines were mass-produced Tom
could become a saviour of mankind and Tom sets out to market the
machine, not knowing it is a sham (duetto “Thanks to this excellent
device”).
ACT THREE
First scene
Tom Rakewell’s room, in London. The act starts with the auction of the
ruined Tom’s property by the maniac auctioneer Sellem (“Who hears me,
knows me”). The objects for sale include Baba, who has remained
immobile since being silenced by the wig. When unwrapped, she resumes
her tantrum interrupted in the last scene, now directed at the
auction-goers for disturbing her belongings (“Sold, annoyed!”), but
calms down when Anne enters. Baba advises her to find Tom and set him
right (“You love him”), and warns her against Nick Shadow. Then she
announces her intent to return to her life on the stage.
Second sceneA graveyard, in a starless night. Nick demands Tom’s payment - with his
soul - for a year and a day of service; but as midnight strikes, Nick
offers him an escape in the form of a game of cards, which Tom wins,
thanks to the benign influence of thoughts of Anne. Defeated, Nick
sinks into the ground, condemning Tom to insanity as he goes (duetto
“Well, then… My heart is wild with fear”).
 Third scene
In the mental hospital of Bedlam. Tom believes he is Adonis and
suggests the shadow of heroes to rejoice for Venus approaching
(“Prepare yourselves, heroic shades”). A group of madmen mock him
(“Madmen’s words are all untrue” and “Leave all love and hope behind”).
Anne visits Tom, who answers just if called Adonis and keeps calling
Anne Venus. He asks for forgiveness (“In a foolish dream”) and asks her
to sing him to sleep. Anne sings her lullaby (“Gently, little boat”)
and Tom falls asleep. Then enters Trulove, Anne’s father, who invites
her daughter to leave (“duettino “Every wearied body must”). When Tom
awakes and realizes she has gone, he dies (“Where are thou, Venus?”).
EPILOGUE Shadow stops the falling curtain and calls back on the stage the
principal characters pointing out the simple moral: the Devil finds
work for idle hands (“Good people, just a moment”).
|
Festival 
