Billee Taylor

Billee Taylor, or The Reward of Virtue is "a nautical comedy opera" composed by Edward Solomon, with a libretto by Henry Pottinger Stephens.

The piece was first produced at the Imperial Theatre in London on 30 October 1880, starring Arthur Williams as Sir Mincing Lane and Frederick Rivers as Billee.

Billee Taylor was a strong success on both sides of the Atlantic and enjoyed many revivals both in Britain and in the United States.

[1] The satiric, cynical risqué story is based on the nautical poem and song of the same title by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.

The villagers gather at The Inn of the Royal George, which overlooks the harbor, to celebrate the approaching wedding of Billee Taylor, "a virtuous gardener," and the charming, beautiful and faithful, but poor, Phoebe.

Kindly old Sir Mincing Lane has arranged the feast and has invited his friend, Captain Flapper of the Royal Navy.