Billy Budd (theatre)

Herman Melville's sad tale about the Handsome Sailor has inspired an opera by Benjamin Britten.

Tropes used in Billy Budd (theatre) include:
  • Depraved Homosexual: Claggart. Also in the book, but here even more.
  • Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Aversion. He does, but it hurts. Claggart sings: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehends it and suffers"
  • Evil Sounds Deep: Claggart is a basso profondo, much like Hagen.
  • Fan Service: In most performances, Billy, some minor characters and the chorus have shirtless scenes.
  • Flash Back: The entire opera is Vere's flashback.
  • Heroic BSOD: Vere's aria "I accept their verdict" after the court-martial. Wangst ensues.
  • The Male Ingenue Must Be a Tenor: Rare aversion, Billy's a baritone.
    • It had a reason: Pears was in the age perfect for Vere, so the captain got the tenor part.
  • My God, What Have I Done?: Vere in the Prologue and in the Epilogue.
  • Stalker with a Crush: Claggart. See above.
  • Villain Song: Claggart's aria about how much evil he is and how he totally lusts for Billy hates Billy and will destroy him.
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