He Who Gets Slapped (opera)

He Who Gets Slapped (also known as Pantaloon and Pantaloon, He Who Gets Slapped) is a 1956 opera in 3 Acts by composer Robert Ward with an English language libretto by Bernard Stambler which is based on Leonid Andreyev's play of the same name. The first of Ward's nine operas, the opera is written in a lyrical style reminiscent of verismo. The work is infrequently performed; with its most notable staging being at Lincoln Center by the New York City Opera in 1959. Stambler's adaptation of the play made some notable changes in plot and characterization, condensing the final two acts of the four act play into one act. The play's central character, "He", was renamed Pantaloon in reference to the character from Italian commedia dell'arte. Additionally, the play's tragic murder and suicides at the end are removed for a somewhat happier conclusion where Pantaloon is rejected by Consuelo instead of Pantaloon murdering her.