David Hillman

Colonel Fairfax has been falsely accused of sorcery by a jealous relative who covets his estates and money. The Colonel is condemned to death for his 'crime' and waits in the Tower of London for his execution. Fate, however, steps in - in the form of Sergeant Meryll (who owes his life to Colonel Fairfax) and Elsie Maynard, a beautiful strolling singer who has just arrived at the Tower to entertain the people in the company of a strolling jester, Jack Point.

Live from Glyndebourne 1987.

Opera version of the novella by Charles Dickens.

BBC 1975. Jack Point and his sweetheart Elsie come to the Tower to earn money with which to buy medicine for her sick mother. Elsie is persuaded to become the secret bride of Fairfax 'to be beheaded in an hour,' but then he escapes.