Billy Budd (theatre)

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

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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.