Reply #20: The first thing I saw was Princess Ida.

[CBHagman]

In Ridgewood, New Jersey, in the early '70s (Yup, feminism's second wave). For those not in the know, the plot concerns a woman who, rather than marry the man to whom she was engaged in infancy, forms an institute of higher learning for ladies and withdraws from all male society. Guess how her fiance and his two best friends gain admission to the grounds.

Princess Ida is not one of the more popular G&S works, but it does have men in drag and one of the meanest, most misanthropic kings ever. What's not to like?

http://math.boisestate.edu/GaS/princess_ida/webop/pi_06.html

If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist — all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes;
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
I love my fellow creatures — I do all the good I can —
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!


To compliments inflated I've a withering reply;
And vanity I always do my best to mortify;
A charitable action I can skillfully dissect;
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect;
I know ev'rybody's income and what ev'rybody earns;
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns;
But to benefit humanity however much I plan,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be;
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee,
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer.
To ev'rybody's prejudice I know a thing or two;
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute — and I do.
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet ev'rybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

Chorus.
He can't think why!

Gama & Chorus.
I/He can't think why!