As the prologue begins a near riotous dispute divides the clans of 'Tragic', 'Comic', 'Lyric' and 'Brainless'. The former only like tears, the latter swear...

As the prologue begins a near riotous dispute divides the clans of 'Tragic', 'Comic', 'Lyric' and 'Brainless'. The former only like tears, the latter swear only by laughter...and we shall hear their angry banter throughout the opera. A king to despair his princely heir stagnate in seemingly incurable melancholy.