The Sorcerer's Apprentice poem's story is alluded to in several episodes of the fairy-tale drama "Once Upon a Time", especially in "The Apprentice". A variation of the Dukas piece also plays in certain scenes. The apprentice himself is a recurring character, while the sorcerer is shown to be Merlin. The "Fantasia" version appears in the video game series "Kingdom Hearts", with the sorcerer Yen Sid serving as an adviser to the heroes, teaching Mickey, Sora, and Riku the Keyblade skills needed to guard the universe from his former friend Xehanort's plan. A world based on the "Fantasia" version also appears throughout the series,
The Sorcerer Gilbert was completing "Engaged", a "farcical comedy", which opened on 3 October 1877. He also was sorting out the problems with "The Ne'er-do-Weel", a piece he wrote for Edward Sothern. Meanwhile, Sullivan was writing the incidental music to "Henry VIII"; only after its premiere on 28 August did he begin working on "The Sorcerer". The opening was originally scheduled for 1 November 1877; however, the first rehearsals took place on 27 October, and the part of J. W. Wells was filled only by that time. "The Sorcerer" finally opened at Opera Comique on 17 November 1877. The villagers of Ploverleigh