Pirates of Penzance

CAST
(In order of appearance)

The Pirate King ……………………………………….Philip W Errington
Samuel ..…………………………………………….…… Robert Felstead
Ruth ..……………………………………………………... Kirsty Bennett
Frederic ...………………………………………………….. Samir Savant
Edith ………………………………………………….. Miriam Robertson
Kate ………………………………………………………. Leonie Barron
Isabel ………………………………………………………… Fay Talbot
Mabel …………………………………………………….. Megan Currier
Major-General Stanley ………………………………... Christopher Cann
Sergeant of Police ……………………………………... Jonathan Bunney

Chorus Maidens, Pirates and Policemen

Tony Bannister, Jim Chadburn, Juliet Crissell, Paul Dauney, Sally Hewitt, Shannon Holmes, Tanya Knowles, Jessie Lea, Sarah Logan, Joseph Malcolmson, David Massingham, Peter Nicholson,
James Patterson, Elizabeth Pinel, Ian Sinclair, Clare Sturdy,
Robert Vaughan, Eirian Walsh Atkins

There will be one interval of 20 minutes

Production Credits

Musical Director ………………………………………… Graham Rogers
Director ……………………………………………………….. Jerry Pinel
Assistant Musical Director …...……………………………… Jon Hooper
Repetiteur ………………………………………………….. Paul Guinery
Producer ………………………………………………. Steve Greenwood
Lighting ……………………………………………………… Mike Wyer
Costume Designer ……………….…………………. Eirian Walsh Atkins
Wardrobe Assistant ………………………………………… Sally Hewitt
Set Design …………………………………………….. Steve Greenwood
Set Construction ………….. Steve Greenwood, Mike Wyer & Jerry Pinel
Stage Manager ………………………………………… Steve Greenwood
Props ………………………………………………………. Bob Vaughan

Orchestra

Violin ……………………………………………………… Liz Errington
Cello ………………………………………………………… Ruth Davies
Oboe ……………………………………………………….. Meriel Avery
Flute ………………………………………………………….. Ally Silver
Clarinet ………………………………………………………. Jon Hooper
Bassoon ……………………………………………….. Elizabeth Boyden
French Horn ………………………………………………... Robin Avery
Piano ……………………………………………………….. Paul Guinery
Percussion ………………………………………………... Tom Carradine

With special thanks to:

The Reverend Jules Cave-Bergquist and Tim Roe at Holy Trinity Church, South Kensington and The Reverend James Buxton at Guy’s Hospital Chapel, London Bridge for their support and generous provision of rehearsal space.

John Lill, Roy Hobson, Tony Blackmore, Brooke Vickers and all at Louth Playgoers for their warm welcome and invaluable assistance with all aspects of this production

The origins of The Pirates of Penzance

In January 1879, Gilbert and Sullivan were well-regarded figures in London’s dramatic and musical worlds respectively, with a growing reputation among theatregoers for their joint works. By December, they were international superstars, with their lyrics quoted and melodies whistled by millions on both sides of the Atlantic – and a new collaboration, The Pirates of Penzance, receiving its world premiere in New York.

The reason for their success, and for the location of the Pirates premiere, was their previous operetta, HMS Pinafore. Launched in May 1878, “that infernal nonsense Pinafore” initially made little impression, but gradually it took hold of the British public’s imagination. Its greatest impact, however, was in the USA, where up to 100 unlicensed productions gave rise to “Pinafore mania”. Such enthusiasm must have been flattering for the show’s creators, but the American performances were heavily altered (often including sea shanties, topical gags and even cross-dressing) and – perhaps more importantly – brought them no money. They decided that, to secure US copyright for their next work, they would present it first in America.

With lost income and American disregard for an author’s rights in mind, it is hardly surprising that Gilbert took piracy as his theme! The new operetta was to be a parody of Victorian melodrama – a genre that has long faded into obscurity, although its stock characters are still recognisable from umpteen formulaic movies, novels and so on. Gilbert’s trick was to subvert our expectations: the square-jawed, dutiful hero is in fact a hard-hearted pirate (albeit for dutifully heroic motives); the dyed-in-the-wool piratical villains reveal that they won’t attack orphans or foes weaker than themselves; and the splendid figures in uniform, symbols of authority, prove to be abject cowards and even liars. The inversion of stereotypes conforms to a theme in much of Gilbert’s work – that people are often forced to adapt to society’s expectations of them, and outwards appearances can be misleading.

But if the heroes and villains don’t conform to type, the heroine certainly does. Pirates is also a parody of grand opera, with a female lead who launches into vocal acrobatics within five seconds of making her entrance because – well, because she’s an operatic soprano and that’s what they do. There’s also a dig at opera characters who spend ages singing about what they’re going to do without actually doing it. The music is some of Sullivan’s best, perfectly accompanying Gilbert’s cod-serious sentiments while also being wonderfully operatic itself.

The show’s satire is concentrated in the character of Major-General Stanley, who cheerfully admits to his military shortcomings. There were some shining examples of tactical ignorance in the British Army at the time – not least its commander-in-chief, the Duke of Cambridge, whose lack of ability was immaterial since he was Queen Victoria’s cousin… The first actor to play the Major-General in London was made up to look like the distinguished General Sir Garnet Wolseley, famous for his exploits fighting the Zulus, but this was just a visual gag – Gilbert clearly wasn’t accusing Wolseley of cowardice or incompetence. Nevertheless, the character’s nouveau-riche snobbery (calling himself a “descendant by purchase” of his newly bought estate’s original owners) may be a sly reference to Wolseley’s humble origins.

Generally, though, Pirates – with its absurdly well-mannered title characters, who draw up formal apprenticeship documents and whose first act towards their female captives is a proposal of marriage – is geared towards silliness rather than satire. The show has been delighting audiences for over a century-and-a-quarter now – we hope that it has the same effect on you tonight!

The Story of Pirates

On his 21st birthday, pirate apprentice Frederic becomes a full member of the Pirates of Penzance – and promptly tells his bemused employers that he intends to return to civilisation. Erroneously apprenticed to the pirates as a boy by his nursemaid Ruth, he has dutifully served them under his contract (or indentures) – but now his obligation is at an end.

Ruth, who herself joined the pirates in shame after realising her error, persuades Frederic to take her with him. Not having seen another woman for 15 years, he believes her claim to be beautiful, and agrees to marry her – until he sees a bevy of young ladies enjoying a day at the seaside. Dismissing Ruth for her dishonesty, he introduces himself to the ladies and begs any of them to marry him. All refuse, except one – Mabel, who is moved by his sad predicament and stunning good looks.

Following a romantic interlude, Frederic remembers that the maidens may all be in danger from the pirates, who are still nearby. All decide to scarper – but too late! The pirates turn up, grab the maidens and (being a well-bred bunch) immediately propose marriage en masse.

All seems lost, until the arrival of the maidens’ father, Major-General Stanley – a mine of information on any subject except military matters. On learning that his daughters are to be wed to a gang ne’er-do-wells, he promptly elicits the pirates’ sympathy by claiming – falsely – to be an orphan. As orphans themselves, they cannot bring themselves to cause him distress, and agree not to marry his daughters.

A week later, in the Stanleys’ ancestral chapel (bought a year ago), Frederic is preparing to lead the decidedly nervous local constabulary in an assault on the pirates’ lair. But his plans are ruined by a surprise visit from the Pirate King and Ruth, who reveal that – as he was born on 29th February – he will not in fact reach his 21st birthday and be released from his apprenticeship until he is 84 years old!

Duty-bound to be a pirate again, Frederic is compelled to abandon the raid – and to inform the duo that Major-General Stanley is not an orphan after all. Enraged, they retire to plan a murderous assault on the Stanley household. Mabel is horrified to be parted from Frederic for the next 63 years, but still encourages the increasingly unenthusiastic policemen to tackle the pirates as planned. They agree, but immediately head for cover when they hear their foes approaching. The noise also rouses the Major-General and his daughters from their beds.

With their quarry in sight, the pirates attack, and the police finally spring into action. Who will prove victorious? Will Mabel and Frederic be reunited? And what is the pirates’ dark secret?

Musical numbers

Act I

“Pour, O pour, the pirate sherry” ………………….. Pirates with Samuel

“When Frederic was a little lad”..................……………………….. Ruth

“O better far to live and die” …….…………….. Pirate King with Pirates

“O false one, you have deceived me” ………..……….... Frederic & Ruth

“Climbing over rocky mountain” …... Chorus ofGirls with Edith & Kate

“O is there not one maiden breast” ..….…..……….... Frederic with Girls

“Poor wand’ring one” ………………………………… Mabel with Girls

 “What ought we to do?”/ “How beautifully blue the sky”
Edith, Kate, Mabel and Frederic & Girls

“Stay, we must not lose our senses” …...……… Frederic, Girls & Pirates

“Hold monsters!” …...… Mabel, Samuel, Major-General, Pirates & Girls

“I am the very model of a modern Major-General”
Major-General & Chorus

Finale Act I …………………………………………………….. Company

Act II

“Oh dry the glistening tear” ……...……………………… Girls & Mabel

“Then Frederic, let your escort lion-hearted”   Major-General & Frederic

“When the foeman bears his steel”
Sergeant, Mabel, Isabel, Major-General, Girls & Policemen

“Now for the Pirates lair!” …......…………Frederic, Pirate King & Ruth

“Away, away, my heart’s on fire!” …….…. Frederic, Pirate King & Ruth

“All is prepared” / “Stay, Frederic, stay!” …....……... Mabel & Frederic

“No, I’ll be brave” / “Though in body and in mind”
Mabel, Sergeant & Policemen

“When a felon’s not engaged in his employment”    Sergeant & Policemen

“A rollicking band of Pirates, we” …....… Sergeant, Policemen & Pirates

“With cat-like tread” ………………...…… Pirates, Policemen & Samuel

“Hush, hush! not a word!” Frederic, Major-General, Pirates & Policemen

“Sighing softly to the river” ..... Major-General with Pirates & Policemen

Finale Act II ……………………………………………………. Full Cast