July
31 August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16
Benefit dates 08/06, 08/13
Music
and Lyrics by William S. Gilbert and Arthur S. Sullivan
DIRECTION
BY KYLE MINOR
MUSICAL
DIRECTION BY DAVID E. HARRIS
CHOREOGRAPHY
BY CHRISTOPHER GLADYSZ
Synopsis:
While
the H.M.S Pinafore is anchored at Portsmouth, Little Buttercup, a bumboat woman,
tries to sell her goods to the sailors. It is soon revealed that one of the sailors,
Ralph Rackstraw, is hopelessly in love with the Captain's daughter, Josephine.
She however, is betrothed to the wealthy Sir Joseph Porter. Nevertheless, Josephine
expresses her love for Ralph and wants to elope-scandalous due to their class
differences. Meanwhile, Buttercup has fallen in love with the Captain, but he
cannot return her love because of their difference in status. In the end, it is
revealed that the Captain and Ralph had accidentally been exchanged at birth.
Thus, the Captain can now marry Buttercup and Ralph can marry Josephine. First
performed at the Opera Comique, London, on the 25th May 1878
The quarterdeck
of HMS Pinafore.
Little Buttercup, a buxom bumboat woman, attempts to
sell her wares to the crew. Among the ship's hands is a handsome sailor called
Ralph Rackstraw who seems to cause great concernation to Little Buttercup.
The ship's Captain, Corcoran, arrives and when alone with Buttercup he expresses
his sadness that his daughter, Josephine, appears far less than enthusiastic over
her impending marriage to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty.
Josephine's heart is in fact given to a humble sailor on board her father's own
ship.
Sir Joseph enters accompanied by the female chorus of Sisters,
Cousins and Aunts. Captain Corcoran and Sir Joseph discuss the respect that must
always be given to the crew. Any request made by the Captain must be accompanied
by an "if you please".
Alone with Josephine, Ralph declares his love
to her. However Josephine is true to the dictates of class distinction and rejects
his love although her true feelings are not voiced except in asides to the audience.
The finale to Act One opens with Ralph announcing that the only thing
left is to blow his head off. But before the fatal shot is fired, Josephine stops
him declaring that she does in fact love him. They plan to steal ashore that night
to be married.
In Act Two we find Sir Joseph becoming more and more irritated
at Josephine's lack of response to his offer of his hand in marriage. Captain
Corcoran points out that probably his exalted rank has dazzled her and he must
be assured that love, in fact, levels all ranks.
The unscrupulous sailor,
Dick Deadeye (the villain of the Opera) reveals to the Captain of the plan for
the elopement of Ralph and Josephine that night. Corcoran stops the escape and
Ralph declares his love for Josephine. All confusion reigns only resolved when
Little Buttercup explains that when she was a nurse a many years ago she mixed
two babies up. One upper class, the other lower class.
"In time each
little waif
Forsook his foster-mother,
The well-born babe was Ralph -
Your Captain was the other!"
Ralph appears dressed as a Captain and Corcoran
as an ordinary seaman.
Ralph embraces Josephine, Corcoran turns to Buttercup
and Sir Joseph settles for first cousin, Hebe.
