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The Pirates of Penzance

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Poster announcing the copyright performance at the Bijou Theatre, Paignton
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Poster announcing the copyright performance at the Bijou Theatre, Paignton

The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It is one of the Savoy Operas. The official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York on December 31 1879. The London premiere was on April 3 1880, at the Opera Comique, where it ran for 363 performances, having already been playing successfully for over three months in New York.

Contents

Background

On December 10 1879, Sullivan wrote a letter to his mother about the new opera, upon which he was hard at work in New York. "I think it will be a great success, for it is exquisitely funny, and the music is strikingly tuneful and catching." True enough, The Pirates of Penzance was an immediate hit in New York, and later London, and takes its place today as one of the most popular G&S works.

Pirates was the only G&S opera to have its official premiere in New York. At the time, American law offered no copyright protection to foreigners. After their previous opera, H.M.S. Pinafore, was a hit in London, American companies quickly mounted unauthorized "pirated" productions, often taking considerable liberties with the text and paying no royalties to the creators. By mounting their next opera in New York, Gilbert and Sullivan hoped to forestall further "piracy," by establishing the official production in America before others could copy it.

There was one other premiere of note. To secure British copyright, there was a perfunctory performance the evening before the New York premiere, at the Royal Bijou Theatre Paignton, Devon. The cast, having performed Pinafore the night before, read from scripts carried onto the stage, making do with whatever costumes they had on hand.

The work's title itself, no doubt a jab at theatrical "piracy", was enough to make the London audience chuckle. Penzance was a docile seaside resort at the time, and the very idea of criminal activity – let alone pirates – in that vicinity was ridiculous.

Production history

From the beginning, The Pirates of Penzance has been one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular comic operas. After its unique "triple opening" in 1879–80, it was revived in London in 1888, in 1900, and for the Savoy repertory season of 1908–09. In the British provinces, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company toured it almost continuously from 1880–1884, and again in 1888. It re-entered the touring repertory in 1893, and was never again absent through to the company's closure in 1982.

In America, after the New York opening on New Year's Eve, 1879, Richard D'Oyly Carte launched four companies that covered the United States on tours that lasted through the following summer. Gilbert and Sullivan themselves trained each of the touring companies through January and early February 1880, and each company's first performance – whether it was in Philadelphia, Newark, or Buffalo – was conducted by the composer.

There was still no international copyright law, and the first unauthorised New York production was given by the Boston Ideal Opera Company at Booth's Theatre in September 1880. The first non-D'Oyly Carte professional production in a country that was subject to Gilbert's copyright was in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, in September 1961.

The following table shows the history of the D'Oyly Carte productions in Gilbert's lifetime:

Theatre Opening Date Closing Date Perfs. Details
Bijou Theatre, Paignton December 30 1879 December 30 1879 1 English copyright performance.
Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York December 31 1879 March 6 1880 100 Original run in New York. The company toured the Eastern seaboard between March 8 and May 15. Three other touring companies were launched in January and February 1880.
May 17 1880 June 5 1880
Opera Comique April 3 1880 April 2 1881 363 Original London run.
Savoy Theatre December 23 1884 February 14 1885 ? Series of matinees with a juvenile cast.
Savoy Theatre March 17 1888 June 6 1888 80 First professional revival.
Savoy Theatre June 30 1900 November 5 1900 127 Second professional revival.
Savoy Theatre December 1 1908 March 27 1909 43 Second Savoy repertory season; played with five other operas. (Closing date shown is of the entire season.)

Joseph Papp's Pirates

In 1980, Joseph Papp and the Public Theater of New York City brought a new production of Pirates to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, one of the series of "Shakespeare in the Park" summer events. The show played for 10 previews and 35 performances. It then transferred to Broadway, opening on January 8 1981 for a run of 20 previews and 787 performances at the Uris and Minskoff Theatres.

Compared to traditional productions of the opera, Papp's Pirates featured a more swashbuckling Pirate King and Frederic, and a broader, more musical comedy style of humor. It also featured an adapted orchestration and a number of key changes. The "Matter Patter" trio from Ruddigore and "Sorry her lot" from H.M.S. Pinafore were interpolated. The production also restored Gilbert and Sullivan's original New York ending, with a reprise of the Major-General's song in the Act II finale.

Linda Ronstadt starred as Mabel, Rex Smith as Frederic, Kevin Kline as the Pirate King, Estelle Parsons as Ruth, George Rose as the Major-General, and Tony Azito as the Sergeant of Police. Notable replacements during the run included Pam Dawber, Karla DeVito, and Maureen McGovern as Mabel; Robby Benson, Patrick Cassidy, and Peter Noone as Frederic; James Belushi, Gary Sandy, and Treat Williams as the Pirate King; George S. Irving as the Major-General; and Kaye Ballard as Ruth.

The production opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, on May 26 1982 for a run of 601 performances. Notable among the cast were George Cole and Ronald Fraser as the Major-General; Michael Praed and Peter Noone as Frederic; Tim Curry and Oliver Tobias as the Pirate King; Chris Langham as the Sergeant of Police; Pamela Stephenson as Mabel; and Annie Ross as Ruth.

The production was turned into a film (released in 1983), with all of the original Broadway cast reprising their roles, except that Angela Lansbury replaced Estelle Parsons as Ruth. The film was not a success, but according to the IMDB, this "had nothing to do with the reviews, which were often quite positive. The real problem lay with Universal's decision to release the film simultaneously to SelectTV and to theaters. Theater owners were so angry that they boycotted the film; in the end, a grand total of 92 theaters agreed to show it, and it enjoyed a long run at only one of them." [link] Another film based loosely on the opera, The Pirate Movie, was released during the Broadway run.

The production design has been widely imitated in other modern productions of Pirates, even where traditional orchestration and standard score are used.

Roles

Synopsis

Act I

Frederic, a young man with a strong sense of duty, is seen celebrating his twenty-first birthday in the company of a group of pirates ("Pour, oh pour the pirate sherry"). His nurse Ruth appears and reveals that she had apprenticed Frederic to the pirate band by mistake, many years ago ("When Frederic was a little lad"), she misheard Frederic's father, who wanted the little lad to become a ship's pilot. Because Frederic has never seen any women other than Ruth, he believes her to be beautiful, and agrees to marry her later that day. Although Frederic is sympathetic to his pirate friends (they being all orphans whose gentle natures make their piratical careers difficult) his sense of duty nonetheless compels him to leave the band upon the completion of his apprenticeship, then destroy them. He invites the Pirate King to give up piracy and go with him, but is refused ("Oh! better far to live and die"). Upon leaving the pirates, Frederic sees a group of beautiful young girls on the shore, and realises that Ruth lied to him about her features ("Oh false one! You have deceived me!"). He hides before the girls arrive. The girls enter the stage singing ("Climbing over rocky mountain"). Frederic reveals himself ("Stop, ladies, pray!") and appeals to them for affection ("Oh! is there not one maiden breast") to help him reform; one of them, Mabel, responds to his plea ("Poor wand'ring one"). The other girls contemplate whether to eavesdrop, or leave the new couple alone ("What ought we to do?"), and eventually decide to sing about the weather ("How beautifully blue the sky"). Frederic warns the girls of the pirates nearby ("Stay, we must not lose our senses"), but they are interrupted by the arrival of said pirates, who wish to capture all the girls for wives ("Here's a first rate opportunity"). Mabel warns the pirates that the girls' father is a Major-General ("Hold, monsters!"), who soon arrives and introduces himself ("I am the very model of a modern Major-General"). The pirates attempt to kill him and take his daughters, but he appeals to them for clemency on the grounds that he's an orphan ("Oh, men of dark and dismal fate"). The soft-hearted pirates are sympathetic, and release the girls.

Act II

The Major-General sits by the mausoleum on his estate, surrounded by his daughters. He laments his tortured conscience at the lie he told the Pirate King, while they attempt to console him ("Oh dry the glist'ning tear"). The Police Sergeant and his policemen enter to announce their readiness to go forth and arrest the pirates ("When the foeman bares his steel"). Frederic, who is to lead the group, pauses for a moment's reflection ("Now for the pirate's lair"), at which point he encounters Ruth and the Pirate King. They inform him that his apprenticeship was worded so as to bind him to them until his twenty-first birthday – and, because that birthday happens to be on the extra day of Leap Year (February 29), that means that technically only five birthdays have passed ("When you had left our pirate fold"). Frederic is convinced that he must rejoin the pirates by this logic, and thus he sees it as his duty to inform the Pirate King of the Major-General's lie ("Away, away, my heart's on fire").

He meets Mabel ("All is prepared") and she bids him to stay ("Stay Frederic, stay"), but he dutifully returns to fulfil his apprenticeship with the pirates. Mabel consoles herself ("No, I am brave"), The police and their Sergeant are told they must go alone ("When the foeman bares his steel" (reprise)"), and they lament their fate ("When a felon's not engaged in his employment"). They hide on hearing the approach of the pirates ("A rollicking band of pirates we"), who have stolen onto the grounds, meaning to avenge themselves for the Major-General's lie ("With cat-like tread"). The police and the pirates prepare for the fight ("Hush, hush! not a word"). The Major-General himself appears, sleepless with guilt ("Sighing softly to the river"), and his daughters follow him. The pirates, of course, leap to the attack, and the police to the defense; but the police are easily defeated. The Sergeant plays his trump card, demanding that the pirates yield "in Queen Victoria's name"; the pirates, overcome with loyalty to their Queen, do so. Ruth appears and reveals that the orphan pirates are in fact noblemen; all is forgiven, Frederic and Mabel are reunited, and the Major-General is happy to marry his daughters to the noble pirates after all.

Musical numbers

Act I

1 This song originated in Gilbert and Sullivan's first collaboration, Thespis.

Act II

  • 15. "Oh, dry the glist'ning tear" (Mabel and Chorus of Girls)
  • 16. "Then, Frederic, let your escort lion-hearted" (Frederic and Major-General)
  • 17. "When the foeman bares his steel" (Mabel, Edith, Sergeant, and Chorus of Policemen and Girls)
  • 18. "Now for the pirates' lair!" (Frederic, Ruth, and King)
  • 19. "When you had left our pirate fold" (Ruth, Frederic, and King)
  • 20. "Away, away! My heart's on fire!" (Ruth, Frederic, and King)
  • 21. "All is prepar'd; your gallant crew await you" (Mabel and Frederic)
  • 22. "Stay, Fred'ric, stay" (Mabel and Frederic)
  • 23. "No, I'll be brave" (Mabel, Sergeant, and Chorus of Police)
  • 24. "When the felon's not engaged in his employment" (Sergeant and Chorus of Police)
  • 25. "A rollicking band of pirates we" (Sergeant and Chorus of Pirates and Police)
  • 26. "With cat-like tread" (Samuel and Chorus of Pirates and Police)
  • 27. "Hush, hush, not a word!" (Frederic, King, Major-General, and Chorus of Police and Pirates)
  • 28. Finale: "Sighing softly to the river" (Ensemble)

Historical casting

The following tables show the casts of the principal original productions and D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring repertory at various times through to the company's 1982 closure:

Role Paignton
1879 		New York
1879 		Opera Comique
1880 		Savoy Theatre
1888 		Savoy Theatre
1900
Major-General Richard Mansfield J. H. Ryley George Grossmith George Grossmith Henry Lytton
Pirate King F. Federici Mr. Brocolini Richard Temple Richard Temple Jones Hewson
Samuel G. J. Lackner Furneaux Cook George Temple Richard Cummings W. H. Leon
James John Le Hay role eliminated
Frederic Llewellyn Cadwaladr Hugh Talbot George Power J. G. Robertson Robert Evett
Sergeant Fred Billington Fred Clifton Rutland Barrington Rutland Barrington Walter Passmore
Mabel Emilie Petrelli Blanche Roosevelt Marion Hood Geraldine Ulmar Isabel Jay
Edith Marian May Jessie Bond Julia Gwynne Jessie Bond Lulu Evans
Kate Lena Monmouth Rosina Brandram Lilian La Rue Nellie Kavanagh Alice Coleman
Isabel Kate Neville Billie Barlow Neva Bond Nellie Lawrence Agnes Fraser
Ruth Fanny Harrison Alice Barnett Emily Cross Rosina Brandram Rosina Brandram

Role Savoy Theatre
1908 		D'Oyly Carte
1915 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1925 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1935 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1945 Tour
Major-General Charles H. Workman Henry Lytton Henry Lytton Martyn Green Grahame Clifford
Pirate King Henry Lytton Leicester Tunks Darrell Fancourt Darrell Fancourt Darrell Fancourt
Samuel Leo Sheffield Frederick Hobbs Joseph Griffin Richard Walker Hilton Layland
Frederic Henry Herbert Dewey Gibson Charles Goulding John Dean John Dean
Sergeant Rutland Barrington Fred Billington Leo Sheffield Sydney Granville Richard Walker
Mabel Dorothy Court Elsie McDermid Elsie Griffin Kathleen Frances Helen Roberts
Edith Jessie Rose Nellie Briercliffe Eileen Sharp Marjorie Eyre Marjorie Eyre
Kate Beatrice Boarer Betty Grylls Aileen Davies Maisie Baxter Ivy Sanders
Isabel Ethel Lewis Kitty Twinn Hilary Davies Elizabeth Nicell-Lean Maysie Dean
Ruth Louie Rene Bertha Lewis Bertha Lewis Dorothy Gill Ella Halman

Role D'Oyly Carte
1950 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1958 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1968 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1975 Tour 		D'Oyly Carte
1982 Tour
Major-General Martyn Green Peter Pratt John Reed James Conroy-Ward Alistair Donkin
Pirate King Darrell Fancourt Donald Adams Donald Adams John Ayldon John Ayldon
Samuel Donald Harris George Cook Alan Styler Jon Ellison Michael Buchan
Frederic Leonard Osborn Thomas Round Philip Potter Colin Wright Meston Reid
Sergeant Richard Watson Kenneth Sandford George Cook Michael Rayner Clive Harre
Mabel Muriel Harding Jean Hindmarsh Valerie Masterson Julia Goss Vivian Tierney
Edith Joan Gillingham Joyce Wright Peggy Ann Jones Patricia Leonard Jill Pert
Kate Joyce Wright Elizabeth Howarth Pauline Wales Caroline Baker Helene Witcombe
Isabel Enid Walsh Jane Fyffe Susan Maisey Rosalind Griffiths Alexandra Hann
Ruth Ella Halman Ann Drummond-Grant Christene Palmer Lyndsie Holland Patricia Leonard

Pop adaptations

At least three of the songs have been used in whole or in part in other contexts:
  • The Major-General's Song has been used for other fast-singing lyrics, such as Tom Lehrer's song, The Elements (song).
  • The tune for the chorus for With cat-like tread, which begins "Come, friends, who plough the sea..." is also known as the tune for "Hail, hail, the gang's all here..."
  • With cat-like tread and Modern Major General were both parodied in an episode of Animaniacs. The former was changed to a song about surfing a whale, and the latter became a song by Yakko Warner about his comedic talents.

See also

References

  • Also, five supplements, privately printed.

External links

 

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