HMS Pinafore |
Spring 2013 |
Our spring 2013 Patrons' Party was Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta HMS Pinafore.
Act I
As sailors work on the HMS Pinafore off Portsmouth, Little Buttercup enters with her wares. Ralph Rackstraw reveals that he loves Josephine, the Captain’s daughter. However Captain Corcoran confides in Buttercup that Sir Joseph Porter KCB wishes to marry Josephine. The maiden herself confesses that she loves a common sailor, but then Sir Joseph arrives with his female relatives and warns Corcoran not to patronise his men; all seamen are equal, and the fact that some are captains and some sailors is an accident of birth. Emboldened by Sir Joseph’s words, Ralph expresses his love to Josephine; but, knowing she must wed Sir Joseph, she rejects him. He is about to kill himself when Josephine reveals she loves him after all, and they plan to elope.
Act II
The Captain thinks he could love Buttercup, but for the difference in their rank, and she prophesies a change for him. Sir Joseph reassures Josephine that a difference in rank is no impediment to a marriage, but Dick exposes Ralph and Josephine’s plan. Corcoran confronts Ralph and becomes so enraged he swears, at which Sir Joseph banishes Corcoran to his cabin. When Ralph and Josephine reveal their love to Sir Joseph, he orders Ralph be thrown in the dungeon. However, Buttercup reveals that Captain Corcoran and Ralph were accidentally switched at birth, and so the Captain is just a common sailor. Sir Joseph rejects Josephine on account of her low rank, and she and Ralph are free to wed.
Act I
As sailors work on the HMS Pinafore off Portsmouth, Little Buttercup enters with her wares. Ralph Rackstraw reveals that he loves Josephine, the Captain’s daughter. However Captain Corcoran confides in Buttercup that Sir Joseph Porter KCB wishes to marry Josephine. The maiden herself confesses that she loves a common sailor, but then Sir Joseph arrives with his female relatives and warns Corcoran not to patronise his men; all seamen are equal, and the fact that some are captains and some sailors is an accident of birth. Emboldened by Sir Joseph’s words, Ralph expresses his love to Josephine; but, knowing she must wed Sir Joseph, she rejects him. He is about to kill himself when Josephine reveals she loves him after all, and they plan to elope.
Act II
The Captain thinks he could love Buttercup, but for the difference in their rank, and she prophesies a change for him. Sir Joseph reassures Josephine that a difference in rank is no impediment to a marriage, but Dick exposes Ralph and Josephine’s plan. Corcoran confronts Ralph and becomes so enraged he swears, at which Sir Joseph banishes Corcoran to his cabin. When Ralph and Josephine reveal their love to Sir Joseph, he orders Ralph be thrown in the dungeon. However, Buttercup reveals that Captain Corcoran and Ralph were accidentally switched at birth, and so the Captain is just a common sailor. Sir Joseph rejects Josephine on account of her low rank, and she and Ralph are free to wed.
CAST
|
The Rt Hon Sir Joseph Porter, KCB
Captain Corcoran Ralph Rackstraw Josephine Little Buttercup Dick Deadeye Boatswain Cousin Hebe Carpenter Midshipman |
Roger Dowlen
Adrian Gray Robert Brown Sharon Brandelli Christine (Becky) Gutowski Grant Graves Angus Henney Carolyn Killen James Penton James Bingham |
Sailors, and Sir Joseph's Sisters, Cousins and Aunts
|
Farhat Dar
Karen Harvey Chris Hubbard Stuart Killen Celia Lyons John Lanigan-O'Keefe Ursula Shah Kim Thompson Gillian Tompsett |
PRODUCTION
|
Director
Musical Director Stage Design & Lighting |
Janice Edgar
Margaret Dewar Robert Barker |
Catering
Poster Design |
Kim Thompson
Gillian Tompsett Simon Morris |