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The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance was performed at Co-Operative Arts Theatre, Nottingham, between Monday 4th October and Saturday 9th October 1999.
This was a "new format" Broadway version of the popular The Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert & Sullivan. With a more compact orchestration, updated production notes and the restoration of the 1879 New York finale it won rapturous critical and public approval on both sides of the Atlantic.
Frederic, however, has other ideas! It turns out that Ruth, his nursery maid, mistook the word 'pirate' for 'pilot' many years ago, and took Frederic to join the completely wrong profession! Having done his duty by completing his apprenticeship, Frederic now intends to rejoin law-abiding society and lead a blameless life. Furthermore, to atone for his disreputable past, his first act would be to exterminate the pirate scourge, even though he loves each of the pirates individually.
The dashing Pirate King surprisingly has every sympathy with Frederic's intentions, but declines to rejoin polite society. Frederic's last act as a dutiful pirate is to explain to the group why they are so unsuccessful as pirates - it turns out that their sympathy for any fellow orphans has got about, and all potential victims now claim to be orphans and thus immune to the pirate's advances.
As Frederic leaves, Ruth begs to be taken with him, and tries to persuade him that she is beautiful compared with other women. He is about to agree to their union when a bevy of beautiful young girls suddenly appear and Ruth is rejected. The girls are initially horrified to learn that Frederic has been a pirate, but are quite captivated by his charm and good looks. The youngest girl, Mabel, is particularly taken with him.
All of a sudden, the pirates reappear and capture the girls, with matrimonial intentions in mind. This is thwarted by the sudden appearance of Major General Stanley, the girls' father, who persuades the pirates that he is an orphan and therefore gains their sympathy. Ruth also reappears and pleads her love to Frederic, but he decides to return to law abiding society with Mabel.
The second act is set in Tremorden Castle, the home of the Major General, who is being consoled by his daughters as he bitterly regrets the lies he told in order to deceive the pirates. Frederic, however, is still resolved to exterminate the pirate gang, and has organised the local constabulary to this end. These gallant heroes, however, prove to be somewhat timidly inclined, and do little to inspire the girls' and the Major's confidence.
Before Frederic can leave with the expedition, the Pirate King and Ruth reappear and surprise him by pointing out that he was born on 29 February - making him a leap year baby, and as such he has really only had five birthdays instead of the twenty-one he thought. This means Frederic is still bound by the terms of his pirate apprenticeship, and his sense of duty means that he must return to the pirate fold, much to Mabel's distress.
The Pirate King, on hearing Frederic tell of the Major General's earlier deception, swears vengeance and decides to attack Tremorden Castle that very night, not knowing that the police have been called to arms. In the ensuing battle, the pirates manage to overpower the bumbling police, and are about to exact their revenge when the Sergeant reminds them of their allegiance to Queen Victoria, who makes a surprise guest appearance.
The pirates yield at once, and are about to be taken to justice when Ruth discloses that they are all really noblemen who have gone wrong. This revelation invokes the Major General's pardon, and he happily gives his permission for the pirates to marry his beautiful daughters, and Mabel is happily reunited with her beloved Frederic...
When Frederic Was A Little Lad (Ruth)
Oh, Better Far To Live And Die (Pirate King & Pirates)
Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me (Frederic & Ruth)
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain (Girls, Edith & Kate)
Stop, Ladies, Pray! (Frederic, Edith, Kate & Girls)
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast (Frederic, Mabel & Girls)
Poor Wandering One! (Mabel & Girls)
What Ought We To Do (Edith, Kate & Girls)
How Beautifully Blue The Sky (Girls, Mabel & Frederic)
Stay We Must Not Lose Our Senses (Frederic, Girls & Pirates)
Hold Monsters (Mabel, Samuel, Major General, Girls & Pirates)
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General (Major General, Girls & Pirates)
Oh, Men Of Dark And Dismal Fate (Major General, Pirate King & Ensemble)
Then, Frederic, Let Your Escort Lion-Hearted (Major General & Frederic)
When The Forman Bares His Steel (Sergeant, Mabel, Edith, Major General, Police & Girls)
Now For The Pirates' Lair! (Frederic, Pirate King & Ruth)
When You Had Left Our Pirates Fold (Pirate King, Ruth & Frederic)
My Eyes Are Fully Open (Frederic, Ruth & Pirate King)
Away, Away! My Hearts On Fire (Ruth, Pirate King & Frederic)
All Is Prepared (Mabel & Frederic)
Stay, Frederic, Stay! (Mabel & Frederic)
Sorry Her Lot (Mabel)
No, I Am Brave! (Mabel, Sergeant & Police)
When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment (Sergeant & Police)
A Rollicking Band Of Pirates We (Pirates, Sergeant & Police)
With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal (Pirates, Police, Samuel, Frederic & Pirate King)
Hush, Hush! Not A Word (Frederic, Pirates & Police)
Sighing Softly To The River (Major General & Ensemble)
Poor Wandering One (Everyone)
Belle - Claire Farrand
Edith - Jackie Rawling
Frederic - Colin Richmond
Izzy - Alison Lawrence
Kate - Carrie-Anne Corner
Mabel - Cheryl Mills
Major General - John Henson
Ruth - Carolyn Smith
Samuel - Rob Corner
Sergeant of Police - David Heard
The Pirate King - Alan Richmond
Bassoon - A. Reaveley
Clarinet - Chris Hopkinson
Clarinet / Saxophone - Pete Bullock
Flute - Alison Dennison
Keyboard - K. King, Ruth Viles
Percussion - Brian Rodwell, C. Healey
Trombone - Jane Pendery
Trumpet - Charley Pendery, Kevin Dye
Choreography Director - Phillipa Sutton
Dance Captain - Amy Webster
Lighting Assistant - Rob Corner
Lighting Manager - Mark Lewis
Make-up - Sandra Straw & Crew
Musical Director - Russ Singleton
Principals Director - Kathlyn Phillips
Production Manager - Stuart Veitch
Prompt - John Maddison
Set Consultant - Celia Birch
Stage Crew - Richard Phillips and members of the production team
Stage Manager - Anita Boyer
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
If you took part in this show and have memories to share or don't have a profile, and would like one, we'd love you to contact us.
The Pirates of Penzance
The Pirates of Penzance was performed at Co-Operative Arts Theatre, Nottingham, between Monday 4th October and Saturday 9th October 1999.
This was a "new format" Broadway version of the popular The Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert & Sullivan. With a more compact orchestration, updated production notes and the restoration of the 1879 New York finale it won rapturous critical and public approval on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Story of The Pirates of Penzance
It is 1873, and that notorious band of sea rovers, the Pirates of Penzance, are drinking the health of Frederic who, on reaching the age of twenty-one, has completed his apprenticeship and is now expected to become a full-blown member of the pirate gang.Frederic, however, has other ideas! It turns out that Ruth, his nursery maid, mistook the word 'pirate' for 'pilot' many years ago, and took Frederic to join the completely wrong profession! Having done his duty by completing his apprenticeship, Frederic now intends to rejoin law-abiding society and lead a blameless life. Furthermore, to atone for his disreputable past, his first act would be to exterminate the pirate scourge, even though he loves each of the pirates individually.
The dashing Pirate King surprisingly has every sympathy with Frederic's intentions, but declines to rejoin polite society. Frederic's last act as a dutiful pirate is to explain to the group why they are so unsuccessful as pirates - it turns out that their sympathy for any fellow orphans has got about, and all potential victims now claim to be orphans and thus immune to the pirate's advances.
As Frederic leaves, Ruth begs to be taken with him, and tries to persuade him that she is beautiful compared with other women. He is about to agree to their union when a bevy of beautiful young girls suddenly appear and Ruth is rejected. The girls are initially horrified to learn that Frederic has been a pirate, but are quite captivated by his charm and good looks. The youngest girl, Mabel, is particularly taken with him.
All of a sudden, the pirates reappear and capture the girls, with matrimonial intentions in mind. This is thwarted by the sudden appearance of Major General Stanley, the girls' father, who persuades the pirates that he is an orphan and therefore gains their sympathy. Ruth also reappears and pleads her love to Frederic, but he decides to return to law abiding society with Mabel.
The second act is set in Tremorden Castle, the home of the Major General, who is being consoled by his daughters as he bitterly regrets the lies he told in order to deceive the pirates. Frederic, however, is still resolved to exterminate the pirate gang, and has organised the local constabulary to this end. These gallant heroes, however, prove to be somewhat timidly inclined, and do little to inspire the girls' and the Major's confidence.
Before Frederic can leave with the expedition, the Pirate King and Ruth reappear and surprise him by pointing out that he was born on 29 February - making him a leap year baby, and as such he has really only had five birthdays instead of the twenty-one he thought. This means Frederic is still bound by the terms of his pirate apprenticeship, and his sense of duty means that he must return to the pirate fold, much to Mabel's distress.
The Pirate King, on hearing Frederic tell of the Major General's earlier deception, swears vengeance and decides to attack Tremorden Castle that very night, not knowing that the police have been called to arms. In the ensuing battle, the pirates manage to overpower the bumbling police, and are about to exact their revenge when the Sergeant reminds them of their allegiance to Queen Victoria, who makes a surprise guest appearance.
The pirates yield at once, and are about to be taken to justice when Ruth discloses that they are all really noblemen who have gone wrong. This revelation invokes the Major General's pardon, and he happily gives his permission for the pirates to marry his beautiful daughters, and Mabel is happily reunited with her beloved Frederic...
Musical Numbers
Act 1
Pour, O Pour The Pirate Sherry (Pirates & Samuel)When Frederic Was A Little Lad (Ruth)
Oh, Better Far To Live And Die (Pirate King & Pirates)
Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me (Frederic & Ruth)
Climbing Over Rocky Mountain (Girls, Edith & Kate)
Stop, Ladies, Pray! (Frederic, Edith, Kate & Girls)
Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast (Frederic, Mabel & Girls)
Poor Wandering One! (Mabel & Girls)
What Ought We To Do (Edith, Kate & Girls)
How Beautifully Blue The Sky (Girls, Mabel & Frederic)
Stay We Must Not Lose Our Senses (Frederic, Girls & Pirates)
Hold Monsters (Mabel, Samuel, Major General, Girls & Pirates)
I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General (Major General, Girls & Pirates)
Oh, Men Of Dark And Dismal Fate (Major General, Pirate King & Ensemble)
Act 2
O, Dry The Glistening Tear (Girls & Mabel)Then, Frederic, Let Your Escort Lion-Hearted (Major General & Frederic)
When The Forman Bares His Steel (Sergeant, Mabel, Edith, Major General, Police & Girls)
Now For The Pirates' Lair! (Frederic, Pirate King & Ruth)
When You Had Left Our Pirates Fold (Pirate King, Ruth & Frederic)
My Eyes Are Fully Open (Frederic, Ruth & Pirate King)
Away, Away! My Hearts On Fire (Ruth, Pirate King & Frederic)
All Is Prepared (Mabel & Frederic)
Stay, Frederic, Stay! (Mabel & Frederic)
Sorry Her Lot (Mabel)
No, I Am Brave! (Mabel, Sergeant & Police)
When A Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment (Sergeant & Police)
A Rollicking Band Of Pirates We (Pirates, Sergeant & Police)
With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal (Pirates, Police, Samuel, Frederic & Pirate King)
Hush, Hush! Not A Word (Frederic, Pirates & Police)
Sighing Softly To The River (Major General & Ensemble)
Poor Wandering One (Everyone)
Photo Gallery
The Cast
Belle - Claire FarrandEdith - Jackie Rawling
Frederic - Colin Richmond
Izzy - Alison Lawrence
Kate - Carrie-Anne Corner
Mabel - Cheryl Mills
Major General - John Henson
Ruth - Carolyn Smith
Samuel - Rob Corner
Sergeant of Police - David Heard
The Pirate King - Alan Richmond
Dancers
Anthea Hinchliffe, Jane Cottee, Jane Hough, Kate Richmond, Penny Hodgson, Val SuttonPirates, Policemen, Duenas and Daughters
Barbara Doughty, David Hargreave, David Moore, David Walters, Dorothy Woodall, Guy Benson, Jackie Jones, Luis Ogando, Mark Buckley, Mollie Harwood, Nyree Griffin, Paul Lemon, Roma Drinkwater, Ruth Maddison, Terry Payne, Wenda SmithThe Orchestra
Bass Guitar - Jeff WiddowsonBassoon - A. Reaveley
Clarinet - Chris Hopkinson
Clarinet / Saxophone - Pete Bullock
Flute - Alison Dennison
Keyboard - K. King, Ruth Viles
Percussion - Brian Rodwell, C. Healey
Trombone - Jane Pendery
Trumpet - Charley Pendery, Kevin Dye
The Production Team
Assistant Musical Director - John MaddisonChoreography Director - Phillipa Sutton
Dance Captain - Amy Webster
Lighting Assistant - Rob Corner
Lighting Manager - Mark Lewis
Make-up - Sandra Straw & Crew
Musical Director - Russ Singleton
Principals Director - Kathlyn Phillips
Production Manager - Stuart Veitch
Prompt - John Maddison
Set Consultant - Celia Birch
Stage Crew - Richard Phillips and members of the production team
Stage Manager - Anita Boyer
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
If you took part in this show and have memories to share or don't have a profile, and would like one, we'd love you to contact us.
