The Pirate Queen

Act One

In dream-like pantomime, a ship appears to the sounds of a celtic flute (“Prologue”). A young woman is at the wheel of the ship; it is Grace (Grania) O’Malley, who raises her sword in triumph. A young man named Tiernan meets her sword, and they playfully duel about the deck of the ship until she wins. They kiss, but are separated by the sounds of the O’Malley clan approaching, doing a traditional oar dance as they welcome their chieftain and Grace’s father, Dubhdara. He christens the ship The Pirate Queen, and the men and women celebrate, blessing both the ship and crying out that the O’Malley clan rules the sea. Suddenly, Tiernan (up on the rigging) calls out that he sees another ship through the fog: It is an English warship, and therefore too much for The Pirate Queen to overtake. Dubhdara decides that they will hide until the ship passes. He sees Grace on the rigging and fears for her safety, telling sailors to get her, but she swings down with ease. Dubhdara scolds