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Overview
Synopsis
Since its premiere in 1878, Gilbert and Sullivan’s wildly popular operetta H.M.S. Pinafore has delighted audiences with a nautically-tinged story of star-crossed lovers. The gentlemanly Captain Corcoran of the good ship Pinafore has a daughter, Josephine, who is in love with a lowly but gallant sailor named Ralph Rackstraw. The Captain forbids the marriage, wanting to match Josephine instead with the well-bred Sir Joseph, First Lord of the Admiralty. In the meantime, the Captain finds himself in nearly the same position as his daughter: his former nanny, Little Buttercup, falls in love with him, but he hesitates to reciprocate due to his higher social rank. The whole situation is turned on its head when Little Buttercup reveals a game-changing secret she has kept for decades. A rollicking farce with endearing characters, memorable tunes, and a hilariously happy ending, H.MS Pinafore is a classic, time-tested delight not to be missed.
Show Information
- Book
- W.S. Gilbert
- Music
- Arthur Sullivan
- Lyrics
- Arthur Sullivan
- Category
- Operetta
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1878
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- mid-1800s
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor was the fourth collaboration between Gilbert & Sullivan and their first major success. Gilbert's father had been a naval surgeon, and the idea for a nautical-themed operetta resonated with him. He drew on several of his earlier "Bab Ballad" poems, many of which also have nautical characters. Gilbert imbued H.M.S. Pinafore with a huge amount of mirth and silliness, poking fun at the notion that the First Lord of the Admiralty should be a
to read the context for H.M.S Pinafore and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Noon
The British warship H.M.S Pinafore has dropped its anchor at Plymouth, on the south coast of England. The sailors are working on deck when Little Buttercup, “a bumboat woman” (a dockside vendor), comes aboard to sell her wares. She hints that, despite her rosy, innocent appearance, she may be hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile Ralph Rackstraw, a sailor who is widely regarded as “the smartest lad in all the fleet”, declares his love for the Captain’s daughter, Josephine. His
to read the plot for H.M.S Pinafore and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either or Both |
Variety |
Songs
Act One
- 1. "We sail the ocean blue" (Sailors)
- 2. "Hail! men-o'-war's men" ... "I'm called Little Buttercup" (Buttercup)
- 2a. "But tell me who's the youth" (Buttercup and Boatswain)
- 3. "The nightingale" (Ralph and Chorus of Sailors)
- 3a. "A maiden fair to see" (Ralph and Chorus of Sailors)
- 4. "My gallant crew, good morning ... I am the Captain of the Pinafore" (Captain and Chorus of Sailors)
- 4a. "Sir, you are sad" (Buttercup and Captain)
- 5. "Sorry her lot who loves too well" (Josephine)
- 5a. Cut song: "Reflect, my child" (Captain and Josephine)
- 6. "Over the bright blue sea" (Chorus of Female Relatives)
- 7. "Sir Joseph's barge is seen" (Chorus of Sailors and Female Relatives)
- 8. "Now give three cheers ... I am the Monarch of the sea" (Captain, Sir Joseph, Cousin Hebe and Chorus)
- 9. "When I was a lad" (Sir Joseph and Chorus)
- 9a. "For I hold that on the sea" (Sir Joseph, Cousin Hebe and Chorus)
- 10. "A British tar" (Ralph, Boatswain, Carpenter's Mate and Chorus of Sailors)
- 11. "Refrain, audacious tar" (Josephine and Ralph)
- 12. Finale, Act I (Ensemble)
Act Two
- 13. "Fair moon, to thee I sing" (Captain)
- 14. "Things are seldom what they seem" (Buttercup and Captain)
- 15. "The hours creep on apace" (Josephine)
- 16. "Never mind the why and wherefore" (Josephine, Captain and Sir Joseph)
- 17. "Kind Captain, I've important information" (Captain and Dick Deadeye)
- 18. "Carefully on tiptoe stealing" (Soli and Chorus)
- 18a. "Pretty daughter of mine" (Captain and Ensemble) and "He is an Englishman" (Boatswain and Ensemble)
- 19. "Farewell, my own" (Ralph, Josephine, Sir Joseph, Buttercup and Chorus)
- 20. "A many years ago" (Buttercup and Chorus)
- 20a. "Here, take her, sir" (Sir Joseph, Josephine, Ralph, Cousin Hebe and Chorus)
- 21. Finale: "Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen" (Ensemble)
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
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Scenes
Key Terms
A song that uses short stanzas to tell a story about love.
A particular form of a language which is associated with a specific region or social group.
A type of comedy that uses exaggeration, often with clowning and ridiculous behaviors, in order to entertain.
A short and usually humorous opera, generally incorporating more spoken dialogue than traditional opera.
A technique where singers have a lot of text to deliver on very fast notes.
Description of material not protected by copyright law.
A slang term for a sailor that has been used since at least 1676. The term is thought to have originated from the tarpaulins, which were canvas garments and hats made waterproof with tar that sailors wore to protect themselves from the weather.
Relating to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) or a person who lived in the Victorian era.
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