Enjoy Light Comedy Opera With The Pirates of Penzance
One of the most frequently played Gilbert and Sullivan opera’s is The Pirates of Penzance, a light comedy opera. In December 1879, the show had its official premiere in the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York. It was an immediate hit. The very first London production was shown on the 3rd April 1880 in the Opera Comique. Since then there have been countless modernised productions.
Within the cast you will find hopelessly good hearted pirates, pretty maidens and a team of useless but lovely policemen. Throughout the plot, a sequence of daft mistakes take place , turning lives upside down.
The chief part of the plot is a young man called Frederic, is 21 and a rather reluctant apprentice pirate due to a hard of hearing nursemaid called Ruth. On his 21st Birthday, Frederic is standing, drinking sherry with the Pirates, when he shocks them by announcing that he plans to leave. The maid Ruth, joins in to explain that as Frederic’s former nursemaid she was instructed to set up an apprenticeship with a ships pilot, but because of her partial hearing, thought she heard pirate.
Frederic appeals to the pirate king and his crew to leave with him to pursue a more decent life, however he is not successful. Frederic offers some advice to his pirate comrades to help them avoid regularly getting thrashed and achieve a little more success in their ventures. As orphans themselves, the pirates have a particular soft spot for other orphans and tend to release anyone who claims to be one. Frederic points out that this is why nearly everyone they capture claims that they are an orphan.
Ruth is desperate to wed Frederic and once they leave, she manages to convince Frederic that she is extremely beautiful in comparison to other women. Having no other woman to compare her with, Frederic totally believes her. Ruth’s lie does not last long because a group of beautiful young maidens suddenly appear. Frederic turns to Ruth and says “You told me you were fair as gold and now I see you’re plain and old.” In complete desperation, Ruth leaves. When Frederic approaches the maidens to warn them that there are a number of pirates close by, he immediately falls in love with a girl named Mabel.
At this point, Ruth and the pirate king return to tell Frederic that he has not completed his apprenticeship and must return They tell Frederic that he is not technically 21 yet because he was born on February the 29th and only has a real birthday each leap year. So his apprenticeship is not finished. So Frederic has to stay with the pirates for another 63 years ! This is devastating news for Frederic. But he has a very strong sense of duty which makes him believe he has no choice but to return. Mabel who is smitten, promises that she will wait for him!
The Pirates of Penzance is a fantastic classic. It remains as popular with audiences today as it was a century ago.
Venton Vean is a newly restored Bed and Breakfast Penzance situated in the Penzance Conservation Area, overlooking Penlee Park and located just minutes’ walk from the seafront and town centre. With eclectically furnished bedrooms combining period features with modern art and design, together with a passion for good food, we aim to offer you a unique, comfortable and relaxing stay. Penzance Bed and Breakfast.