The Pirates of Penzance
By Gilbert and Sullivan
Season 20-28 November 1991
Venue Belconnen Theatre
TheStory
The operetta opens with a rollicking chorus of pirates elaborating Frederic's Coming Out of His Indentures. When he was a child, his nurse, Ruth was under instructions to apprentice him to a "pilot", but being hard of hearing, she mistakenly apprenticed him a "pirate". Frederic's apprenticeship with the pirates finishes at the age of 21, and once his duty has been fulfilled, he will devote himself to exterminating his former comrades. He invites the Pirate King to repent and mend his ways but the King responds with Oh, Better Far to Live and Die Under the Brave, Black Flag I Fly. Living in the vicinity is Major-General Stanely and his daughters. Frederic asks whether there is not one maiden among them who will rescue him from his unfortunate position. Mabel responds with a beautiful solo Poor Wandering One. Meanwhile her sisters are seized by the pirates who see a First Rate Opportunity to get Married with Impunity.
Mabel warns them Father is a Major General. He pleads for mercy saying he's an orphan, and the pirates cannot resist. The girls urge the policeman led by their sergeant in quest of the pirates and they reluctantly set out to seek Death and Glory.
A paradox appears. Frederic was born on February 29th in a leap year, and therefore is not 21, but only five and a quarter. He tells the pirates that the Major General is not really an orphan. They seek vengeance. The pirates capture the police but the sergeant bids them yield in Queen Victoria's Name. The pirates surrender. The Major General invites them to Take my Daughters all of Whom are Beauties - a truly Gilbertian happy ending.
ProductionTeam
| Director | Jason Savage |
| Musical Director | Pam Connor-Woolcock |
| Production Manager | Kelda McManus |
| Stage Manager | Andrew Richards |
| Assistant Stage Manager | Suzanne Hartshorn |
| Set Design | Jason Savage |
| Costume Design | Suzanne Hartshorn, Amy Weekes, Lyn Liddiard, Andrew McGuire, Nerida Crossley |
| Lighting Design | Andrew Richards |
| Sound Design | Malcolm Tompkins |
Cast
| Mabel | Amy Weekes |
| Frederic | Gareth Millar |
| Major General Stanely | John Stabler |
| Police Sergeant | Richard Niven |
| Pirate King | Lachlan Abrahams |
| Ruth | Margot Reynolds |
| Samuel | Graham Bauerle |
| Edith | Jennifer Stroud |
| Kate | Jenna Haynes |
| Isabel | Amanda King |
| Major General's Daughters | Anne Beard, Felicity Boyd, Rosey Higgins, Pamela Kelly, Debbie Learmonth, Pamela McManus, Kelda McManus, Kate Tricks, Catherine Priddle, Amanda Walshem Deborah Woodyard |
| The Police | John Alsford, Chris Boyldew, Bill Curnow, David Priddle, Philip Russell |
| The Pirates | Mick Bower, Anthony McGlynn, Steven Mottlee, Craig Rossiter, Steve Thatcher, Glen Toohey |
Orchestra
| Violin 1 | Monica Boyton, Timothy Chaston, Heather Shelly, Hannah Sless |
| Violin 2 | Tim Beard, Kate Quilky, Clare Scanlon, Kirsten Pollard, Dimity McClelland, Felicia Trewin, Anne Harlen |
| Viola | Mandy Souters |
| Cello | Olga Howel |
| French Horn | Iain Herdus, Malini Devadas |
| Trumpets | Nicholas Hassanoff, David Hood |
| Trombone | Boud Roukema, Michael Argy |
| Percussion | Barry Pigram, David Tricks |
| Tuba | Peter McDonald |
| Clarinet | Jon Rasalky |
| Flute/Piccolo | Gillian Marshall, Amy Maxwell |
| Oboe | Sandra Holdom |
| Pianist | Jenni Mersiades |