Lyrics
by William Schwenck Gilbert Directed by
Robert Boland
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| H M S Pinafore by Gilbert
and Sullivan is a comic opera in two acts. It was
first produced at the Opera Comique in London on May 28,
1878. The first American performance in New York on 1878
was unauthorized. The first official American roduction
took place in November 1897 at the Boston Museum. HMS Pinafore sprang to instant popularity in the United States and its popularity is well deserved for it contains some of Gilbert's most clever sallies of wit and some of Sullivan's most charming melodies. The satire on matters nautical in England during victorian days and the parody of "sea music" can be as well appreciated and enjoyed now as ever. The action takes place in 1878. ACT I His Majesty's Ship, "Pinafore," is anchored in the harbor at Portsmouth, England. The sailors are getting ready for the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. Little Buttercup, a bumboat woman, comes aboard with a stock of "snuff and tobaccy and excellent jacky," not to mention "excellent peppermint drops." A handsome young sailor, Ralph, is in love with the Captain's daughter, Josephine. She, however, is to be betrothed to Sir Joseph Porter, who arrives attended by "his sisters and his cousins and his aunts." Ralph and Josephine plan to elope with the assistance of the crew. The plot is overheard by Dick Deadeye, the lugubrious boatswain. ACT II Little Buttercup comes to Captain Corcoran and reveals her affection. He tells her that because of his rank he can only be her friend. She hints darkly that a change is in store for him, saying that "things are seldom what they seem." Sir Joseph returns, complaining that Josephine does not favor his suit. The Captain comforts him by averring that she is awed by his lofty station and suggests that he plead his cause on the ground that love levels all rank. Still Josephine does not respond, for her heart is set upon Ralph. Dick Deadeye reveals the elopement plan, and he and the Captain lie in wait for the crew, "carefully on tip-toe stealing." The elopers are captured, and the Captain is so exasperated that he actually swears, using a "big, big D" which is overheard by Sir Joseph Porter. For this serious breach of morals, a horrible example of depravity before the whole crew, the Captain is ordered to his cabin. Affairs are interrupted by Little Buttercup, who discloses a secret, telling how the Captain and Ralph had been accidental]y exchanged while they were both babies. Whereupon, Sir Joseph, with true Gilbertian logic, sends for Ralph and makes him Captain, and at the same time reduces Corcoran to Ralph's former humble grade of "able seaman." Now, since it is out of the question for one of Sir Joseph's exalted station to marry the daughter of a mere seaman, his Lordship nobly consents to the marriage of Ralph and Josephine. The erstwhile Captain consoles himself with Little Buttercup.
This production will use the Main Stage Theater Seating Layout.
Production DatesFriday September 29th
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Poster from 1968 BCC
Production of HMS Pinafore
(BCC was then located in
the old Pittsfield Central High School building)
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HMS Pinaforeset
construction in the Scenic Shop
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HMS Pinafore : Set Design
blueprints & painting
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HMS Pinafore : Curtain
Open Design
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HMS Pinafore : Down by the
Docks : Buttercup's Shop Design
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HMS Pinafore : Captain's
Quarters
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HMS Pinafore : Life Boat
Design
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HMS Pinafore : Sir
Joseph's Greeting Banner Design
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HMS Pinafore : Main Deck
Initial Design
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HMS Pinafore : Main Deck
Final Design
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HMS Pinafore : Ship
Painting
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Sir Joseph Porter K
C B
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Opening Curtain
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Buttercup : "I've
ribbons and laces to set off the faces
Of pretty young
sweethearts and wives"
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Dick Deadeye : "From
such a face and form as mine the noblest sentiments sound
like the black utterances of a depraved imagination. It
is human nature -- I am resigned."
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Ralph : "A maiden
fair to see,
The pearl of
minstrelsy,
A bud of blushing
beauty."
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Ralph : "Oh, pity,
pity me --
Our captain's
daughter she,
And I that lowly
suitor!"
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Ralph : "For a man is
but a man, whether he hoist his flag at the main-truck or
his slacks on the main-deck."
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Captain : Yes, Little
Buttercup, I'm sad and sorry --
My daughter, Josephine,
the fairest flower
That ever blossomed o
ancestral timber,
Is sought in marriage by
Sir Joseph Porter,
Our Admiralty's First
Lord, but for some reason
She does not seem to
tackle kindly to it."
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Josephine : "Sorry
her lot who loves too well,
Heavy the heart that hopes
but vainly."
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Josephine : "Heavy
the sorrow that bows the head
When love is alive and
hope is dead!"
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Sailors : "Ladies who
can smile so brightly,
Sailors welcome most
politely."
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Sir Joseph : "I am
the monarch of the sea,
The ruler of the Queen's
Navee,
Whose praise Great britain
loudly chants."
Cousin Hebe : "And we
are his sisters, and his cousins, and his aunts!"
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Sir Joseph : "And I
never thought of thinking for myself at all.
I thought so little, they
rewarded me
By making me the Ruler of
the Queen's Navee!"
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Sir Joseph : "Can you
dance a hornpipe?"
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Boatswain Mate : "If
what, your honour?"
Captain : "If you
please!"
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Chorus : "His bosom
should heave and his heart should glow, And his fist be
ever ready for a knock-down blow."
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Ralph : "I love you
desperatly, my life is in your hand -- I lay it at your
feet."
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Ralph : "She laughs
my love to scorn, Yet I adore her!"
Josephine : "Refrain,
audacious tar, Remember what you are"
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All : "Oh joy, oh
rapture unforeseen,
For now the sky is all
serene."
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Dick Deadeye : "He
thinks he's won his Josephine."
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All : "This very
night,
With bated breath
And muffled oar --
Without a light,
As still as death,
We'll steal ashore
A cleargyman
Shall make them one."
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All : "Let's give
three cheers for the sailor's bride
Who casts all thought of
rank aside --
Who gives up home and
fortune too
For the honest love of a
sailor true!"
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Captain : "Fair moon,
to thee I sing"
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Captain : "For
you are staunch to me."
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Sir Joseph :
"Captain Corcoran, I am much disappointed with your
daughter. In fact, I don't think she will do."
Cousin Hebe : "I
don't think she will do."
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Josephine : "And yet
he is so wondrous fair
That love for one so
passing rare"
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Sir Joseph : "I
desire to convey to you officially my opinion that love
is a platform upon which all ranks meet."
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Sir Joseph : "Love
can level ranks, and therefore,
Through your nautical
relation
In my set could scarcely
pass --
Though you occupy a
station
In the lower middle
class"
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Josephine :
"Love can level ranks, and therefore,
I admit the jurisdiction;
Ably have you played your
part;
You have carried firm
conviction
To my hesitatin
heart."
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Ralph / Josephine :
"I/He humble, poor, and lowly born"
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Boatswain : "That he
is an Englishman!"
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All : "That he is an
Englishman."
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Buttercup : "I
mixed those children up,
And not a creature knew
it!"
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Queen Victoria : "Am
I to understand that Captain Corcoran and Ralph were
exchanged in childhood's happy hour -- that Ralph is
really the Captain and the Captain is Ralph?"
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Sir Joseph : "So it
seems that you were Ralph, and Ralph was you?"
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Ralph &
Josephine : "Oh bliss, Oh rapture!"
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Cousin Hebe : "While
I live I'll not desert you."
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Sir Joseph : "And
when I've married thee I'll be true to the devotion that
my love implants."
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Josephine & Ralph :
"Oh bliss, Oh rapture!"
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Buttercup :
"For he loves Little Buttercup"
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All : "For he is an Englishman"
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All : "Then give
three cheers,and one cheer more
For the former Captain of
the Pinafore."
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Finale ALL :
"And he himself hath said it,
And it's greatly to his
credit
That he is an
Englishman!"
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Page
All productions are at Berkshire
Community College's Koussevitzky Arts Center
Robert Boland Theater at 8:00 PM
Berkshire Community College is located at 1350 West
Street in Pittsfield
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reservations : 
Mailing Address
Town Players of Pittsfield, Inc.
P.O. BOX 765
Pittsfield, MA 01202-0765
townplayers@email.com
Phone Number : (413) 443-9279
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Town Players of Pittsfield, 2000
by David A. O'Connor ,
Cheshire Productions, Pittsfield, MA.
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TP-FALL.HTM :
2000-2001 Season 
