Actorsingers The Pirates of Penzance 2000 May 5-7 Edmund M. Keefe Auditorium Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan Words by W. S. Gilbert Photos on the web Tom Gallo's photos Links for <i> The Pirates of Penzance </i> Pirates of Penzance page at the G & S Archive Pirates of Penzance Web Opera Other Related Links The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive Honor Society of Leap Day Babies Greg Tarsa Laurence Weissbrot Joshua Friedman Jay Lawrence Alfa Bishop Patricia Lawrence Cindy Fisher Elizabeth Perrin Glen Grimard Scott Carta , Bill Cote Sr. , Steven Damboise , Robert C. Haas , John Kenyon , Bill Mauser , Paul Metzger , Wim Prest , Bryan Williams Jeff Bernard , Bob DeGange , Charles M. Emmons , Jonathan Fisher , Dave Fordyce , Jon S. Jaques , Daniel Ouellette , Warren Small Alene Bonner , Michele Bossie , Lorraine E. Cote , Michelle Emmond , Martha Daniels Holland , Sandra Jessop , Anne E. Tremblay , Diana Wirzburger [as Queen Victoria] Ed Wall Betty Stewart , Tom Benson , Dwight Breen , Matthew Demeusy , Anne Egan , Martha Jaffe , Stephanie Pyle , Lee Story Roger Hall Ashley Carlson Gary Hodges, Andrew Demeusy A. Joseph Soucy Diane Fallier, Gillian Hinkle Diane Veloso Suellen Davidson, Sandy Stickney Antonio Figueiredo Deb Walz , Craig Neth Jean Butler , Trishadee Newlin Michael Steadman , Tom Jarvis Steve Tamulonis Kathy Lovering Jared Holland Donna O'Bryant Charles M. Emmons Martha Daniels Holland Robert Haas Deb Walz Lorraine Cote John Liljeberg , Betty Badeau Bernadette Boardman , Barbara Webb , Assisted by the Cast & Crew Jay Lawrence , Pat Lawrence , Bernadette Boardman Laurie Chadbourne Carol Courage , Janet Christie , Emily Lovering , Madeline Lovering Amy Friedman , Martha Daniels Holland , Gary Locke , Tricia Baker , Pat Lawrence Tom Gallo , Bill Koczarski , Glen Grimard , Jeff Bernard Barbara Webb (chair), Amy Friedman , Jim Ravan , Jared Holland , Kathy Meehan , Kathy Lovering , Donna O'Bryant Kerry Schneider , Linnea McAllister Dan Pelletier Greg Tarsa Denis Brunelle , Tricia Baker , Beth Fenske , Sandy Brunelle The producers also wish to thank all those whose names were inadvertantly omitted or were submitted too late for inclusion in the program. Craig Brennan , Bob Lovering Craig Brennan Larry Doiron , Ron Carbary , Louis Duhamel , Rich Lemoine Traci Bisaillon , Dave Jedlinsky , Ruth Jedlinsky , Craig Brennan , Tara Prairie Barb Asketh Dennis Schneider Kevin Lawler , Barbara Lawler Ellie Morrill , Dave Kasok , Tom Ritrovato , Aaron Ritrovato , Doug Clougher , John McAllister , Joe Flores , Josh Friedman , Bob Frasca , Matt Frasca , Catherine Andruskevich Margaret Tamulonis Raelene Liljeberg , Michelle Laplante , Denise Miles , Alene Bonner , Pam Gilpatrick , Ellie Morrill , Lorraine Cote , Barbara Webb , Elizabeth Strycharz , and Daughters of the Major-General Bonnie Spooner , JoAnn Duhamel , Kathy Meehan Marilyn Arseneau , Jon Fisher

The production opens on the ship of the Pirates of Penzance. They are chanting "Pour, O Pour the Pirate Sherry" as they drink to their young apprentice, Frederic, who has attained the age of 21. He can now be a full-fledged pirate, but plans to leave piracy now that the terms of his indenture are fulfilled. We learn from his nurse, Ruth, that Frederic's contract with the Pirates all came from a misunderstanding. In "When Frederic Was a Little Lad," Ruth reveals that Frederic was supposed to have been apprenticed to a ship's pilot, but because she didn't hear correctly, she set the young lad up to be a pirate!

Frederic loathed the trade to which he had been bound, but he dutifully served as he is the SLAVE OF DUTY. Now that his indentures are up, he prepares to leave his friends and devote himself to their extermination. The Pirate King asks Frederic why his band cannot make a profit from piracy. He explains their problem is that they are too tenderhearted; they release everyone they capture who says he is an orphan, as they are all orphans themselves. He urges the pirates to join him and take on a more lawful calling, but in "Oh Better Far to Live and Die," they declare their loyalty to their beloved trade.

Ruth is told she will accompany Frederic. This delights her as she wishes to become his wife! Frederic, who has not seen a woman since age 8, questions Ruth's beauty. She convinces him that she is beautiful... until Frederic spies a group of beautiful young women who happen along. Frederic renounces Ruth and sends her away in "Oh, False One, You Have Deceived Me!" He then hides as the girls approach.

The girls frolic onto the beach singing, "Climbing Over Rocky Mountain." As they begin to remove their shoes, Frederic feels compelled to make his presence known as he sings "Stop, Ladies Pray!" He admits he is a former pirate and asks if any of them will marry him in "Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast?" The girls flatly refuse, but their sister Mabel enters and pities him in "Poor Wandering One!" As Mabel and Frederic go off to discuss marriage, the rest of the daughters ask "What Ought We To Do?" To busy themselves and not bother Frederic and Mabel, they decide to talk about the weather as they sing "How Beautifully Blue the Sky."

Soon, the pirates are heard and Frederic tells the girls, "Stay, We Must Not Lose Our Senses," but their attempts to escape are unsuccessful. The pirates capture the girls and claim them for their wives. Mabel protests, "Hold Monsters!" and informs them that they are wards of Major-General Stanley, who appears about that time. The Major-General explains, "I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major-General." The Pirate King informs Stanley of the pending marriages, but the girls exclaim that the famous Pirates of Penzance are coercing them against their wishes. Thinking quickly, Stanley lies to the pirates that he is an orphan so the pirates have no choice but to free them all. In "Oh Men of Dark and Dismal Fate," Stanley sends the pirates off, and Frederic and Mabel announce their plan to wed.

As Act II opens, we find General Stanley in the courtyard of his Tremorden Castle, being comforted by his daughters as they sing "Oh Dry The Glistening Tear." Stanley is in deep mental anguish at having lied to the pirates about being an orphan. When Frederic arrives, Stanley complains he has betrayed the honor of his ancestors. Frederic reminds him that he bought the estate from another family, but Stanley feels that when he bought the estate, he also bought the ancestors! Frederic brings relief to the old man when he outlines his plans to attack the pirates that night, with the assistance of the local police. Stanley wishes good luck as he sings, "Then, Frederic, Let Your Escort Lion-Hearted." The bumbling band of police enter, singing, "When the Foeman Bares His Steel," and in a counter-melody, the daughters remind them that they will meet a certain doom once they face the pirates.

Frederic sings "Now For the Pirate's Lair" as he readies himself to do battle against his former associates. Suddenly, Ruth and the Pirate King appear. As they sing "When You Had Left Our Pirate Fold," they inform Frederic he is still bound to his contract with them, due to a detail. Frederic was born on the 29th of February in a leap year and therefore has only had 5 1/4 BIRTHDAYS instead of the 21 required by his apprentice contract. Bound to his sense of duty, Frederic is forced to rejoin the pirates. He discloses to the Pirate King that General Stanley lied about being an orphan. He declares he will gather his pirates and invade the General's castle that night as they sing, "Away, Away! My Heart's On Fire."

Frederic now has to tell his dear Mabel of the dramatic change of plans. She tells him "All Is Prepared" for his fight against the pirates. Frederic explains that because of his honor, he must side with the pirates. She tries to talk him out of the attack singing "Stay, Frederic Stay!" He asks Mabel to remain true to him until he is finally out of his indentures (about 63 years in the future!) when they can wed. She agrees to be true to him until they are wed - and even after!

As Frederic leaves, Mabel insists "No, I Am Brave!" to the policemen who have returned. She informs them that Frederic will not be able to lead their attack as he has allied himself with the pirates again. The police sing, "When a Felon's Not Engaged In His Employment," to describe the woes of their constabulary duty.

Off in the distance, the police hear the pirates approaching, singing, "A Rollicking Band of Pirates We." The policemen decide that their best course of action is... to hide! The pirates describe how they plan to sneak up on the General and burglarize his home in "With Cat-Like Tread, Upon Our Prey We Steal." The General awakens, having heard a sound. Frederic sings to his band, "Hush, Hush! Not a Word" as the old man comes into the courtyard.

The General sings "Sighing Softly to the River" as the pirates pursue him, and the police pursue them in turn. The General's daughters also arrive, wondering where their father is. At this point, a short battle ensues which the pirates win. General Stanley is captured and is set to be executed... until events turn!

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