Artist: Pirates
of Penzance
Genre: Theater
Background: The Pirates of Penzance, or The
Slave of Duty, is a Gilbert and Sullivan comic operetta in
two acts. Music by Sir Arthur S. Sullivan, libretto by Sir
William S. Gilbert. After the copyright problems associated
with unauthorized performances of HMS Pinafore in the United
States, it was resolved that its first American performance
should follow its first British performance as soon as possible.
Consequently, it was first performed in Paignton, Devon, on
December 30, 1879, then in New York on December 31, 1879.
The New York performance was the first full performance. The
Paignton performance was perfunctory since its purpose was
to establish copyright in the UK; the same cast and crew had
performed Pinafore the previous night, and they carried onto
the stage scripts to read from. The first full performance
in the UK was on April 3, 1880 at the Opera Comique. A fresh
take on one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular comic
operas, this updated version of “The Pirates of Penzance”
took New York by storm when it premiered in Central Park in
1980, leading to a subsequent smash-hit Broadway run.
Wacky, irreverent and as entertaining today as it was when
it first opened in 1879, “The Pirates Of Penzance”
spins an hilarious farce of sentimental pirates, bumbling
policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters and
an eccentric Major-Genrel, all morally bound to the often-ridiculous
dictates of honor and duty.
The beauty, wit and whimsy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s
classic score is suffused with a modern sensibility, making
this “Pirates” an excellent choice for opera and
light opera companies looking to expand their audience base.
The sheer number of memorable roles makes it perfect for community
and school groups. And with production requirements consisting
of only two sets and a medium-sized orchestra, it should be
considered by any company featuring comic actors with excellent
singing voices.
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