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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