The Pirates of Penzance

Synopsis

1999's show was The Pirates of Penzance. It ran from November 17th 1999 to November 20th. For the first time ever, we sold every ticket before the first night.

The show was originally set around 1875, but for us, the year is 1912 and George V is on the throne. The Titanic is preparing for her maiden voyage as Scott perishes somewhere in the Antarctic and the Floral Dance can be heard in many a parlour in England. In Penzance, aboard a pirate ship, celebrations are underway. Young Frederic, an apprentice pirate, is finally recognised at 21 as a full-blown member of the band.

As winter melts into spring and so to summer, we find the quaint old Cornish town bustling with life. Frederic, having forsaken his piratical past, stumbles upon a "bevy of beautiful maidens", General Stanley's daughters, who are taking a short break at the local hotel. All reject his advances except Mabel with whom he falls in love. Meanwhile, the pirates, who in reality are all "noblemen who have gone wrong", make clear their intention to forcefully marry all the other daughters.

In an attempt to protect them, the Cornish Constabulary is summoned to arrest the pirates. Before long, the police are pursuing the pirates, who in turn are pursuing the Major-General and ultimately his daughters!

Nothing goes as planned. The police prove totally ineffectual, Frederic finds his loyalty divided, the Major-General is under sentence of death and Mabel is broken-hearted. Can a happy ending prevail? We must look to good King George...

The Cast