The Pirates of Penzance

The Pirates of Penzance is a comic opera in two acts by W.S. Gilbert (1836–1911)[1] and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)[2]

While the full title is The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty, it is best known by the shorter title. (Also referred to at times simply as Pirates of Penzance)

The original text

The opera's had its official premiere at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, on 31 December 1879 and then made its debut at the Opera Comique in London on 3 April 1880, running for 363 performances.

One of the most frequently played Gilbert and Sullivan operas, it has been a staple piece for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in Britain, it has been frequently played by opera companies and repertory companies worldwide, including the Joseph Papp's award-winning 1981 Broadway production and a 1983 film adaptation.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

19th century productions

1870s: Apparently performed by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal, Burg Street, Cape Town, during his sojourn there.

1887: Performed by the Searelle Opera Company under the auspices of the Wheeler Company, as part of the large repertoire of operatic works, at the Opera House Cape Town over the course of nearly 8 months.

1880s/1890s(?): Performed by Amos Bailey and the Woodstock Amateur Operatic Society, Cape Town, as their first production in an improvised theatre in a small school room in Woodstock. Directed by Bailey, with miss J. Robb as pianist and Mr C. Cock as conductor, with a cast that included Jessy Greenshields (as "Mabel"), Frank Robb (as "Major-Genral Stanley"), Amos Bailey (as "the "Pirate King"), A. Bennett ("Frederic") and W. Robb (as "Sergeant of Police").

20th century productions

While the opera has been done by a number of professional companies over the years, it has largely been a standard item in the repertoires of the various Gilbert and Sullivan societies in South Africa over the course of the 20th century, and into the 21st.

For example it is listed among the productions of the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society for the years 1932, 1934, 1941, 1952, 1963, 1987 and 2013, and for the Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society in 1952, 1955, 1960, 1967, 1972, 1976, 1983, 1991, 1999 and 2005.

More detailed information on specific 20th century productions

1983: A Cape Town Gilbert and Sullivan Society production was directed by Helen Houghton at the Baxter Theatre, with Cliff Downey, Peter Kramer, Ted Faulkner, Henry Lankester, Graham Boxall, Aletta Loopuyt, Lesley Jennings, Estelle Aucamp, Cindy Nixon and Elaine Berkman.

21st century productions

2011-2012: A pocket version of the musical was directed by Greg Homann and presented by Daphne Kuhn at the Theatre on the Square. The 2012 cast consisted of Michael Richard, Jonathan Taylor, Clinton Hawks, David Dennis, and Keaton Ditchfield , with choreography by Shelley Adriaanzen, musical direction by Kevin Kraak.

2013: Performed by the Port Elizabeth Gilbert & Sullivan Society, directed by Rose Cowpar.

2015: Produced by The Waterfront Theatre Company in association with Artscape June 3rd to June 6th. Directed by Paul Griffiths with a large ensemble cast with leading roles being shared by Megan Spencer and Jocelyn Roskilly as "Mabel Stanley", Dirk Joubert and Dean De Klerk as "Frederick". Also featured are Ryan Arnold, Jules Stols, Thembilihle Benenengu and Nathan Kruger. Musical direction by Jaco Griessel, set design by Deon Bischoff and costumes by Delia Sainsbury.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pirates_of_Penzance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._S._Gilbert

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Sullivan

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.203-205

Go to ESAT Bibliography