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H.M.S. Pinafore ; Or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts. The fourth operatic collaboration between composer Arthur Sullivan and librettist W. S. Gilbert, it premiered at the Opera Comique in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances.
Set aboard the British ship H.M.S. Pinafore, the captain's daughter, Josephine, is in love with sailor, Ralph Rackstraw. Her father intends marrying her to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, however. Josaphine at first abides by her father's wishes but Sir Joseph's advocacy of the equality of humankind encourages Ralph and Josephine to declare their love for each other. The Captain discovers their plan to elope but a surprise disclosure changes things dramatically.
Adaptations
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H. M. S. Pin-A-4
1880
single work
musical theatre
burlesque
humour
A burlesque of the popular British comic opera H. M. S. Pinafore, or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor (1878), Kelly and Leon's version was advertised as having been specially adapted, localised, and 'paraphrased from Gilbert and Sullivan' by permission of J. C. Williamson's. Among the local allusions and topicalities targeted were the Exhibition and members of the Victorian parliament.
- H. M. S. Pin-A-4 in Black Bent and Bachelder’s Anglo-American Christy Minstrels , 1882 single work musical theatre burlesque humour
- H. M. S. Pin-a-4 (In Black) Arthur Seymour Sullivan (composer), 1882 single work musical theatre burlesque humour
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H. M. S. (Hopper Barge) Pin-A-4
Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels
,
F. E. Hiscocks
,
1885
single work
musical theatre
burlesque
humour
A burlesque on Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta H. M. S. Pinafore; Or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor (1878). The Evening News (Sydney) records in its review of the 25 April performance:
The curtain rose on the deck scene from 'Pinafore,' but what a strange contrast with the original. The tars were represented by the typical plantation negro attired in most peculiar naval attire, while Captain 'Cork all o'er 'em' was the bean ideal of a quarter-deck officer, with the exception of his complexion. Considerable licence was taken in localising the opera, but the music incidental to its legitimate rendering was adhered to. The reception of Little Buttertub (Sam Keenan), and the advent of Sir Joseph Hop Bitters, C;M.G., and his sisters and his cousins and his aunts were provocative of much mirth. In the scene where Little Buttertub reveals her secret to the Captain, much amusement was caused by the tragic manner in which she im parted the dread intelligence 'that M'Elbone had purchased the Evening News, and was going to run it himself.' The Admiral was great fun in his love-making with Josephine (H. Carroll). The captain rendered 'Fair Moon to Thee I Sing' in a very pleasing manner; but attention was directed from the singer to the strange and erratic behavior of the moon and the efforts of Little Buttertub to capture it. Altogether the performance was most enjoyable, and from beginning to end was thoroughly appreciated by the audience (27 Aprril 1885, p.3).
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H. E. R. Petticoat
Huxham's Serenaders
,
John N. McCallum
,
1918
single work
musical theatre
revue/revusical
burlesque
humour
Burlesque revusical.
Described in 1918 advertising as an 'H. M. S. Pinafore burlesque' (Brisbane Courier 14 December 1918, p.2) and in 1919 as an 'original and cleverly written burlesque' (Brisbane Courier 3 May 1919, p.7).
Notes
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H.M.S. Pinafore has been staged countless times in Australia since the 1880s. It has also been the subject of burlesque productions.
