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ACT
I
SCENE
-- A rocky seashore on the coast of Cornwall. As the
curtain rises groups of pirates are discovered drinking
and playing cards. Samuel, the Pirate Lieutenant, goes
from one group to another filling the cups. Frederic,
an apprentice pirate, is seated in a despondent attitude.
Ruth kneels at his feet.
With
the closing notes of this chorus, the Pirate King congratulates
his apprentice Frederic on his successful grasp of the
profession of piracy. Frederic replies that he has done
his best for the pirate band simply because it was his
duty, and he is "the slave of duty." He says that, when
he was apprenticed to the pirates, it was entirely through
an error an error that he refuses to divulge because
it would reflect on Ruth.
The
latter, however, tells the story. As a stupid nursery
maid, she had apprenticed Frederic to a pirate instead
of to a pilot. When she has finished this disclosure,
Ruth is comforted by Frederic. He tells the pirates
of the dilemma he is in-for, though loving them all
individually he is such a slave of duty, that as soon
as his apprenticeship is up, he feels that he must devote
himself to the extermination of them as a band.
The
pirates bemoan the fact that they don't seem to be able
to make piracy pay. Frederic says that he knows why,
and the Pirate King reminds him that -- as he is not
free from his indentures till 12 o'clock he must tell
them the fault that he sees. Frederic tells them that
they are too tender hearted with their foes, particularly
when they happen to be orphans. (The pirates themselves
are all orphans.) Thus, the word has gone around, and
everyone they attempt to pillage says that he is an
orphan.
Ruth
comes forward and asks what is to become of her. The
Pirate King says that of course Frederic will take her
with him when he leaves. An amusing argument ensues.
Frederic contends that -- as he has never seen another
woman -- he does not know whether Ruth is good looking
or not. Ruth assures him that she is. As Frederic leans
toward letting her stay with the pirate band, they endeavor
to coax him to take her. Samuel says -- "Yes there are
the remains of a very fine woman about Ruth." She is
handed backward and forward, first to the Pirate King,
then to Frederic, until she finally remains with the
latter. He, in bidding the pirates good-bye, seeks to
have them renounce their trade. The Pirate King refuses.
The
Pirate King, Samuel, and all the pirates except Frederic
and Ruth leave the stage. Ruth begs Frederic to allow
her to stay with him. He questions her regarding her
appearance, asking her to tell him quite frankly whether
or not she is beautiful. She says that she would be
deceiving him if she told him otherwise.
At
this moment a chorus of girls is heard in the distance.
Frederic springs to the top of a rock to see who is
approaching. He sees "by all that's marvelous, a bevy
of beautiful maidens!" Ruth realizes that her deception
has been discovered. Frederic turns upon her bitterly
for lying to him about her pulchritude. He renounces
her, and she leaves in despair. Frederic hides as the
girls approach, singing.
Kate,
Edith, Isabel, and all the other girls who have now
arrived on the scene are entranced with the beauty and
apparent seclusion of this seaside spot. They mention
the fact that their father, because of his age, has
been left far behind.... But Isabel says, "Oh, he will
be here presently."
The
girls now decide to go in wading, and are in the act
of taking off their shoes and stockings, when Frederic
comes forward from the cave. He admits he is a pirate
and none of the girls will marry him to reform him except,
finally, Mabel , daughter of a major-general. Frederic
and Mabel make love, the other girls pretending not
to notice.
The
pirates enter stealthily, and each embraces a girl for
his bride. At this point Major-General Stanley enters,
identifies himself, and protests the union of his daughter
and his wards with a band of pirates. After Major-General
Stanley has introduced himself to the Pirates, he demands
an explanation of what is transpiring. Samuel tells
him that they intend to marry his daughters.
The
General does not recognize their uniform, and is startled
to learn that they are the famous Pirates of Penzance.
He says that he objects to pirates as sons-in-law....
And the Pirate King -- in turn -- retorts that they
object to Major-Generals as fathers-in-law, but they'll
waive the objection.
Then
the Major-General has an idea. He tells the pirates
that he is an orphan, and asks them if they know what
it means to be an orphan. The pirates are much disgusted
seeing their prey slip through their fingers in this
fashion. (They are partial to orphans -- you know --
because they are all orphans themselves.)
There
is an argument between the Pirate King and the General
over a misunderstanding as they confuse the words "often"
and "orphan". Then the Major-General addresses the pirates
explaining the situation in detail, and winning permission
to depart with his wards from the pirates' haven.
ACT
II
A ruined chapel by moonlight on the estate of Major-General
Stanley. Crumbling pillars and arches at the sides.
Ruined Gothic windows at back. General Stanley is discovered
seated pensively at the right, surrounded by his daughters;
presently Mabel and Frederic join them. Mabel asks Frederic
if he cannot in any way comfort her father. Frederic
asks the General why he sits "in this draughty old ruin."
The reply is that he has come to humble himself before
the tombs of his ancestors in atonement for the lie
he told the pirates -- for he is not an orphan.
Frederic
reminds him that he only just purchased this estate,
wondering how he can refer to those buried on it as
"his ancestors." The General answers that he does not
know whose ancestors they are, but that he feels he
is their descendant "by purchase." Frederic endeavors
to console him, but is unsuccessful.
The
General learns that Frederic will lead an expedition
against the pirates at eleven o'clock that night. He
inquires if Frederic's followers have arrived.... And
the latter replies -- "They are; they only await my
orders." So, the General expresses the desire to give
them his blessing, but even in spite of it, they show
great reluctance to leave. Mabel tears herself from
Frederic and departs, followed by her sisters, who try
to console her. The General follows the police.
Frederic
remains alone and sits musing on his fate until interrupted
by the appearance of the Pirate King and Ruth at a window.
Instead of shooting him they explain that he is still
bound to them, because having been born on February
29, he has only served five, and not twenty-one years
of his contract -- counting only birthdays, of course.
This situation seems to amuse all three to an extraordinary
degree. Frederic exclaims that, on that basis, he must
go with them . . . for "at any cost, I will do my duty."
Then,
he is suddenly reminded that as a member of the pirate
band, he must now divulge the truth about General Stanley.
So he tells the Pirate King that the General only used
the orphan story as a ruse to save himself
and his daughters. . . . "General Stanley is no orphan,"
he says. "More than that, he never was one!" Upon this
disclosure the Pirate King announces that his vengeance
on General Stanley will be swift and sure. He and his
pirates will attack the General's castle that very night.
Frederic tries to plead with him -- but in vain.
Ruth
and the Pirate King depart, and Mabel enters, finding
Frederic alone. He is determined to rejoin the pirates,
and despite her pleading, says farewell after promising
to return for her in 1940, if he lives. Mabel, left
alone, decides to be as dutiful as her lover and she
addresses the Sergeant of police telling him how Frederic,
who was to have led the police against the pirates,
has once more joined his old associates. She says that
she loves him all the more for his heroic sacrifice
to duty. But, he has made himself her foe . . . so she
will do her duty, and regard him in that light.
She bids the police do theirs . . . and departs. The
policemen do not understand the situation. But, their
"course is clear." They must capture the pirates. The
Sergeant bemoans their daily task of depriving erring
fellow-creatures of liberty.
The
Pirates are heard approaching, singing gaily, and the
police conceal themselves. Frederic peers through a
keyhole at the General, who evidently suspects something
is afoot. Mabel and all the general's daughters enter
curious to know why he is up so late.
The
Pirates and police struggle, the former winning. The
General is promised swift death for his "orphan" lie,
but when it is disclosed that the Pirates themselves
are not orphans but noblemen gone wrong, everyone forgives
everyone else and the ex-pirates win the girls after
all.
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