THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Or
The Slave of Duty
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
Scene -- 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.