H.M.S. Pinafore
or
“The Lass that Loved a Sailor”
Libretto by W.S. Gilbert
Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan
First performed May 28, 1878
Opera Comique, London
CAST
(in order of appearance)
Tom Tucker, Midshipmite Jonathan Holley
Little Buttercup, A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman Melanie Austin Crump *
Priscilla Jane Smith +
Emily Laurel Boone (cover)
Bill Bobstay, Boatswain’s Mate Benjamin Lee *
Jesse Darden +
Ralph Rackstraw, Able Seaman Daniel Ross Hinson *
Ryan Deal +
Dick Deadeye, Able Seaman Neal Sharpe *
John Bennett +
Captain Corcoran, Commander of H.M.S. Pinafore Ted Federle
Josephine, The Captain’s Daughter Julia Snyder *
Jessica E. Tarter +
The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. Robert Wells
First Lord of the Admiralty John Bennett (cover)
Cousin Hebe, Sir Joseph’s First Cousin Amber Norris *
Caroline Miller +
Bob Becket, Carpenter’s mate Hayden Cedric Dawes *
Timothy W. Cook +
*performing 11/18 and 11/20
+performing 11/19
Ensemble of Sailors and Sir Joseph’s Sisters, Cousins and Aunts
Emily Boone Dena Fauske Priscilla Jane Smith Hayden Dawes
Jessica Cates Jessica Glime Stephenie Sanders Ryan Deal
Emily Caudle Sarah Hotchkiss Ellen Swanson Logan Haggard
Cathy Crotty Allison Kokkeler Lila Yasin Daniel Hinson
Melanie Crump Lindsey McConville John Bennett Chris Juengel
Elizabeth Davis Caroline Miller Jonathan Blalock Benjamin Lee
Gwendolyn Degentesh Amber Norris David Blalock James McClure
Meghan Dunham Rebecca Perkinson Timothy Cook Neal Sharpe
Hope Fairchild Rachel Roberts Jesse Darden
ARGUMENT
Some time before Act I opens, Ralph has fallen in love with Josephine, the daughter of his
commanding officer, Captain Corcoran. Likewise, Little Buttercup, a buxom peddler-woman,
has fallen in love with the Captain himself. Class pride, however, stands in the way of the
natural inclinations of both the Corcorans to reciprocate Ralph's and Buttercup's affections.
The Captain has, in fact, been arranging a marriage between his daughter and Sir Joseph
Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty, who is of the social class above even the Corcorans.
When Act I opens, the sailors are merrily preparing the ship for Sir Joseph's inspection. The
generally happy atmosphere on deck is marred only by Little Buttercup's hints of a dark
secret she is hiding, by the misanthropic grumbling of Dick Deadeye, and by the love-lorn
plaints of Ralph and Josephine. Sir Joseph appears, attended by a train of ladies (his
relatives, who always follow him wherever he goes) .He explains how he became Lord of
the Admiralty and examines the crew, patronizingly encouraging them to feel that they are
everyone's equal, except his. Like the Captain, he is very punctilious, demanding polite
diction among the sailors at all times.
Josephine finds him insufferable; and, when Ralph again pleads his suit and finally
threatens suicide, she agrees to elope. The act ends with the general rejoicing of the sailors
at Ralph's success; only Dick Deadeye croaks his warning that their hopes will be
frustrated.
Act II opens with the captain in despair at the demoralization of his crew and the coldness
of his daughter toward Sir Joseph. Little Buttercup tries to comfort him, and prophesies a
change in store. But Sir Joseph soon appears and tells the Captain that Josephine has
thoroughly discouraged him in his suit. The Captain suggests that perhaps his daughter
feels herself inferior in social rank to Sir Joseph, and urges him to assure her that inequality
of social rank should not be considered a barrier to marriage. This Sir Joseph does, not
realizing that his words are as applicable to Josephine in relation to Ralph as they are to
himself in relation to Josephine. He thinks that she accepts him, whereas actually she is
reaffirming her acceptance of Ralph, and they all join in a happy song.
Meanwhile Dick Deadeye has made his way to the Captain, and informs him of the planned
elopement of his daughter with Ralph. The Captain thereupon intercepts the elopers; and,
when he learns that Josephine was actually running away to marry Ralph, he is so
incensed that he loses his temper. Unfortunately, Sir Joseph and his relatives hear him
and are horrified; Sir Joseph sends him to his cabin in disgrace. But when Sir Joseph also
learns from Ralph that Josephine was eloping, he angrily orders Ralph put in irons.
Little Buttercup now comes out with her secret, which solves the whole difficulty: she
confesses that many years ago she had charge of nursing and bringing up Ralph and the
Captain when they were babies. Inadvertently, she got them mixed up; so the one who now
was Ralph really should be the Captain, and the one now the Captain should be Ralph.
This error is immediately rectified. The sudden reversal in the social status of Ralph and the
Corcorans removes Sir Joseph as a suitor for Josephine's hand and permits her to marry
Ralph, and her father to marry Buttercup. Sir Joseph resigns himself to marrying his cousin,
Hebe.
-- G.Schirmer, Inc.
ORCHESTRA
David Holley, Conductor
Violin
Jane York, Concertmistress
Frédéric St.-Pierre
Viola
Noah Hock
Cello
Brian Hodges
Bass
Paul Quast
Flute
Tika Douthit
Oboe
Thomas Pappas
Clarinet
Shawn Copeland
Percussion
Braxton Sherouse
Orchestration by Edmond Rickett, used by permission from G. Schirmer, Inc., copyright owner
*****************************************************************
The UNCG Opera Theatre would like to thank the following, without whom this production would
not have been possible:
Dr. John J. Deal Noah Hock Blondie Johnson
Gail Adams Ella Thompson Amy Moore
Chris English Becky Cates Cort McClaren
Jan Hullihan Nathan Olawsky Kathleen McGirty
Steve Gilliam Dianna Carter Neal Thacker
Brian Fuller Richard Whittington Eve Hubbard
Jane York Wyndell Earles First Baptist Church
Jeff Neubauer Jody Cauthen Vic Sutton
Dr. John Locke David Barnwell HBD, Inc.
Greensboro Opera Juanita Dunlap Jerry Kidd
Jim Corkhill Laura Holley Deborah Bell
UNCG Voice Faculty Tiffany Edwards Noah Davis
Kelly McGavock LaVonne McGavock Laurie Willis
Jeff Gillis Chip Haas
Emergency Exit Information & Concert Etiquette
Patrons are encouraged to take note of exits located on all levels of the auditorium. In an
emergency, please use the nearest exit, which may be behind you or different from the one
which you entered. Please turn off all cellular phones, pagers, and alarm watches. As a
courtesy to other audience members and to the performers, please wait for a break in the
performance to enter or exit the hall
The use of cameras or any other recording device is strictly prohibited.
PRODUCTION STAFF
Producer/Stage Director/Choreographer David Holley
Chorus Master Michael Dougherty
Repetiteurs Yong Im Lee, Stephanie Elkins
Production Stage Manager Carly Price
Production Manager for Aycock Auditorium Jan Hullihan
Publicity Artwork David Stanley
Lighting Designer Erin Stevie
Assistant Lighting Designer Cana Gyongyos
Light Board Operators Gini Benson
Logan West
Scene Designer David Holley
Scenery Technical Director Brian Fuller
Scenery Construction Greensboro Scene Shop
under the auspices of Triad Stage
Properties Mistress Carly Price
Deck Crew Michael Ferguson
Russel Hill
Beth Hurley
Cat Keen
Krista Miller
Sarah Post
Jenifer Root
Brian Summers
Jimmy Tschupp
Tim Voorhees
Lorin Williams
Flyrail Operators Chris Carey
Kyle Harrington
Costumes Eastern Costume Company
Make-up Supervisor Jennifer Baker
Wigs/Facial Hair Trent Pcenicni
Sound Engineers Ben King
Matti Martin
Opera Theatre Graduate Assistants Ted Federle, James McClure
Program Typesetting and Printing Noah Hock
Program Copy James McClure, David Holley
Supertitles Ted Federle, David Holley
Supertitle Operator Stephanie Elkins
Upcoming Greensboro operatic events:
Join with the Greensboro Opera
to witness TV’s first reality opera!
The Will
(based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi)
A rich, old man dies…how did he die? Was he killed?
The relatives fight over his estate. What did he leave to them as their inheritance?
No one knows.
Until they discover…
The Will
March 1 & 2, 2006
Carolina Theatre
Call (336) 273-9472 for tickets!!
********************************************
The UNCG Opera Theater presents:
Aaron Copland’s
The Tender Land
March 29-30 & April 2, 2006
Aycock Auditorium
Co-produced with the UNCG Theatre
Visit our website at: http://opera.uncg.edu
Lobby artwork and program cover of Robert Wells and Ted Federle by
David Stanley
Illustrations
www.davidkstanley.com
