HMS Pinafore Logo

By W.S. Gilbert & A. Sullivan

 
The Rt. Hon Sir Joseph Porter, KCB (First Lord of
the Admiralty)/Gopher 2		 David Wakeford
Captain Corcoran (Commanding HMS Pinafore) Kevin Morgan
Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) Mike Gaccon
Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) Bernard Gardner
Josephine (The Captain's Daughter) Clare Jones
Prima Donna 1 / Little Buttercup (A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman) Janet Holloway
Bosun Colin Jardine
Bosun John Tomala
Gopher 1 Katherine Pepper
The Director Fiona Thomas
Prima Donna 2 Lorna Jones
Prima Donna 3 Liz Jardine
Carpenter / Pirate King Colin Jardine
Motley Crew Richard Foster, Nigel Holloway, Gary Mulllins, Geoff Hanney
Hebe's Leigh Tomala, Cath Jones, Lorna Jones, Jane Jones, Liz Jardine, Fiona Thomas
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 

Synopsis

High spirits prevail aboard HMS Pinafore but Ralph Rackstraw's mind, however, is on Josephine. He is in love with her even though she is socially unattainable. Unaware of his affection for her, Josephine is in love with Ralph but pride prevents her from revealing this because of his low station. Josephine, meanwhile, is sought in marriage by Sir Joseph Porter whose advances she refuses to acknowledge. Sir Joseph holds strong views about the treatment of sailors. He maintains that a British sailor is any man's equal (excepting his own), and should always be treated with politeness without recourse to bad language or abuse. This inspires Ralph to declare his love to Josephine who soon forgets her price and confesses her true feelings to him. Plans are quickly made to smuggle the couple ashore that night to be married. The only crew member who is not happy at the news is Dick Deadeye. He betrays their intentions to the Captain and they are caught before they can leave the ship. Furious at Ralph's actions, the Captain swears an oath at him which is, unfortunately, overheard by Sir Joseph. He is appalled at such an outburst and turns to Ralph for an explanation. Unfortunately, Ralph only makes matters worse by revealing that he is in love with Josephine. The situation is saved by Little Buttercup who intervenes to confess how, in her youth, she had fostered two babies from opposite ends of the social ladder. In the course of caring for them she had mixed them up. The baby from the poor background was Captain Corcoran and the other was Ralph. Upon hearing this, Sir Joseph immediately loses all interest in Josephine and gladly resigns her to Ralph, now Captain Rackstraw.