Gilbert & Sullivan's
H.M.S. Pinafore

Jan. 16, 17, 23 & 24, 1987 at 8pm
Jan. 18 at 3pm

Directed by Marion Scodari
Music Directed by Barry Morley

Performed at
The F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
Rockville, MD

Dedicated in loving memory to our dear friend and colleague Fred Houghteling.

Cast

The RT. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B., First Lord of the Admiralty -         John Perine
Captain Corcoran, Commander of the H.M.S. Pinafore - Robert Kimball
Ralph Rackstraw, Able Seaman - David Jackson
Dick Deadeye, Able Seaman - Andrew Margrave
Bill Bobstay, Boatswain's Mate - David Berkenbilt
Bob Beckett, Carpenter's Mate - Steve Riedesel
Josephine, The Captain's Daughter - Laura Leach
Cousin Hebe, Sir Joseph's Cousin - Shirley Santilhano
Mrs. Cripps, Little Buttercup, A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman -                 Rosalie Santilhano
Tom Tucker, The Midshipmite - Alec Carlstrom

First Lord's Sisters, Cousins, Aunts & Sailors -
        Donna Adler, Darlene Allen, Donna Bradshaw, Ruth Burdette,
        Bill Curtis, Marsha Diakova, Fran Fleming, Barry Grinnell,
        Patricia Hintze, Lyle Jaffe, Mike Kostrzewa, Helene Kram,
        Penny Luborsky, Gary Pricer, Robert Rusk, Ellen Sherfey,
        Jenny Tapper, H. Erik Wellford, Lou Wiot.

Orchestra

Violin - Bonnie Barrows, Julia Bruggemann, Carolyn Larson, Ken Tatum,             Catherine Thompson
Viola - Stefanie Aschmann, Steve Jasper, Hubert Lin
Cello - Jennifer Binkes, Sol Feldman, Robert Martin
Bass - David Ross, Sarah Timko
Oboe - Jennifer Porter
Bassoon -  Celia Shultz
Flute - Buzzy Hill, Paulene Summers
Clarinet - Miriam Christy, Gene Sober
Cornet - Andy Leech, Bernie Rappaport
French Horn - Carol Baxter, John Patton, Ellen Rogers
Trombone - John Hohmann, Earl Zastrow
Percussion - Tom Christy, Bonnie Hilditch

Production Staff

Producer -  Ed Wiot
Set Design - David Jackson
Costume Design - Mary Sue Merritt, Laura Hubbard, Lee Ann Cain
Lighting Design - Nicholas Martin
Choreography - Dee Carlstrom
Assistant to the Director - David Jubb
Assistant to the Producer - Lou Wiot
Stage Manager - David Jubb
Rehersal Pianists - Melanie Smith, AI Neumann, Judy Gardner
Costume Construction - Edith Livingstone, Mary Sue Merritt,
           Penny Lubarsky, Patty Hintze, Caroline Hummel, Marion Scodari
Set Construction - David Jackson, Gary Pricer, Mike Kostrzewa,
                            Donna Adler, Lyle Jaffe
Lighting Execution - Dan Smith
Orchestra Manager/Concert Master - Gene Sober
Posters, Program Cover Design - Dorothy Laoang
Makeup and Hair Design - Judy Burke, Pamela Grady
Properties - Lou Wiot
Refreshments - AI Santilhano
Tickets - Caroline Hummel, Jim Hummel
House Manager - Susan Frampton
Publicity, Public Relations - Ruth Burdette, Marion Scodari,
                                        Melanie Smith
Program - Barry Grinnell, Gary Pricer, Marion Scodari, Melanie Smith
Set & Costume Storage - Mr. & Mrs. AI Rupel
Photography - Thomas Fuchs, Donna Lenco, Mary Sue Merritt

Special Acknowledgements - Ramie Broad, Michael Critzer,
Robert Giesy, Our Lady of Lourdes School, Rockville Music Theatre,
Hadley Square Singers, Seneca Valley High School,
Laura Cline, Susan Grief, Eleanor Hettich, Mary Sue Merritt,
Pamela Owen, Roberta Smit, Wooden Shoe Bakery

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Synopsis

Scene: Quarterdeck of H.M.S. Pinafore, off Portsmouth
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.

Act I - Noon
As 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 hint 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 - Night
Act II opens with the Captain in despair at the demoralization of his crew and the coldness of his daughter towards 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; he wishes to call the match off. 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 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 cries "Damme!''. Unfortunately, Sir Joseph and his relatives hear him and are horrified at his swearing; Sir Joseph send 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 Joesph 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.

(Courtesy of G. Schirmer)