Gilbert & Sullivan's
H.M.S. Pinafore
or, The Lass Who Loved a Sailor
June 9*, 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2016 at 8pm
June 12** & 19, 2016 at 2pm

Directed by Kate Huntress-Reeve
Music Directed by Joseph Sorge

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville, MD 20851

*Preview performance. All tickets $12!
**Community Outreach Matinee with backstage tours from 12:45-1:30pm, a special craft activity for children, and a talk-back session with the cast and crew immediate following the performance.

​H.M.S. Pinafore is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County government and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

Cast

The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B. - Gary Sullivan
Captain Corcoran, commanding the Pinafore - G. Stephen Stokes
Ralph Rackstraw, able seaman - David Merrill
Dick Deadeye, able seaman - Steven Quintilian
Bill Bobstay, Boatswain's Mate - Tom Goode
Bob Becket, Carpenter's Mate - Bill Rogers
Josephine, the Captain's daughter - Amy Broadbent
Cousin Hebe - Carla Rountree
Little Buttercup, a Portsmouth bumboat woman - Amanda Jones

Chorus - Kathleen Alvania*, Alan Barnett, Victoria Boucher Hille,
Dave Bradley, Karen Carp, Kayla Cummings,  Noah Friedlander, Mari Hill, Laura Hubbard, Rand Huntzinger, Ralph Johnson, Gabriella Jones, Josh Katz, Carlton Maryott, Jane Maryott, Stevie Miller, Joshua Milton, Sofia Romero, Sarah Seider, Kent Woods, Gwen Yetter

*Josephine cover

Production Staff

Producer - Denise Young
Assistant Director - Helen Aberger
Assistant Music Director - Rebecca Henry
Stage Manager - Brianna Capps
Set Design - William Pressley
Make–Up & Hair Designer - Renee Silverstone

Synopsis

Act I
Sailors work on the deck of the H.M.S. Pinafore off the coast of Portsmouth. Little Buttercup enters with her wares. Ralph enters and reveals that he loves Josephine, the Captain's daughter. Captain Corcoran enters, and the sailors cheer him. After the sailors leave, he confides in Buttercup that Sir Joseph wishes to marry Josephine, but she does not love him. Josephine enters, bemoaning her fate, and confesses to her father that she loves a common sailor. Sir Joseph arrives with his female relatives. He warns Corcoran not to patronize his men; all seamen are equal, and the fact that some are captains and some are sailors is a mere accident of birth. He gives Ralph and the other sailors a song to remind them of this fact. Emboldened by Sir Joseph's words, Ralph expresses his love to Josephine; but, knowing that she must marry Sir Joseph, she rejects him. He is about to kill himself out of grief, but Josephine reveals that she loves him after all. They plan to elope, although Dick warns them that such a plan will go awry.

Act II
At night, the Captain sings to himself as Buttercup watches him; he thinks to himself that he might love her, if not for the difference in their rank. She prophesies that changes will come for him. Sir Joseph expresses his disappointment in Josephine's behavior; Corcoran suggests that she is merely intimidated by Sir Joseph's rank. Josephine enters, anticipating her elopement with Ralph. Sir Joseph reassures her that a difference in rank is no impediment to a marriage, and she notes "how eloquently he has plead his rival's cause." Dick reveals Ralph and Josephine's plan to the Captain and they watch as the couple makes ready to leave. Corcoran confronts Ralph and becomes so angry that he swears. This distresses Sir Joseph, who sends Corcoran to his cabin. Ralph and Josephine reveal their love to Sir Joseph, who orders Ralph thrown in the dungeon. Ralph says farewell to Josephine. However, Buttercup steps forward to reveal that Captain Corcoran and Ralph were accidentally switched at birth, and so the Captain is merely a common sailor. Sir Joseph rejects Josephine on account of her low rank, and she and Ralph are free to marry. The Captain promises to marry Buttercup, and Sir Joseph promises to marry Hebe.

Musical Selections

Act I
  • We sail the ocean blue (Sailors)
  • I’m called Little Buttercup (Buttercup)
  • But tell me, who’s the youth (Buttercup & Boatswain)
  • The nightingale (Ralph & Sailors)
  • A maiden fair to see (Ralph & Sailors)
  • My gallant crew (Captain Corcoran & Sailors)
  • Sir, you are sad! (Buttercup & Captain Corcoran)
  • Sorry her lot (Josephine)
  • Over the bright blue sea (Sir Joseph’s female relatives)
  • Sir Joseph’s barge is seen (Sailors & Sir Joseph’s female relatives)
  • Now give three cheers (Captain Corcoran, Sir Joseph, Hebe, Chorus)
  • When I was a lad (Sir Joseph & Chorus)
  • For I hold that on the seas (Sir Joseph, Hebe, Chorus)
  • A British tar (Ralph, Boatswain, Carpenter’s Mate, Sailors)



  • Refrain, audacious tar (Josephine & Ralph)
  • Can I survive this overbearing (Ensemble)

Act II
  • Fair moon, to thee I sing (Captain Corcoran)
  • Things are seldom what they seem (Buttercup & Captain Corcoran)
  • The hours creep on apace (Josephine)
  • Never mind the why and wherefore (Josephine, Captain Corcoran, Sir Joseph)
  • Kind Captain, I’ve important information (Captain & Dick Deadeye)
  • Carefully on tiptoe stealing (Soli & Chorus)
  • Farewell, my own! (Octet and Chorus)
  • A many years ago (Buttercup & Chorus)
  • Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen (Ensemble)