The Pirates of Penzance

Description

Learning About Duty And Love In The Comic Opera The Pirates Of Penzance

One of the most famous comic operas of the 19th century is without a doubt The Pirates of Penzance by W.S. Gilbert. and music composed by Arthur Sullivan. This opera was the first Sullivan and Gilbert collaboration to be introduced in the US first, as the state didn’t offer copyrights to foreigners. However, due to problems in London with their previous success H.M.S. Pinafore having authorization productions mounted and no royalties paid, they decided to open in the US.

The story is about a young lad named Frederic who has been serving as an apprentice to a band of “tender-hearted” pirates for 21 years. Soon after his 21st birthday he meets a beautiful young woman called Mabel, who is also the daughter of the renowned Major General Stanley, and they fall in love with each other right away. However, it appears that Frederic got things wrong as he later finds out that he was born on the 29th of February. Technically, that means that he has just one birthday every lap year. In his indenture it is specified that he must serve until his 21st birthday, which means that he will have to serve for 63 more years.

Mabel is devastated when she hears that Frederic is bound to serve that long, especially with his sense of loyalty preventing him from running away. She promises that she will wait for him, and from here things just take a different turn. The broken-hearted woman will turn to the police, the pirates will attack Major-General and the end will most likely amuse everyone.

So read about loyalty, true love and a series of funny events that will keep you laughing to the end in The Pirates of Penzance; or, the Slave of Duty.

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