Troupers proudly presents Gilbert and Sullivan's first big hit: "HMS Pinafore"
along with Victor Herbert's comic opera spoof, "The Magic Knight"
Performed April 1 & 8, 2017 at 7:30 pm; April 2 & 9, 2017 at 2:30pm at the new Wall Street Theater
See show photos by A.S.
See show photos by A.G.
See all publicity photos
Summary of HMS Pinafore
Watch the video! |
Summary of The Magic Knight
Watch the video! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This opera (1878) is a satire of love among ranks and of incompetent politicians. Sir Joseph Porter, as First Lord of the Admiralty has never gone to sea, and obtained his political position by apple-polishing rather than innate ability. He is consciously modeled on W. H. Smith, the bookstore magnate, who was the real First Lord of the Admiralty at the time, even though he had no naval experience at all. Smith was called "Pinafore Smith" for the rest of his life. As the story opens the crew of the HMS Pinafore is happily singing and salutes their popular, democratic captain. The seaside vendor, Little Buttercup comes on board selling food and trinkets and when the young hero Ralph Rackstraw appears, she indicates that there is a secret behind him that only she knows. Sir Joseph arrives with his retinue of sisters, cousins and aunts and tells of how he rose to the rank of First Lord by polishing the handle of the big front door of his attorney's firm. The Captain has promised his beautiful daughter Josephine to Sir Joseph, but Josephine secretly loves Ralph Rackstraw, a lowly sailor. Josephine tells Ralph he should refrain from loving her because of the disparity of their ranks, while to the side exclaiming how much she actually loves him. Ralph tells his messmates he has been rejected, and threatens to end it all, but at the last moment Josephine enters declaring her love. They plan to sneak off to be married, but ugly Dick Deadeye warns that it will never work because and he is a lowly tar and she is a Captain's daughter. However, the chorus thrusts him away and the first act ends happily with a series of rousing choruses as they sing of their plans.
Cast of HMS PinaforeDirected by Emily Trudeau
Chorus: Rosa Parrotta, Jennifer Wallace, Melissa Anderson, Rob Strom, John Hoover, Jim Cooper, Bill Abbott, Guy Stretton |
"The Magic Knight" is a light-hearted and silly
spoof of grand opera and in particular of Lohengrin. Elsa and her brother Godfrey have been left orphans under the guardianship of their uncle and aunt Frederick and Ortrud, who conspire to defraud them of their estates. Godfrey has disappeared, and Elsa is accused before the King of made away with little Godfrey, and is about to be condemned when, as a last resource, she demands to have the Herald ask for some knight errant to appear and champion her couse against her uncle. Lohengrin appears, sailing down the river on boat drawn by a swan, and in answer to Elsa's appeal fighs and defeta Frederick, whereupon Ortrud fonfesses that she used her magic arts to change Godrey into a swan, and Lohengrin, being something of a magician himself, shanges him back again and returns to Fairyland. If the audience will listen intently, it is possible that the shade of RIchard Wagner may be heard to turn over. Cast of The Magic Knight
Directed by Marian Shulman
Chorus: Rosa Parrotta, Jennifer Wallace, Melissa Anderson, Rob Strom, Bill Abbott, Guy Stretton, Frank Sisson, Wendy Falconer, Neil Flores, Suzanne Rossini |