Gilbert And Sullivan Company Returns With ‘Pinafore’

A new production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic two-act operetta HMS Pinafore comes to Sydney in September. One of the most popular musicals ever written, HMS Pinafore was the fourth collaboration between composer Sir Arthur Sullivan and his librettist Sir William Gilbert.

A brilliant send-up of the British class system – with ample current satirical references! – ‘Pinafore’ was first performed in Australia at the Theatre Royal in 1879, after premiering in London the previous year.

The action takes place aboard the Royal Navy ship HMS Pinafore, which is at anchor in Portsmouth harbour. Captain Corcoran (baritone) and his crew eagerly await the arrival of Sir Joseph Porter (baritone), the First Lord of the Admiralty. Sir Joseph has been promised the hand in marriage of the Captain’s beautiful daughter, Josephine (soprano); however, she is in love with Able Seaman Ralph Rackstraw (tenor). Meanwhile, Little Buttercup (contralto), a Portsmouth fleet vendor of gypsy extraction (and harbouring a BIG secret) fancies the captain! And what mischief can the villainous Dick Deadeye do?

‘Pinafore‘ contains some of Sullivan’s best known melodies, amongst them ‘For I’m called Little Buttercup’, ‘I am the Captain of the Pinafore!’ and ‘For he is an Englishman!’ 

This production marks the re-establishment of the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Sydney (formerly Savoy Opera) in its original North Sydney base. Directed by Elizabeth Lowrencev with musical director Rod Mounjed, HMS Pinafore stars Dean Sinclair as Sir Joseph Porter, Brendan Iddles as Captain Corcoran, Michael Handy as Ralph Rackstraw, Gordon Costello as Dick Deadeye, Anthony Mason as the Boatswain, Sarah Arnold as Josephine (“the lass that loved a sailor”), Ella Arundel as Cousin Hebe and Anne-Louise Finlayson as Little Buttercup, with an 18-piece orchestra and chorus singing up a storm on the high Cs! 

Tickets Adult $40 / Early Bird (by 15 Aug) $35; Senior/Pensioner/Student $35 / Early Bird $32; Groups (14+) $35 / Early Bird Groups (10+) $32; Child (15 & under) $22;

Early Bird Family (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children) $95

Bookings www.gsosydney.com.au  or call 0420 678 595 

There are special preview performances with piano accompaniment on 

13 September 2014, at  Soldiers’ Memorial Hall BUNDANOON; and

21 September 2014 Montgomery Pavilion Theatre NARRABEEN