Shows - Pirates Of Penzance, 3rd - 7th June 1997

• Chairman's Welcome
• The Story
• Credits
• Cast Of Characters

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Chairman's Welcome

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I take great pleasure in welcoming you to Crowthorne Musical Players's production of The Pirates Of Penzance. I can hardly believe that it has been over a year since CMP were last at the Wilde and it feels very good to be back.

CMP has had a very busy year - in the last twelve months we have produced two very successful shows at other venues and have held several fund-raising events to help with this production. You may have noticed several members of the cast practicing their roles as pirates at the recent Wokingham Carnival!

We are delighted to be returning to G&S after several years of more contemporary musicals, but if you think this is going to be at all conventional, you are in for a surprise! With our strong team of Maggie Uttley (Director) and Nick Austin (Musical Director) it promises to be anything but...!

I hope you enjoy the show!

Claire Lawson, Chairman

The Story

The Pirates of Penzance are celebrating. Frederic, who has been apprenticed since he was a boy, is 21 and is about to become a fully qualified pirate. However, Frederic is unhappy, he has served his apprenticeship well but now wishes to return to a respectable life. Of course, should he do that the he would have to declare his former friends "villains" and thus vow to kill them.

Ruth, Frederic's nurse maid is unhappy too - Frederic has never set eyes on another woman and she fears that, should he do so, he would notice that she is a little past her sell-by date and desert her.

At that very moment, the beautiful daughters of Major General Stanley catch Frederic's eye and he realises that Ruth may not be the only woman wothy of his attention. He declares his presence and pleads with the girls to rescue him ... they are horrified (he is a pirate and of dubious background), all except Mabel, who takes pity on him and they fall instantly in love. The pirates, not to be outdone, sieze the other daughters and plan to marry them without delay!

Major General Stanley arrives and in desperation tells the pirates that he is an orphan and pleads with them not to take his daughters away. The pirates, all orphans themselves and a kind hearted lot, set them free. However, Major General Stanley is racked with guilt and cannot forgive himself for the lie he told in order to escape the pirates clutches.

Frederic, in the meantime, has summoned the aid of the local police who are ready, in mind if not in body, to slay the dreaded pirates. As they depart, Frederic is approached by Ruth and the Pirate King who have discovered an "ingenious paradox" - Frederic, who was born on February 29th is not 21 at all - he's only 5 years old!! Frederic, a slave to duty, decides he must return to the pirates to complete his apprenticeship. The police are confused, but decide they must carry on alone. They are not exactly thrilled at the prospect ...

A battle ensues, the pirates are victorious and Frederic cannot help. The police have one card left to play ... can they save the day?

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Credits

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Cast Of Characters

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