This show incorporates many of the usual narrative elements of a Gilbert and Sullivan story — love across the social barriers, people not being who they seem to be, etc – and weaves them into a more modern story of a corporate mogul (a Franchise King also known as the Corporate Pirate of Penzance) who is hoping his daughter will marry into the British aristocracy, and a penniless young poet who falls in love with the daughter. The show uses some of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular and well known songs from Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, Iolanthe, Trial by Jury and The Gondoliers, mixing the music of Arthur Sullivan and the words of W.S. Gilbert with lyrics that reflect the modernized narrative.
Cast Requirements
The show requires a cast of 8 main characters, nine secondary characters, and a general chorus of at least 10, but the chorus can be expanded to 20 or more. Orchestrations are available for 10-12 instruments.
Main Cast
JACK POINTLESS, the narrator
JOSEPHINE, daughter of the Pieman of Penzance
RALPH, a penniless orphan poet and minstrel
THE PIEMAN OF PENZANCE, also known as The Franchise King and the Corporate Pirate of Penzance
LORD BODMIN, an hereditary Peer of the Realm
BUTTERCUP, a mysterious person with a dark secret
PERCY, Lord Bodmin’s son (or is he…?)
SERGEANT OF THE POLICE
Secondary Characters
Three Accountants
Three “Hot and Sexy Girls”
Three female ballet dancers
Policemen
General Chorus
YouTube video: “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Intellectual”
Please see Production Information for licensing contacts. Libretto, orchestrations, midi files and backing tracks are available upon request.
CD is available on the Recordings page.