THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

The Wykeham Collegiate and Hilton College will present Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera The Pirates Of Penzance with music direction by Patrick Harty and dramatic direction by Cal Bray.

On the coast of Cornwall, a gang of pirates play and party as Frederic (a pirate apprentice) reminds the pirate king that his obligation to the gang is soon over. He was apprenticed to the pirates only until his 21st birthday, which is that day, and he is leaving them. Ruth (Frederic's nursery maid when he was younger) explains that Frederic should never have been a pirate except for her mistake: She was told to apprentice Frederic to a pilot, but she misunderstood and placed him with a pirate instead.

Frederic tells the pirates that, after he leaves the gang, he intends to destroy them, not because he doesn't love them, but because he loathes what they do. He is a slave of duty and, when no longer a pirate, it will be his duty to destroy them. The pirates understand and also complain that they cannot seem to make money. Because Frederic is a slave-of-duty to the pirates until noon, he tells them why: Because they are all orphans, the pirates will not rob another orphan; and since all their potential victims are aware of this, they all claim to be orphans!

Because Frederic has spent his entire life with the pirates, he has never seen another woman; thus he thinks he may want to take Ruth with him as his wife. He asks Ruth if she is beautiful, and she responds that she is. Frederic, a very trusting young man, says that he believes Ruth and he will not let her age come between them.

At this point, however, Frederic hears a chorus of girls in the vicinity. He sees a group of beautiful young women, realizes he was betrayed by Ruth, and rejects her. Frederic informs the girls that he is a pirate, but not for long. He asks if any of the girls will marry him... and so this colourful, musical, rollicking fun-filled evening continues!

The Pirates Of Penzance has performances in the Hilton College Theatre on May 3 and 4 and again on May 7 and 8 at 19h30. Tickets R65 (R50 scholar concession). Free to teachers accompanying school groups. Reserved seating booked through 033 383 0126 (o/h) or email tickets@hiltoncollege.com or visit www.hiltoncollegetheatre.co.za