Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance

CSTHEA’s Gilbert & Sullivan Homeschool Players Production of The Pirates of Penzance in 2019

Synopsis of The Pirates of Penzance

“The Pirates of Penzance” tells the story of Frederic, who, having been mistakenly apprenticed to a band of soft-hearted pirates, reaches his 21st birthday and seeks to leave piracy for a more reputable life. He falls in love with Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley, whose cleverness and falsehood about being an orphan protect him from the pirates’ threat. However, Frederic’s sense of duty binds him back to the pirates when he discovers his apprenticeship is not yet over due to a technicality. The opera humorously explores themes of duty, honor, and the absurdities of societal expectations, leading to a joyful resolution with Frederic and Mabel united, and the pirates revealed to be noblemen gone wrong.

Photo credit: Devon Simmons