The Corporate Pirates of Penzance
Book & Lyrics by Bernard J. Taylor with music adapted from the works of Sir Arthur Sullivan
Principals : 5m, 2f, 1m/f Support : 3m, 6f (plus Chorus)
Bernard J Taylor has taken some of the best tunes from the G&S songbook and has adapted and updated them in this glorious musical pastiche. It's a modern story of love, duty and power struggles - possibly the type of show G&S would have written about had they still been alive! There are some 'in jokes' for those who are familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan, but overall the show has enough humour and familiar melodies to be enjoyed even by those who are not particularly familiar with their works.
Synopsis
The Corporate Pirate of Penzance is a highly entertaining modern approach to Gilbert and Sullivan. It 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.
It uses some of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular and well known songs from The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, The Mikado, Iolanthe, Trial by Jury and The Gondoliers, mixing the songs of Sir Arthur Sullivan and the words of W.S. Gilbert with lyrics that reflect the modernized narrative. For example, 'The Very Model of a Modern Major-General' now becomes 'The Very Model of a Modern Intellectual', while 'A Policeman's Lot is Not a Happy One' becomes 'An Accountant's Life is Not a Lot of Fun'.
Updated versions of familiar characters from the traditional shows are there, including the cowardly police force from The Pirates of Penzance, as well as Josephine, Ralph and Little Buttercup from HMS Pinafore.
The libretto has received high praise from the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in London, Ohio Light Opera and others. There are some 'in jokes' for those who are familiar with Gilbert and Sullivan, but overall the show has enough humour and familiar melodies to be enjoyed even by those who are not particularly familiar with their works.
Cast Requirements
Principals (5m, 2f, im/f)
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
Little Buttercup - a mysterious person with a dark secret
Lord Bodmin - an hereditary Peer of the Realm
Percy - Lord Bodmin's son (or is he...?)
Sergeant of the Police (m/f)
Supporting Roles (3m, 6f plus chorus)
Three Accountants
Three Secretaries (hot and sexy girls)
Three female Ballet Dancers dressed as Cygnets
Policemen/Policewomen and General Chorus
Chorus - A wide range of roles including minor sung or spoken roles, drawn from the different times and locales.
Songs
ACT ONE
1) I Have A Tale To Tell You (adapted from 'Yeoman of the Guard') - Pointless & Chorus
2) A Magnificent Portfolio (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Pointless & Chorus
3) The Franchise King (adapted from 'The Pirates Of Penzance') - Pieman & Chorus (with Accountants &
Secretaries)
4) An Accountant's Life Is Not A Lot Of Fun (adapted from 'The Pirates Of Penzance') - Accountants & Chorus
5) Three Hot And Sexy Girls Are We (adapted from 'The Mikado') - Secretaries, Cygnets & Chorus (with Pointless
& Pieman)
6) Pale Moon, Where Is My True Love? (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Josephine
7) The Very Model Of A Modern Intellectual (adapted from 'The Pirates Of Penzance') - Percy & Chorus
8) A Dreamy Poet I (adapted from 'The Mikado' and 'The Gondoliers') - Ralph
9) I Am Called Little Buttercup (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Buttercup & Chorus
10) Noblesse Oblige (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Bodmin & Chorus
11) The Importance Of Ancestry (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Bodmin & Chorus (with Pieman)
12) The Fawning Pieman (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Pointless & Chorus
13) Willow (adapted from 'The Mikado') - Ralph
14) Dear Lonely Boy (adapted from 'The Pirates Of Penzance') - Josephine & Chorus (with Ralph)
ACT TWO
15) Act Two Opener (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Josephine, Ralph & Chorus
16) When There's Villainy In The Air (adapted from 'The Pirates Of Penzance') - Sergeant, Police, Josephine &
Chorus
17) Nightmare (adapted from 'Iolanthe') - Buttercup
18) Advice On Love (adapted from 'Iolanthe') - Ralph & Chorus
19) When There's Villainy In The Air, Reprise 1 - Police
20) Things Are Seldom As They Seem (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Buttercup & Ralph
21) Cliches Can Be Profound (adapted from 'Iolanthe') - Ralph & Chorus
22) I Am An Englishman (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Josephine, Ralph & Chorus
23) Confessions Of A Night Nurse (adapted from 'Trial By Jury') - Buttercup & Chorus
24) Madam (adapted from 'Iolanthe') - Percy, Josephine, Buttercup & Chorus
25) When There's Villainy In The Air, Reprise 1a - Police
26) When There's Villainy In The Air, Reprise 2 - Police
27 Love Conquers All - (adapted from 'HMS Pinafore') - Company
Production Materials
Perusal Materials on Request
Request any or all of the materials below to help get a feel for the show and if it’s right for you and your group;
Libretto
Piano-vocal Score
Sampler tracks
To request perusal materials contact us.
Rehearsal Materials
The following items are available for purchase when a performance license has been granted;
Digital Master Rehearsal Set (libretto and piano vocal score as PDF for unlimited printing and use by your group, you also get to keep the materials for future productions)
Backing Tracks (for private rehearsal or in performance in lieu of a live band)
Orchestrations (Available as a digital purchase to print )
Flute,
Clarinet
Bassoon
Horn
Trumpet
Piano
Percussion
Violin 1
Violin 2
Cello
Bass
Production Information
This show is available under a variable royalties license by amateur companies at a rate of 20% of box office gross or £100 per performance whichever is the greater. Educational settings may be eligible for special educational rates under certain conditions. First class productions are on a per show basis. To receive a quote in all instances please contact us.
Digital Master Rehearsal Set - £100 (download), £115 (USB)
Backing Tracks - £30 (download), £35 (USB)
Orchestrations - £50 (download), £65 (USB)
To apply for a production license please contact us.