Synopsis

H.M.S. Pinafore Synopsis

(contains spoilers!)

ACT I

1890, noon on board the ship H.M.S. Pinafore, anchored in Portsmouth harbour. The crew are scrubbing the decks in preparation for the arrival of their Captain when local wandering saleswoman Mrs Cripps (Little Buttercup) comes aboard. After meeting the misunderstood Dick Deadeye, she catches sight of another sailor: the fine topman Ralph Rackstraw, who appears unhappy and whose name for some mysterious reason seems all too familiar to her…

Ralph is pining over the Captain’s beautiful daughter, Josephine but he knows that she is too far above him in social class. Captain Corcoran comes to greet his crew, and Buttercup, who is always attentive to him, notices that he too seems sad. The Captain admits that Josephine has not taken kindly to her arranged engagement with the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Joseph Porter. Josephine, alone, bemoans the pain of loving someone whom she cannot hope to marry, then the Captain comes to tell her that Sir Joseph will arrive that very afternoon to claim her hand in marriage. Distressed, Josephine admits that she is in love with a common sailor although she knows she cannot marry him, and the Captain is appalled.

Sir Joseph’s female relatives precede him and are greeted enthusiastically by the sailors, before the he comes on board himself to examine the crew and speak to the Captain. Sir Joseph explains how he reached his high rank respite having no naval knowledge or experience, and particularly points out his hatred of bad language. The sailors argue with Dick, who takes issue with Sir Joseph’s hypocritical declaration that a British sailor is any man’s equal, excepting his own.

Josephine comes across Ralph, alone, on deck. She haughtily rejects his advances despite her inner feelings of love for him, because of her belief in distinctions of rank. This leaves Ralph alone to explain to his messmates that he intends to commit suicide because he cannot live with her rejection, but Josephine admits her love for him at the last possible moment. The crew celebrate, although Dick rebels against them, and the couple plan to elope together that night.

ACT II

That night, the Captain sings of his troubles alone: Sir Joseph has threatened to court martial the Captain if Josephine will not marry him. Buttercup overhears the Captain, and tells him that she knows a change is coming and things are seldom what they seem… The Captain doesn’t understand her but feels she means well. Sir Joseph and his cousin Hebe come to tell the Captain that Josephine is refusing to marry him, to which the Captain suggests that Sir Joseph needs to reassure her that she is worthy of him because she is of a lower rank.

Alone, Josephine contemplates her dilemma: she has said she will marry Ralph but doesn’t feel ready to give up her middle class lifestyle, so she questions whether to follow her head or her heart. Sir Joseph arrives to tell her that he believes that ‘love is a platform upon which all ranks meet’ which secretly delights Josephine as it suggests she could marry Ralph, while her father and Sir Joseph are obvious to her intentions.

Dick Deadeye comes to inform the Captain that Josephine intends to elope with Ralph, and when the Captain understands, he is furious and intends to punish Ralph.

Josephine and Ralph, with the sailors, are creeping across the deck trying to get away when the Captain reveals he has been watching them, concealed. He challenges Ralph, but the Boatswain defends him, saying that Ralph, although working class, is still an Englishman (so should be considered good enough to marry Josephine). The Captain is still raging and swears ‘damme’ which is overheard by Sir Joseph and his entourage, who are outraged by the bad language. Sir Joseph sends the Captain to his cabin in disgrace, and asks Ralph why the Captain was so angry. On hearing that Ralph intended to marry Josephine, Sir Joseph is also horrified and has Ralph chained up and taken away.

Buttercup comes forward and says she wishes to confess a long concealed crime: many years ago she practised ‘baby farming’ (wet nursing) and cared for two babies, one of low class and one of high, which she mixed up. The high born child was Ralph and the low born one the Captain, meaning that their social positions are the opposite of what they had always thought! Sir Joseph tells the former Captain that he no longer wishes to marry Josephine because he, her father, has turned out to be low born. Josephine and Ralph are delighted, the former Captain is now of a low rank in society so decides to marry Buttercup, and Sir Joseph is claimed by Hebe who wanted to marry him all along. Everyone celebrates this fortunate turn of events.

– Ruby Hawley –