Closed Topics: Pirates of Penzance

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Pirates of Penzance

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Topic: Pirates of Penzance

Posted By: lucyvanpelt04
Subject: Pirates of Penzance
Date Posted: 9/20/05 at 10:59am

I have read that "Pirates" has two sets. Can anyone tell me what they are?

Are they backdrops?

Thanks.

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"When I grow up, I am going to be the biggest queen there ever was..."

Replies:

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 9/20/05 at 1:17pm

The two sets are (Act I) the rocky cliffs at the seashore and (Act
II) the exterior of the girls' school - usually a garden, etc. The
third act is back on the rocky cliffs - but usually the pirate ship is
added.

This *can* all be done with drops. However, most
choreographers appreciate having various levels and set
pieces to use, since every measure of the show is usually
choreographed, and having a variety of staging opportunities
helps keep things from becoming too redundant.

I'm not a HUGE fana of G&S - but this one is my favorite of them
all!

Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 9/20/05 at 3:28pm

The girls' school???

SCENE.?A ruined chapel by moonlight. Ruined Gothic windows at back.

Seems to me Col. Stanley would have a hard time commiserating with his ancestors at the girls' school!

(Okay, I AM a huge fan of G&S!)

For everything you could ever want to know about Pirates, including the script, which is obviously where you should start:

http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/html/index.html - http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/pirates/html/index.html

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POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

Posted By: lucyvanpelt04
Date Posted: 9/20/05 at 7:21pm

I have seen the Kevin Kline movie version.

So, do the pirates do "Better Far to Live and Die" on the rocky cliffs? No pirate ship?

By the way, thanks for your replies.

-------------
"When I grow up, I am going to be the biggest queen there ever was..."

Posted By: tristanrobin
Date Posted: 9/20/05 at 7:44pm

POB - is that a monastery? LOL

I always thought it was a girls' school - like a nunnery of some
sort LOL. And I t hought he was just commiserating with his
ancesters because there was a cemetary. LOL Oh, well. Live
and learn something everyday, eh?! LOL (So why the heck do
the girls all show up there in their nightgowns????)

oh - and yes, the "Better Far to Live and Die" - which I always
think is called "I Am a Pirate King" LOL - is about the third or
fourth song in the show - right at the beginning of the first act.

Posted By: lucyvanpelt04
Date Posted: 9/21/05 at 10:01am

LOL, yes, I know. I called that song by The Pirate King Song for years!

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"When I grow up, I am going to be the biggest queen there ever was..."

Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 9/21/05 at 11:55am

Hey, even I refer to "As Some Day It May Happen" (Mikado) as "I've Got A Little List," and I'm apparently the resident G&S snob!

Edited to add: And oh, yeah, the ship is anchored in the first scene, and the pirates are on the shore. They go away before the girls come "climbing over rocky mountain."

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POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

Posted By: lucyvanpelt04
Date Posted: 9/21/05 at 1:06pm

Originally posted by POB14

Edited to add: And oh, yeah, the ship is anchored in the first scene, and the pirates are on the shore. They go away before the girls come "climbing over rocky mountain."

Awesome, that is what I needed to know! Thanks, POB.

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"When I grow up, I am going to be the biggest queen there ever was..."

Posted By: lucyvanpelt04
Date Posted: 10/13/05 at 4:09pm

Okay, so tell me about how to make the rocks. The big tall really cool ones that will look perfect!

(thanks for your help....sets just aren't my thing)

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"When I grow up, I am going to be the biggest queen there ever was..."