Pirates of Penzance

Monologues: BJT 2014

Mabel:      Dearly as I loved him before, his heroic sacrifice to his sense of duty has endeared him to me tenfold; but if it was his duty to constitute himself my foe, it is likewise my duty to regard him in that light.  He has done his duty.  I will do mine.  Go ye and do yours.

 

 

FREDERIC I will try, dear Mabel.  But why does he sit, night after night, in this draughty old ruin? Be comforted.  Had you not acted as you did, these reckless men would assuredly have called in the nearest clergyman, and have married your large family on the spot.

 

GENERAL:   Why do I sit here?  To escape from the pirates' clutches, I described myself as an orphan; and, heaven help me, I am no orphan!  I come here to humble myself before the tombs of my ancestors, and to implore their pardon for having brought dishonour on my family.

 

PIRATE KING:                        

         For some ridiculous reason, to which, however, I've no desire to be disloyal, Some person in authority, I don't know who, very likely the Astronomer Royal, Has decided that, although for such a beastly month as February, twenty-eight days as a rule are plenty, One year in every four his days shall be reckoned as nine and-twenty.

                           

SERGEANT:

         We must do our best to capture these pirates alone.  It is most distressing to us to

         be the agents whereby our erring fellow-creatures are deprived of that liberty

         which is so dear to us all-- but we should have thought of that before we joined

         the force.                       

 

RUTH:         When Frederic was a little lad he proved so brave and daring,
                     His father thought he'd 'prentice him to some career seafaring.
                     I was, alas! his nurs'rymaid, and so it fell to my lot
                     To take and bind the promising boy apprentice to a pilot

KATE:        What a picturesque spot! I wonder where we are!

                     And I wonder where Papa is. We have left him ever so far behind.

:                    Oh, he will be here presently! Remember poor Papa is not as young as we are, and we came over a rather difficult country

 

SAMUEL:  Besides, we can offer you but little temptation to remain with us. We don't seem to make piracy pay.  I'm sure I don't know why, but we don't. course:  we are orphans ourselves, and know what it is. But, hang it all! You wouldn't have us absolutely merciless?

 

Audition Song

MABEL:      Poor wand'ring one!
Though thou hast surely strayed,
Take heart of grace,
Thy steps retrace,
Poor wand'ring one!
Poor wand'ring one!
If such poor love as mine
Can help thee find
True peace of mind-
Why, take it, it is thine!

 

Audition Song

PIRATES:   Come, friends, who plough the sea,
Truce to navigation; Take another station;
Let's vary piracee with a little burglaree!