Fun Trivia : Pirates of Penzance, The

Structure Sub-topic of: Musicals O-Z Quizzes Other encyclopedia entries of interest: Gilbert and Sullivan | Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 15 general entries. Special Topics "Penzance" for Pros Pirates Mania "Pirates" in Translation

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

Pirates of Penzance, The

In the opening song, what are the pirates drinking?

The Pirates of Penzance


Sherry. 'Pour, oh, pour the pirate sherry; Fill, oh, fill the pirate glass.'



Ruth apprenticed Frederic to the pirate band. What profession was she supposed to apprentice him to?

The Pirates of Penzance


Pilot. 'I bound him to a pirate - you - instead of to a pilot'.



How old is Ruth?

The Pirates of Penzance


47. 'My love unabating, Has been accumulating, Forty-seven year - forty-seven year!'



Why does Frederic reveal his presence to Major-General Stanley's daughters?

The Pirates of Penzance


He is shocked by what they are about to do. The girls are about to take off their shoes and stockings and paddle! ('Yes, yes, the very thing!') Frederic emerges to inform them that 'Under these peculiar circumstances, it is my bounden duty to inform you that your proceedings will not be unwitnessed!'



What is NOT one of the things that Major-General Stanley knows about?

The Pirates of Penzance


All the songs from "The Mikado". He couldn't have known all the songs from "The Mikado", because "The Pirates of Penzance" premiered five years before "The Mikado" did. However, he could 'whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore' (i.e., the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta "H.M.S. Pinafore").



Why did Major-General Stanley plead with the pirates to take pity on him?

The Pirates of Penzance


He was an orphan. Of course, although he begged them to "Have pity on my lonely state, I am an orphan boy!", he was "telling a terrible story".



What does the cast sing 'Hail' to towards the end of the first act?

The Pirates of Penzance


Poetry. 'Hail, Poetry, thou heaven-born maid!'



What is the repeated phrase in the policeman's song, sung when they first appear?

The Pirates of Penzance


Tarantara. 'When the foeman bears his steel, Tarantara! tarantara!'



Although Frederic has lived 21 years, if we go by birthdays, how old is he?

The Pirates of Penzance


5. 'Though you've lived twenty-one years, yet, if we go by birthdays, you're only five and a little bit over!'



Why do the pirates want to kill Major-General Stanley?

The Pirates of Penzance


He lied to them. 'Our nature stern he softened with his lies, And, in return, To-night the traitor dies'.



When does Frederic tell Mabel that he will turn 21, and be free to marry her?

The Pirates of Penzance


1940. 'I've just discovered That I was born in leap-year, and that birthday Will not be reached by me till 1940'.



What is not one of the things which Samuel distributes to the pirates during 'With Cat-like Tread'?

The Pirates of Penzance


Hammer. 'Take your crowbar and your centrebit, Your life-preserver - you may want to hit, Your silent matches, your dark lantern seize, Take your file and your skeletonic keys.'



What time does Major-General Stanley invariably go to bed?

The Pirates of Penzance


Half-past ten. 'It's his invariable rule to go to bed at half-past ten!'



What is the pirates' secret?

The Pirates of Penzance


They're actually all noblemen. 'They are no members of the common throng; They are all noblemen who have gone wrong!'