H.M.S. Pinafore.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 159, 8 June 1894, Page 3

H.M.S. Pinafore.

We presume we need hardly remind any of our readers of the Pahiatua Choral and Orchestral Society’s representation of “H.M.S. Pinafore” at the Public Hall tonight, but we would remind them of th« necessity of being early at the door, as from the booking already done ii is next to a certainly that money will be turned away from the window. It is also desirable that all those who have been fortunate enough to obtain tickets should be seated before the curtain rises, as there are few things more objectionable both to auditors and performers than to have late comers tramping through the Hall looking for seats after the play has commenced. From what we have soen of the rehearsals we feel sure that the performance to-night will be of meritorious order, aud that the public will not rest satisfied without a repitition at an early date. \\ e understand a few—very few —box seats still remain unallotted on the plan at Mr Moore’s, but we presume tho Woodville contingent wil[ absorb them all as soon as their order comes to hand. We predict an unqualified success for the Society’s initial performance of “ Pinafore.”

The following is the plot of the opera : H. M. S. Pinafore has just arrived iu harbour and is boarded by the usual crowd of bumboat women, amongst whom is “Dear Little Buttercup.” who endeavours to do a trade with the ** salts.” The Cap tain,s daughter, Josephine, is sought in marriage by Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of ihe Admiralty, but for the reason that she is in love with Ralph Rackstraw, a common sailor on hoard she does not “ tackle kindly to it.” Sir Joseph Porter having said that 44 love levels all ranks ” is accepted by Josephine as an encouragement iu her fancy for Ralph, with whom she puposfs to leave the ship by night, but is informed upon by Dick Deadeye. There is a terrible commotion when the Captain and the First Lord receive the information that Ralph and Josephine love each other, and there being a difference in rank is soon made obvious by Ralph being summarily ordered into custody. 44 Little Buttercup ” then chimes in, stating that many years ago she practised baby-farming and tho two tender babes, Captain and Raplh, one of low condition, and tho other a partician, got

unfortunately “ mixed up ” and the wellborn babe was Ralph. Sir Joseph autocratically ‘reverses their positioßs in the vessel and presents Josephine to Ralph, bidding him to treat her kindly. Poor Sir Joseph pines for his lot, Ho cannot live alone,” when Jlobe fortunately comes forward with the offer, accepted, of sooth ing and comforting his declining days. Captain Corcoran is a philosopher, for though he was once a captain of them all, and had now become only become n member of tho crew, ho determined to marry with a wife in his humble rank of life, and asks Little Buttercup to take him. The curtain falls upon genera! happiness.