The Pirates of Penzance

The curtain opens on the birthday celebrations of the pirate apprentice Frederic – he is twenty-one, and out of his indentures. He then makes a shocking revelation – he was apprenticed to them due to his nursery maid, Ruth, confusing the words ‘pilot’ and ‘pirate’. As it was his duty, he remained with them – but now, his duty is to destroy them! The pirates are sympathetic to his dilemma, and depart, leaving him with Ruth, who has managed to persuade him to marry her.

Ruth’s intentions are foiled by the arrival of Major-General Stanley’s daughters. Frederic’s pleadings go straight to Mabel’s heart, and she agrees to marry him. Suddenly, the pirates
return and seize the remaining daughters, intending to marry them. Even the appearance of the Major-General himself does not dissuade them, until he reveals that he is an orphan. The tender-hearted pirates agree to let him, and his
daughters, leave unharmed.

The Major-General is wracked with guilt – he escaped the pirates through a lie, as he is no orphan! Fortunately, a band of
policemen are at hand who, led by Frederic, intend to arrest the pirates. Unexpectedly, the Pirate King and Ruth return
with the shocking news that, as Frederic was born on February the 29th, under the terms of his indentures he is only five and a quarter, and, consequently, still a pirate! Reluctantly, he re-joins his former comrades, who easily defeat the police
and sentence the Major-General to death. They cannot, however, resist the policemen’s secret weapon, and all surrender in the name of Queen Victoria! Before they can be brought to justice, Ruth reveals a long-held secret: all the pirates are really wayward noblemen. They are, of course, pardoned of all crimes, and provide a convenient way for the Major General to get rid of his daughters!