The original theatre poster for ‘HMS Pinafore’, which opened at the Opera Comique in London on May 25th, 1878, and ran for 571 performances. The Captain of HMS Pinafore has a lovely daughter, Josephine, who is in love with common sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, but her father is determined that she will marry Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty. It seems that class will decide the matter, and that the two lovers must part for ever, until Little Buttercup, a dockside street vendor, makes a startling revelation.
Introduction
Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ (1878) was surprisingly slow to get going in England, picking up speed only after Hamilton Clarke arranged some numbers for orchestra and military band at the Proms in Covent Garden. In America, however, it was a smash hit right from the start, though some people tired of it sooner than others.
THE opera ‘caught on’ in America to such an extent that it literally raged through the country. From start to finish it held the stage for seven hundred nights. In Boston USA it was no uncommon thing for people to go as many as ten and twelve times to see, and then, not content with that, they would insist upon their friends’ attendance, one and all. In a newspaper of the time — an American one — I find a notice to the effect that in one city alone a hundred thousand barrel-organs were built to play nothing but ‘Pinafore’.*
‘What never? Well, hardly ever,’ became catch phrases to an extent perfectly nauseating. One poor editor was positively compelled to forbid their use by his staff on pain of instant dismissal. ‘It has occurred twenty times in as many articles in yesterday's edition,’ he sorrowfully said to them on one occasion. ‘Never let me see it used again.’ ‘What never?’ was the unanimous question. ‘Well, hardly ever,’ replied the wretched man.
Abridged
Abridged from ‘Masters of English Music’ (1894) by Charles Willeby.
William Gilbert was well aware that ‘Pinafore’ had become over-familiar for some. In ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ the Major-General tells us that one of his many talents is that he can “whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore!”.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Music critic Charles Willeby recalled how Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ took the USA by storm in 1878, to an extent that became maddening for those not caught up in the hype. The catchphrase ‘What never? Well, hardly ever!’ was especially irritating, as one newspaper editor found when he insisted his staff must ‘never’ use it again... (57 / 60 words)
Music critic Charles Willeby recalled how Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘HMS Pinafore’ took the USA by storm in 1878, to an extent that became maddening for those not caught up in the hype. The catchphrase ‘What never? Well, hardly ever!’ was especially irritating, as one newspaper editor found when he insisted his staff must ‘never’ use it again...
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, or, otherwise, ought, since, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Catch. Hard. Thing.
2 Compel. Literal. Pinafore.
3 Again. People. Reply.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
There.
Their.
2.
Knight.
Night.
3.
Scene.
Seen.
4.
Build.
Billed.
5.
Knot.
Not.
6.
Poor.
Pore.
Pour.
7.
Know.
No.
8.
Sees.
Seas.
Seize.
9.
Pain.
Pane.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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