H. M. S. Pin-A-4 single work   musical theatre   burlesque   humour  
Adaptation of H. M. S. Pinafore W. S. Gilbert , 1878 single work musical theatre
Issue Details: First known date: 1880... 1880 H. M. S. Pin-A-4
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A burlesque of the popular British comic opera H. M. S. Pinafore, or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor (1878), Kelly and Leon's version was advertised as having been specially adapted, localised, and 'paraphrased from Gilbert and Sullivan' by permission of J. C. Williamson's. Among the local allusions and topicalities targeted were the Exhibition and members of the Victorian parliament.

Notes

  • H. M. S. Pin-A-4 may also have been derived in part from an American Pinafore minstrel burlesque that had been staged in Australia earlier.

  • Kelly and Leon appear to have staged the production in order to take advantage of public interest in the action brought by Gilbert and Sullivan against actor/manager W. H. Lingard, who had produced the original comic opera at Melbourne's Academy of Music earlier in the year. The decision against Lingard was reached the day before Kelly and Leon debuted their production.

    • For further details on the Gilbert and Sullivan v Lingard court action, see 'H.M.S. Pinafore in Court' Argus 2 November 1880, p.7.
  • It is not clear if this burlesque is related to another production (also possibly also written by Bent) that was staged at the Opera House, Sydney, in 1882 by Bent and Bachelder's Christy's Anglo-American Minstrels. The later burlesque, titled H.M.S. Pin-A-4 in Black, was advertised as being the 'the first production of an extraordinary, exciting and extravagant extraction of Pinafore' (Sydney Morning Herald 11 April, 1882, p.2).

Production Details

  • 1880: St George's Hall, Melbourne, 30 October - 19 November.

    • Lessee/Manager Dave Hayman; Stage Manager D'Orsay Ogden.
    • Troupe Kelly and Leon's Minstrels.
    • Cast incl. W. Horace Bent, Vernon Reid, C. S. Frederick, William Ball, Beaumont Read, Frank Rivers, John Howson, Billy Sweatnam, E. J. Kennedy, Francis Leon.
    • 18 performances

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1880
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Related Works

H. M. S. Pin-A-4 in Black W. Horace Bent , Bent and Bachelder’s Anglo-American Christy Minstrels , 1882 single work musical theatre burlesque humour
H. M. S. (Hopper Barge) Pin-A-4 W. Horace Bent , Hiscocks' Federal Minstrels , F. E. Hiscocks , 1885 single work musical theatre burlesque humour

A burlesque on Gilbert and Sullivan's popular operetta H. M. S. Pinafore; Or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor (1878). The Evening News (Sydney) records in its review of the 25 April performance:

The curtain rose on the deck scene from 'Pinafore,' but what a strange contrast with the original. The tars were represented by the typical plantation negro attired in most peculiar naval attire, while Captain 'Cork all o'er 'em' was the bean ideal of a quarter-deck officer, with the exception of his complexion. Considerable licence was taken in localising the opera, but the music incidental to its legitimate rendering was adhered to. The reception of Little Buttertub (Sam Keenan), and the advent of Sir Joseph Hop Bitters, C;M.G., and his sisters and his cousins and his aunts were provocative of much mirth. In the scene where Little Buttertub reveals her secret to the Captain, much amusement was caused by the tragic manner in which she im parted the dread intelligence 'that M'Elbone had purchased the Evening News, and was going to run it himself.' The Admiral was great fun in his love-making with Josephine (H. Carroll). The captain rendered 'Fair Moon to Thee I Sing' in a very pleasing manner; but attention was directed from the singer to the strange and erratic behavior of the moon and the efforts of Little Buttertub to capture it. Altogether the performance was most enjoyable, and from beginning to end was thoroughly appreciated by the audience (27 Aprril 1885, p.3).
VIEW ALL RELATED WORKS (2)

Works about this Work

News of the Day 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 1 November 1880; (p. 2)
— Review of H. M. S. Pin-A-4 W. Horace Bent , 1880 single work musical theatre
News of the Day 1880 single work review
— Appears in: The Age , 1 November 1880; (p. 2)
— Review of H. M. S. Pin-A-4 W. Horace Bent , 1880 single work musical theatre
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (1)

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

Note:
This entry has been sourced from research undertaken by Dr Clay Djubal into Australian-written popular music theatre (ca. 1850-1930). See also the Australian Variety Theatre Archive
Last amended 14 Oct 2014 11:59:59
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