Cirrus@Austlit

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).