3-052-611 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches from "The Pirates of Penzance," at the Opéra Comique, 1880. Engravings of 'lively pieces of burlesque acting' from the 'new comic operetta, the play written by Mr. W. S. Gilbert, the music composed by Mr. Arthur Sullivan...We observe, [top left-hand corner], the formidable figure of the Pirate King, who has floored the Sergeant of Police. His former apprentice, the interesting youth Frederick, a most conscientious hero of romance, who has gone over to the side of legal honesty and social order, appears at the opposite corner, enthusiastically making love to Mabel...The father of this young lady, Major-General Stanley, a gallant and distinguished military officer of unimpeachable dignity, is seen below, haranguing the forces in a tone of expostulation...He endeavours to plead for the release of the innocent maidens by declaring himself an orphan, as well as their father, knowing that the pirates have sworn never to harm anything that belongs to an orphan...at the bottom..., we behold the Pirate King and his female accomplice on the point of taking summary vengeance for the betrayal of their cause, but saved from perpetrating a murder by the intervention of the police. All the malefactors repent and forsake their criminal practices'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.