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125 years after opening night, it is sometimes hard to believe our printed script and score were once being changed and completed just hours before performances. Since "Pirates" is the one show for which the audience was not provided with a libretto, we can't be sure of what first night audiences saw and heard. This policy reduced "piracy" but probably also reduced audiences, since, unlike the tunes and jokes from "Pinafore" the general public did not get to hear the material everywhere, an attraction to come and see the show. The manuscript copy submitted to the Lord Chamberlain's office in December, 1879, for English copyright, was likely the basis for the Paignton performance, but even there the show was postponed one day to practise changes sent by boat from New York. And obviously, the New York and London openings benefited from last-minute alterations with the authors on hand. But here are a few changes from early printed versions of the show:
In "How Beautifully Blue the Sky" Frederic has four extra lines that deserve cutting, but would have made the chorus entry easier: Frederic: Did ever pirate loathed forsake his hideous mission, To find himself betrothed to a lady of position. Mabel: Ah yes, ah yes, I am a lady of position. And the pirates in the Act 1 finale once sang: If he's telling a terrible story, he shall die by a death that is gory - One of the cruellest slaughters that ever was known in these waters; And we'll finish his moral affliction by a very complete malediction, as a compliment valedictory if he's telling a terrible story. That finale ended with a repeat of "For we all are orphan boys," etc., now cut.
The sad duet in Act 2 once ended as follows, in very pseudo-melodramatic mood: Oh here is love and here is truth, and here is food for joyous laughter; He/She will be faithful to his/her sooth till we are wed, and even after. What joy to know that though he/I must embrace piratical adventures, He/She will be faithful to his/her trust till he is/I am out of his/my indentures! Fred: Farewell! Adieu! Mabel: The same to you! Both: Farewell! Adieu! (Fred exits) Mabel: Distraction! Frederic! Loved one! Oh return! With love I burn! (Recollecting) Stay! I am a Stanley! Even to the grave I will be brave. His conscience bids him give up love and all at duty's call; Mine teaches me that though I love him so, he is my foe. (feeling pulse) Yes, I am brave... When the police hear the pirates off-stage, the written manuscript has them sing: They come in force, the bold, burglarious elves; Our obvious course is to conceal ourselves. And the pirates, between "With catlike tread," and "Come, friends" used to have: Gurr! Gurr! Gurr! Gurr! (imitating snoring) Ha! ha! Ho! ho! (Police: Tarantara! etc.)
The Pirate King yells, "Forward, my men, and seize that general there!" but his second line, "His life is over," was only in early American scripts, then cut. Frederic once sang "Alas! Alas! Unhappy General Stanley" after the King's similar reference. We are restoring the reprise of the "modern Major-General" song which once ended the show, followed by a dance, but are also keeping the "Poor wandering one" ending after it. We are omitting most of: Ruth: They are all noblemen who have gone wrong. General, Police, Girls: What! All noblemen? King, Pirates: Yes, all noblemen! G, P,G: What! All? King: Well, nearly all. All: They are nearly all noblemen who have gone wrong. Then give three cheers, both loud and strong, for the twenty noblemen who have gone wrong! General: No Englishman unmoved that statement hears, because with all our faults we love our House of Peers. (all kneel) All: Hail, ever hail, O House of Peers! To wisdom that mankind reveres we listen with respectful ears, For, Oh! We love our House of Peers! (all rise) General: I pray you...
Most alterations seem for the better, and their small number is also a good sign.
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