Auditions

Please call June Forway on (01480) 300409 to arrange an audition slot for the Sunday auditions
All auditions will be by appointment

Major-General Stanley: (comic baritone) Father to a group of young women who are Wards in Chancery. He’s extremely lovable. Must be able to handle the classic G&S patter song “I Am The Very Model of a Modern Major General”. Able to dance an advantage.

A noble British Army General, up-to-date on all modern knowledge – but not necessarily the greatest actual military commander ever... Also a bit of a nouveau riche and a snob to boot. Possessed of a huge family of daughters.

The Pirate King: (baritone) Leader of the band of pirates. This role is open to a variety of interpretations ranging from the traditional fatherly pirate captain to the contemporary swashbuckling pirate captain. Good mover

Leader of the villainous Pirates of Penzance, Swashbuckling, charming, roguish, dashing, phwoar! Sworn foe of Major-General Stanley.

Frederic: (tenor) A slave to duty. Once apprenticed to the band of pirates, but now free of his indentures having reached his twenty-first birthday. In love with Mabel.

A fine upstanding young man, and a powerful addition to the Pirate crew, but secretly planning to leave them when he completes his apprenticeship

Trusty chief henchman of the Pirate King, running a tight and efficient Piratical operation with the aid of his wooden leg, hook, tricorner hat, parrot and big pistol.

Sergeant of Police: (baritone to bass) Leader of the troop of policemen. Must be a dancer.

The local commander of the motley cowardly Police force, always trying to spur them on to bravery with very little success: doomed to be sent into futile battle against the much tougher Pirates. Poor fellow.

Men’s chorus of Pirates and Policemen. Able to move would be an advantage and have rhythm.

Pirates - The most villainous, cut-throat, swashbuckling, gang of corsairs to come out of England since Raleigh. Hurrah!

Police - The poor, cowardly, doomed local constabulary, no match for the tough Pirates.

Ruth: (contralto) The nursery maid who apprenticed Frederic to the band of pirates due to being hard of hearing. Romantically scorned by Frederic because of her 47 years, she has now become a “Piratical maid of all work”.

Frederic's childhood nursemaid, now a little advanced in years but still hoping to marry the handsome young fellow. She's served in the Pirate crew and survived, so she's one tough cookie

Mabel:(soprano) In love with Frederic. Must be able to handle the song “Poor Wandering One” with its coloratura trills and cadenzas

The geeky, bookish, bullied, put-upon, daughter of Major-General Stanley, who sees her chance when she sees Frederic, lets down her hair, throws away her specs and falls instantly in love, much to Frederic's mutual delight. Why Miss Stanley, you're beautiful!.

Leaders of Major-General Stanley's huge gang of daughters, taunters of the cowardly Police, battlers with the Pirates, and secretly quite partial to a bit of rough Pirate...

Chorus of Daughters to Major-General Stanley. Able to move would be an advantage and have rhythm.

The multitudinous family of Major-General Stanley, young and beautiful the lot of them –
and torn between propriety and lust when presented with hot young Pirate beefcake...

The Directors would prefer to hear the pieces listed,
or other G&S piece if you are auditioning for a major role.
All roles require strong musical comedy voices.
All roles, including chorus roles, provide ample stage time.

Character	Lib	Score (using the Chappell score)
MAJOR-GENERAL STANLEY - Baritone	P13 -14 P17	Act I no.13 pp.61 – 65 Act II no. 14 pp.155 – 156	‘I am the very model’ (1^st verse) ‘Sighing softly to the river’ (1st verse)
FREDERIC (the Pirate Apprentice) - Tenor	P2 – 4 P17 P21 – 22	Act I no. 7 pp.37 (last note) – 39 Act II no. 5 pp. 120 – 121	‘Oh is there not one maiden here’ (2^nd verse) ‘Dear me, let’s see’
THE PIRATE KING - Baritone	P2-3 P13-14 P21 – 22	Act I no. 3 pp.18 – 20 Act I no 14 p. 79	‘Oh better far to live and die (1^st verse + chorus) ‘Although our dark career’
SAMUEL (the Pirate King's Lieutenant) - Baritone	P1 – 2	Act I no. 1 pp.13 – 15	‘For today our Pirate ‘prentice’
RUTH (a Pirate Maid of all Work) - Alto	P4 – 5 P21 – 22	Act I no. 2 pp. 16 – 17	‘When Fred’ric was a little lad’ (verses 1&2)
MABEL - Soprano	P24	Act II no. 8 pp. 130-132 Act I no. 8 pp. 43-45	‘Stay, Fred’ric, stay!. Poor wan’dring one’ (2^nd part)
EDITH – Sop/Mezzo soprano	P7	Act I no. 5 pp. 29 – 31	‘Let us gaily tread the measure’
KATE - Sop/Mezzo soprano	P7	Act I no. 5 pp. 31 – 32	‘Far away from toil and care’
ISABEL	P7
SERGEANT OF POLICE Baritone	P24 - 25	Act II no. 10 pp.142 – 144	‘When a felon’s not engaged’ (1^st verse)
PIRATES
POLICE
DAUGHTERS

Wednesday 22nd October	8.00pm	Get together and sing-through
Monday 27th October	7.30pm	Sing through / audition practice
Wednesday 29th October	8.00pm	Sing through / audition practice
Sunday 9th November	2.00pm - 6.00pm	Auditions
Monday 10th November	7.30pm	Call-backs if required