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Trial by Jury - The Story

The curtain rises on the Court of the Exchequer where a jury and the public assemble to hear a case of breach of promise of marriage. The Usher introduces the proceedings by exhorting the jury to listen to the broken-hearted Plaintiff's case.

The Defendant (Edwin) arrives, and the jurymen greet him with hostility, even though, as he points out, they have as yet no idea of the merits of his case. He tells them, with surprising candour, that he jilted the Plaintiff because she became an intense bore to him, and he then quickly took up with another woman. The jurymen recall their own wayward youth, but they are now respectable gentlemen and no longer have any sympathy for the Defendant.

The Judge enters with great pomp and describes how he rose to his position – by courting a rich attorney's elderly, ugly daughter. The jury is then sworn in, and the Plaintiff (Angelina) is summoned. She is preceded into the courtroom by her bridesmaids, one of whom catches the eye of the judge. However, when Angelina herself arrives in full wedding dress, she instantly captures the heart of both Judge and jury.

The Counsel for the Plaintiff makes a moving speech detailing Edwin's betrayal. Angelina feigns distress and staggers, first into the arms of the Foreman of the Jury, and then of the Judge. Edwin counters, explaining that his change of heart is only natural for nature is constantly changing. He offers to marry both the Plaintiff and his new love, if that would satisfy everyone.

The Judge at first finds this a reasonable proposition, but the Counsel points out that it is a rather serious crime to marry two wives at a time. Perplexed, everyone in court ponders the dilemma.

Angelina desperately embraces Edwin, demonstrating the depth of her love, and bemoans her loss – all in evidence of the large amount of damages that the jury should force Edwin to pay. Edwin, in turn, says he is a smoker, a drunkard, and a bully (when tipsy), and that the Plaintiff could not have endured him even for a day; thus the damages should be small.

The Judge suggests making Edwin tipsy to see , but everyone else (except Edwin) objects to this experiment. Impatient at the lack of progress, the Judge resolves the case by offering to marry Angelina himself!

HMS Pinafore - The Story

The British warship HMS Pinafore is at anchor off Portsmouth. Little Buttercup comes on board to sell her wares to the crew. She hints that she may be hiding a dark secret.

Ralph Rackstraw enters, declaring his love for the Captain's daughter, Josephine. His fellow sailors (excepting Dick Deadeye, the grim and ugly realist of the crew) offer their sympathies, but they can give Ralph little hope that his love will ever be returned.

The gentlemanly Captain greets his crew and confesses to Little Buttercup that Josephine is reluctant to consider a marriage proposal from Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Buttercup says that she knows how it feels to love in vain.

Josephine enters and reveals to her father that she loves a humble sailor in his crew, but she assures him that she is a dutiful daughter and will never reveal her love to this sailor. Sir Joseph comes on board, accompanied by his admiring crowd of sisters, cousins and aunts. He recounts how he rose from humble beginnings to reach his current position.

Shortly afterwards, Ralph decides that he will declare his love to Josephine. This delights his shipmates, except Dick Deadeye. Josephine enters, and Ralph confesses his love in terms surprisingly eloquent for a common sailor. Josephine is touched, but although she has found Sir Joseph's attentions nauseating, she knows that it is her duty to marry Sir Joseph instead of Ralph. Disguising her true feelings, she rejects Ralph.

Ralph summons his shipmates and tells them that he is bent on suicide. The crew expresses sympathy, except for Dick, who provides a stark counterpoint of dissent. Ralph puts a pistol to his head, but as he is about to pull the trigger, Josephine enters, admitting that she loves him after all. Ralph and Josephine plan to sneak ashore to elope that night.

Later that night, under a full moon, the Captain Corcoran reviews his concerns. Little Buttercup offers sympathy. He tells her that, if it were not for the difference in their social standing, he would have returned her affection. Sir Joseph enters and complains that Josephine has not yet agreed to marry him. The Captain speculates that she is probably dazzled by his exalted rank and that she will accept his proposal.

They withdraw, and Josephine enters, still feeling guilty about her planned elopement with Ralph and fearful of giving up a life of luxury. When Sir Joseph makes the argument that love levels all ranks, a delighted Josephine says that she will hesitate no longer. The Captain and Sir Joseph rejoice, but Josephine is now more determined than ever to marry Ralph.

Dick Deadeye intercepts the Captain and tells him of the lovers' plans to elope. Sir Joseph orders the Captain confined to his cabin and Ralph taken to the ship's dungeon.

Little Buttercup now comes forward to reveal her long-held secret. Many years ago, when she was a young nursemaid, she had cared for two babies, one of low condition, the other a regular patrician. She confesses that she mixed those children up... the wellborn babe was Ralph and the Captain was the other.

Sir Joseph summons both, and they emerge wearing one another's uniforms: Ralph as Captain, in command of the Pinafore, and the Captain as a common sailor. Sir Joseph's marriage with Josephine is now out of the question in his eyes. The former Captain's now-humble social rank leaves him free to marry Buttercup. Sir Joseph settles for his cousin Hebe, and all ends in general rejoicing.

Text courtesy of Wikipedia