Pineapple Poll

Pineapple Poll is a Gilbert and Sullivan inspired comic ballet, created by choreographer John Cranko with arranger Sir Charles Mackerras. Pineapple Poll is based on "The Bumboat Woman's Story," one of W. S. Gilbert's Bab Ballads. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera H.M.S. Pinafore was also based in part on this story.

The copyright on Sullivan's music expired in 1950, and Pineapple Poll premiered in March 1951 at Sadler's Wells Theatre by the Sadler's Wells Ballet, as part of the Festival of Britain. The production was designed by Sir Osbert Lancaster who later designed the D'Oyly Carte's production of The Sorcerer (1971).

The first American production was given by the Joffrey Ballet in 1970. In recent years, the ballet has fallen out of the professional repertory in the USA, although there was a revival in 2004 by Spectrum Dance Theater of Seattle, with new choreography by Donald Byrd.

In the UK the ballet remains in the repertoire of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, with a run of performances in 2006 and a further run scheduled for 2007.

The score, or excerpts from it, has been recorded at least seven times, including four performances conducted by Mackerras himself.

Mackerras arranged the score of Pineapple Poll from the music of Arthur Sullivan, relying on the Savoy Operas, as well as Sullivan's comic opera Cox and Box (written with F. C. Burnand), and Sullivan's Overture di Ballo. Mackerras knew the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire well, as he had played oboe in a pit orchestra in Sydney, where all of the Savoy Operas were played except for Utopia Limited and The Grand Duke — and those two operas are not represented in Pineapple Poll.

In The Music of Arthur Sullivan (1959, p. 161), Gervase Hughes wrote, "Although the orchestration is disfigured by over-reliance on glissando harps and succulent counter-subjects for the horns, much of the music comes over well in its new guise, and the combination of a melody from the opening chorus of Patience with the second act quintet from The Gondoliers is quite brilliant."

Synopsis

Scene 1

H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun has arrived in Portsmouth and the sailors, who are on shore leave, meet some pretty town's girls whom they like. Pineapple Poll then arrives with a basket of flowers. The sailors buy the flowers from Pineapple Poll to give to their girlfriends, some doing so reluctantly. Jasper, the 'pot boy' at the local Inn, serves drinks to some of the sailors. Jasper is very interested in Pineapple Poll, but she haughtily rejects his proferred love.

Captain Belaye of the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun then arrives and the sailors are horrified when their girlfriends swoon at the sight of the Captain. The sailors attempt to stop the girls, without success. Pineapple Poll also tries to capture the Captain's attention, but she does not have Jasper's restraining hand to stop her.

When Captain Belaye is finally left alone, a girl (Blanche) arrives with her Aunt (Mrs. Dimple). It is love at first sight for both Captain Belaye and Blanche. Mrs. Dimple is initially opposed to the Captain's interest in her niece, but she finally relents.

When Captain Belaye returns to the port, the town's girls and Pineapple Poll once again try to capture his interest. Captain Belaye manages to escape from the girls with much difficulty and the girls are then left sighing after the Captain – while the members of his crew vent their anger against him.

Scene 2

It is nightfall and some 'sailors' go up the gangplank to board the ship. Pineapple Poll then arrives on the wharf with some naval clothes in which she then dresses herself (off-stage), following which Pineapple Poll also then goes up the gangplank to the ship.

Jasper arrives at the wharf and is devastated to find Pineapple Poll's clothes, and mistakenly assumes that Pineapple Poll has drowned. Despondently, he gathers up Pineapple Poll's clothing and leaves.

Scene 3

The following morning, on board the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun, Captain Belaye is taking his 'crew' through drill. Although his 'crew' is dressed in the usual ship's uniforms, they are far smaller in build than usual — however, the Captain does not seem to realise that there is a disparity in their heights. The uniform which Pineapple Poll is wearing is not a uniform which a sailor would wear on board the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun, and she continually exercises on ballet 'points' (on her toes), but the Captain seems to be oblivious to anything unusual about her as well. Captain Belaye also does not notice that his 'sailors' are looking up adoringly at him. When the cannon is fired, he is surprised at the reaction of the 'sailors', including Pineapple Poll (who faints at the sound). A church bell then tolls in the distance and the Captain leaves the ship. A short while later, the Captain returns to the ship with Blanche (who is dressed as a bride) and Mrs. Dimple. The 'crew' all faint with shock. Pineapple Poll is the first to recover and to demonstrate to Captain Belaye that she is a girl. Then the other 'sailors' also demonstrate that they, too, are girls. Blanche is horrified, as is her Aunt, at the ship's crew all being girls, and the Captain looks stunned.

Then the ship's genuine crew arrive, as does Jasper. The sailors are very annoyed with their girlfriends, and the girls have to coax and cajole the sailors to take them back. Jasper has a tougher time with Pineapple Poll, who is still hankering after the Captain.

Belaye, who has now been promoted to the rank of Admiral, returns to the deck with his bride, Blanche, and Blanche's Aunt, Mrs. Dimple. Pineapple Poll swoons at the sight of the Admiral, much to Jasper's distress. Mrs. Dimple calls to Jasper and then gives him the Admiral's former Captain's attire. Jasper puts on the Captain's hat and coat — with him then becoming the new Captain of the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun as a result (even though Jasper has never been a sailor) and Pineapple Poll's affections and interest are immediately transferred from the Admiral to Jasper. The sailors of the H.M.S. Hot Cross Bun are most displeased at the sudden elevation of the 'pot boy' to being their Captain, and they openly show their disdain for him.

All of the girls then return to the ship's deck, wearing their own clothes, and are welcomed back by their delighted boyfriends. The girls swoon at the sight of Jasper in his new Captain's uniform, but this time the sailors are able to keep their girlfriends in check and all ends happily.

Ballet music

Scene 1=

• Opening Dance
• Poll's Solo and Pas de Deux
• Belaye's Solo
• Pas de trois
• Finale

Music used in Scene 1

• "The Mikado" — "Trial by Jury" — "Patience" — "The Sorcerer" — "The Gondoliers" — "Cox and Box" — "The Pirates of Penzance" — "Ruddigore"

Scene 2

• Poll's Solo
• Jasper's Solo

Music used in Scene 2

• "Iolanthe" — "Princess Ida"

Scene 3

• Belaye's Solo and Sailors' Drill
• Poll's Solo
• Entrance of Belaye and Blanche as Bride
• Reconciliation
• Grand Finale

Music used in Scene 3

• "Princess Ida" — "The Gondoliers" — "Ruddigore" — "Trial by Jury" — "Iolanthe" — "Patience" — "The Mikado" — "H.M.S. Pinafore" — "Overture Di Ballo" — "Yeomen of the Guard"

References

• Hughes, Gervase (1959). The Music of Sir Arthur Sullivan. London: Macmillan & Co Ltd.

External links

• Pineapple Poll plot and musical references at The Gilbert & Sullivan Archive

• Pineapple Poll at The Gilbert & Sullivan Discography

• Pineapple Poll – the Burgess Hill Symphony Orchestra

• Pineapple Poll - Gilbert and Sullivan Shop online

• Pineapple Poll & H.M.S. Pinafore performance photos – Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society

• Text of the Bab Ballad, "The Bumboat Woman's Story"