Alice B. Woodward: Illustrations to THE PINAFORE PICTURE BOOK by Sir. W. S. Gilbert

H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor, is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened in London, England, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation. This is not that opera.

It was adapted as a children's book by W. S. Gilbert entitled The Story of HMS Pinafore, or The Pinafore Picture Book, and includes some lovely illustrations by Alice B. Woodward.

 Frontispiece

Ralph Rackstraw in the Rigging

 In short, he did everything possible  to make everybody thoroughly ill and happy

Little Buttercup

 "I know who takes sugar-plums to bed with him".

Sir Joseph Porter was one of the many people who had fallen in a victim to the beauty of Miss Josephine Corcoran.

 "My gallant crew, good morning!"

The good captain was distressed to see his dear daughter in this bilious frame of mind.

 Sir Jospeh Porter and his female relations

 Luncheon in the Waedroom

So she came on deck to indulge in a rêverie all alone.

 So saying, with tell-tale tears streaming down her face, she strode magnificently to her cabin.

 Dick Deadeye dipped into the flour-bin

 Her short and snappish replies to Sir Joseph's pretty speeches at dinner.

Little Buttercup and the Capatin

 "What are you trying to do?" said Sir Joseph

"Madame, it has been represented to me that you are appalled at my exalted rank".

"Deadeye!" said the captain, "You here? Don't!"

 "Naughty daughter of mine, I insist upon knowing "

A couple of Marines marched him off under the command of the smallest midshipman  in the ship.

"I mixed those children up"

 Captain Rackstraw tries to catch sight of his epaulettes

 Corcoran presented blushing little Buttercup to Sir Josephm who gave her sixpence on the spot.

Endpapers