OPERA SEARCH
Jolly Roger
(1933)Libretto by V C Clinton-Baddeley based on a book by Clinton-Baddeley and Scobie Mackenzie (E)
2S,M,A,3T,3Bar,B; chorus
1.1.2.1-2.2.1.0-timp.perc:tgl/cym/SD/BD/ratchet/glsp/tamb/cast/
tap-box/cowbell-harp-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
The Opera House, Manchester
Company: unknown
| SIR RODERICK VENOM, the cruel governor of Jamaica | Tenor |
| SIR WILLIAM ROWLOCKS, Admiral of the Fleet and Their Majesties' Emiisary to the West Indies | Tenor |
| JOLLY ROGER, a young Planter, wrongly accused of piracy | Tenor |
| BOLD BEN BLISTER, late of the Royal Navy and his faithful companion | Bass |
| THE BLOODY PIRATE, the terror of the Spanish Main | Baritone |
| DIRTY DICK, LONG TOM, two cut-throats at his beck and call | Baritones |
| HARRY LEECH, a longshoreman | speaking role |
| A VERY SMALL PIRATE | speaking role |
| AMELIA, the Admiral's daughter | Soprano |
| MISS FLORA POTT, her companion | Mezzo Soprano |
| PRUDENCE WARY, her maid | Contralto |
| BELLA, a colonial young lady | Soprano |
| Company of Pirates, Longshoremen, Officers, Ladies of colonial society, Women of the town | chorus |
In and about the town of Kingston, Jamaica, 1690
Sir Roderick Venom, the Governor of Jamaica, is attempting to divert attention from his complicity with the lawless pirates by arresting the innocent planter Jolly Roger and, having labelled him 'the Bloody Pirate', ordering his public flogging. Recently arrived from England, however, are the Admiral Sir William Rowlocks, his daughter Amelia and various companions, come to put an end to Venom's tyrannical rule. Rowlocks prevents the punishment, though Jolly Roger is still dispatched to the coalhole, while Venom pursues his nefarious schemes by plotting with the real pirates to kidnap the Admiral and his party, throw the men overboard and distribute the women among the pirates themselves. Roger is freed from the coalhole by his friend Ben Blister and, meeting up with Amelia, they declare their love.
Venom's scheme starts well, however, with the Admiral and the women held captive aboard the pirate ship, though the worst is held off by Rowlocks's lectures to the hardened crew on moral rectitude. Roger and Ben's rescue attempt is only a partial success, since they and the Admiral are still thrown overboard, but fortunately they manage to clamber into a boat moored alongside and escape. The Governor continues to hold Amelia, however, and is on the point of marrying her when Roger and Ben arrive, only to be captured again. They are saved by the Admiral, who turns up with a Royal Decree depriving Venom of his office. He and the pirates are ushered away to execution, and various appropriate marriages are announced, most notably that of Jolly Roger with Amelia.
Comic, Romantic