LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 CHARACTERS & NAVAL RANKS THE RT. HON SIR JOSEPH PORTER , K.C.B. (First Lord of the Admiralty ) The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty were the members of the Board of Admiralty, which exercised command over the Royal Navy. The president of the Board was known as the First Lord of the Admiralty, or First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, who was a member of the Cabinet. Page 1 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 CAPTAIN CORCORAN (Commanding H.M.S. Pinafore ) Any naval officer who commands a ship (titled commanding officer, or CO) is addressed by naval custom as "captain" while aboard in command. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation and crew management. TOM TUCKER (Midshipmite ) Midshipmite: a small or very young midshipman. A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. During the 19 th century, changes in the training of naval officers in both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy led to the replacement of apprenticeship aboard ships with formal schooling in a naval college. Midshipman began to mean an officer cadet at a naval college. Trainees now spent around four years in a college and two years at sea prior to promotion to commissioned officer rank. Between the mid-19 th and mid-20 th centuries, time at sea declined to less than a year as the entry age was increased from 12 to 18. RALPH RACKSTRAW (Able Seaman ) In the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 18 th century, the term Able Seaman (abbreviated AB) referred to a seaman with at least two years’ experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landsmen or ordinary seamen. DICK DEADEYE (Able Seaman ) In the British Royal Navy in the middle of the 18 th century, the term Able Seaman (abbreviated AB) referred to a seaman with at least two years’ experience at sea. Seamen with less experience were referred to as landsmen or ordinary seamen. BILL BOBSTAY (Boatswain ) A boatswain or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship’s deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews. Other duties vary depending on the type of ship, her crewing, and other factors. BOB BECKET (Boatswain’s Mate – Carpenter ) A ship’s carpenter specializes in shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair techniques and carpentry specific to nautical needs; usually the term refers to a carpenter who has a post on a specific ship. Steel warships as well as wooden ones need ship’s carpenters, especially for making emergency repairs in the case of battle or storm damage. JOSEPHINE (the Captain’s Daughter ) HEBE (Sir Joseph’s First Cousin ) MRS . CRIPPS (L ITTLE BUTTERCUP ) ( A Portsmouth Bumboat Woman ) A bumboat is a small boat used to ferry supplies to ships moored away from the shore. First Lord’s Sisters, his Cousins, his Aunts, Sailors, Marines, etc. Page 2 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 OTHER RANKS AND TERMS JACK TAR Jack Tar was a common English term used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire. Both members of the public, and seafarers themselves, made use of the name in identifying those who went to sea. It was not used as an offensive term and sailors were happy to use the term to label themselves. In the age of wooden sailing vessels, a ship's rigging was rope made of hemp, which would rot quickly in such a damp environment. To avoid this, the ropes and cables of the standing rig were soaked in tar, which had to be replenished by tarring. MESSMATE —a person, especially a friend, who is a member of a group regularly, taking meals together, as in an army camp. CHIEF STEWARD A chief steward is the senior unlicensed crew member working in the Steward's Department of a ship. In the British Merchant Navy, a steward is a junior member of the department, and so the term "chief steward" is always used for the senior member. The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals. Moreover, the steward oversees cleaning and maintaining officers' quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. The chief steward also plans menus, compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records. The steward may also requisition or purchase stores and equipment. Other duties may include baking bread and other baked goods. A chief steward's duties may overlap with those of the Steward's Assistant, the Chief Cook, and other Steward's Department crew members. CHIEF COOK A chief cook (often shortened to cook) is a senior unlicensed crewmember working in the steward's department of a merchant ship. The chief cook directs and participates in the preparation and serving of meals; determines timing and sequence of operations required to meet serving times; inspects galley and equipment for cleanliness and proper storage and preparation of food. The cook may plan or assist in planning meals and taking inventory of stores and equipment. STOKERS Marine engineer officers emerged with the arrival of marine engines for propulsion, largely during the latter half of the 19th century. Early marine engineers were known as "stokers" as they 'stoked' the coal fires of steam engined ships more or less from the middle of the 19th to the middle of the 20th centuries; the term is still used affectionately by modern ship's engineering staff to describe their role. ENSIGN Ensign (pronounced /ˈɛnsən/) is a junior rank of commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name (In nautical use, an ensign in the form of a flag is usually flown at the stern of a ship or boat to indicate its nationality. Ensigns Page 3 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 may also be flown from the gaff of a ship, and may be shifted to a yardarm when the ship is under way, where it is known as a steaming ensign .). COXSWAIN The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain ; which can be rendered as boy, in authority. In the Royal Navy in the days of sail, the Coxswain was a Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer who commanded a Captain's or Admiral's barge. MASTER -AT -ARMS A Master-at-Arms (MA) may be a naval rating responsible for discipline and law enforcement, an army officer responsible for physical training, or a member of the crew of a merchant ship (usually a passenger vessel) responsible for security and law enforcement. COMMON ANGLOPHONE MILITARY RANKS Navies Armies Air forces OFFICERS Admiral of Marshal / Marshal of the Fleet Field Marshal the Air Force Admiral General Air Marshal Commodore Brigadier Air Commodore Captain Colonel Group Captain Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wing Commander Lieutenant Major / Squadron Commander Commandant Leader Lieutenant Captain Flight Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant Flying Officer Ensign 2nd Lieutenant Pilot Officer Midshipman Officer Cadet Officer Cadet SEAMEN , SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN Warrant Officer Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Petty Officer Sergeant Sergeant Leading Seaman Corporal Corporal Seaman Private Aircraftman Page 4 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 SHIP DIAGRAM FORECASTLE (F OC ’SLE ) Found at the bow (front) of the ship, the forecastle had various roles. It was from here that the sails and yards (spars) on the main and fore masts were controlled. The crew were allowed to use the forecastle in their off duty periods rather than staying 'below decks'. It was also the deck from which the anchors were lowered and stowed. Page 5 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 POOP DECK Located at the stern, this short deck takes its name from the Latin word puppis - which means after deck or rear. Guns were rarely carried on this deck. It was mainly used as a viewpoint and signalling platform. The poop deck also gave protection to the men at the wheel and provided a roof for the captain's cabin. The ropes controlling the yards (spars) and sails of the main and mizzen masts were operated from the poop deck. Page 6 of 7 LAKESHORE LIGHT OPERA INC STAGE DIRECTOR : JONATHAN CURZI PREPARATORY NOTES : HMS PINAFORE 2011-2012 QUARTER DECK OF THE HMS VICTORY QUARTER DECK The quarterdeck was the nerve centre of the ship. It was from here, on the 21st October 1805, that Captain Hardy controlled Victory and Admiral Lord Nelson directed the British fleet during the battle of Trafalgar. This made it a prime target for enemy fire during a battle. BRITISH NAVAL CADETS DANCING THE HORNPIPE IN 1928 Page 7 of 7 .