HMS Pinafore - Never Mind the Why or Wherefore

Essgee's production with Jon English Simon Gallaher Helen Donaldson Drew Forsythe David Gould.

[@letsxxtango]

"And a tar that plows the daughter!" Lol!

[@Spydur0ne]

WHAT?!?!

[@NewMusicWeekly]

I'd love to see W. S. Gilbert's reaction to that line. And whether he could work out what it meant by himself, or needed a hint.

[@peterfireflylund]

@@NewMusicWeekly pretty sure he intentionally skated close to it in the official lyrics -- and intended people to discover it themselves.

[@NewMusicWeekly]

​@@peterfireflylund It's possible. I've read that "plow" may be the origin of the word "fuck", which I wouldn't be surprised Gilbert knew: From linguitleteis.tumblr.com/post/39141549801/origin-of-the-word-fuck#:~:text=plow : Yet another possible etymology [for fuck] is from the Old High German word pfluog, meaning “to plow, as in a field.” So the slang use of "plow" may be quite ancient.

[@darcybrummett7004]

She was getting tipsy!

[@ajessm]

Interesting physique Sir Joseph has. He looks like a hunch-front

[@adventureswithaurora]

Palpatine!

[@SpenglerExtreme]

I only just noticed that this is, what seems to be, her first time drinking alcohol. She sniffs her first champagne before drinking it. She runs off multiple times to sneak more champagne for herself. And of course “A tar who ploughs the daughter.” Just little bits of acting that go unnoticed. I love it

[@ticklesyoumoistly]

Oo nice observation

[@darinchiasson]

She sneaks glances askance before pouring herself a glass. She was an experienced drinker before champagne was called by the unfortunate eye of his lordship

[@nedludd7622]

It is typical to sniff wine and champagne before drinking.

[@jrobinprescott]

This version is all kinds of hokey camp (not that there's anything bad about that, of course!), but I swear it has some of my favourite performances too. These three in particular are a delight

[@borzoix4]

This was fantastic.. I want the dvd..

[@TheMee4]

Gilbert and Sulllivan are timeless!

[@alexwehl2731]

Stupendiferous!

[@LoganHunter82]

That guy playing "Joseph Porter" looks like Harry Enfield

[@ajessm]

What are they using instead of an orchestra? Sounds like a hurdy-gurdy and a xylophone with some clackers thrown in. Whatever it is, it works.

[@thomashogan16]

So funny! And maybe a celeste.

[@YouaNumbahOneRacist]

Bah. I should have been in theatre.

[@Artenol68]

As a non-native English speaker, I have serious problems to understand changed text. Is there a way to read it somehwere?

[@karinkorenkova2059]

You can give me the timestamps and I can help you

[@coolmamac]

Not in my opinion.

[@tehblogger]

ok, if you are going to update G&S, this is certainly the way to do it. "I'll out-fox your trot, Lord Porter" is very clever, "won't see this at D'Oyly Carte" is a nice touch, and I almost fell off my chair laughing at "the tar who plows the daughter"...

[@thomasvanwely]

I wish I had seen this 9 years earlier so I could respond to this in time. But shit time flies and 9 years later I am feeling the exact same thing you did!

[@steerpike1359]

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN'S WORK DOES NOT NEED UPDATING, THEY SHOULD BE PERFORMED AS WRITTEN OR NOT AT ALL !

[@Spikeelsucko]

@@steerpike1359 This is a bad take, G&S understood the value of not being stuffy and creating an entertaining play, and that ad-lib, improvisation and interpretation are the lifeblood of theater. They wouldn't want lines wasted on references lost of most of the audience, the play should be entertaining in and of itself and "updated" gags don't lower the play just because it's more accessible. If you want a completely accurate historical version of the play I'm sure they're around.

[@karlandersson8652]

@@steerpike1359 All I can say is that I would have never seen the entire play in "traditional" format, but I watched this whole version and enjoyed it when it was up on youtube. There's no reason to not have "as written" versions for purists and historical interest, and then updated "fun" versions for the rest of us that just want to be entertained on terms we can understand better

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

@@Spikeelsucko Excellent take, Spik. I am reminded of a certain quote from the late Freddie Mercury: “You can do what you want with my music, but don't make me boring.”

[@timothypeterson4781]

I love how she makes her dress look like a bell. It's so small and simple but it makes me smile every time.

[@Three-Headed-Monkey]

Her "Ri-ing the merry bells on board ship" was great

[@ebbelille]

Yeah, that was actually a bit of rock n' roll injected into this otherwise quite circus-y reimagining of the song.

[@fastacker2]

The way she moves with that dress. she is the belle. gorgeous.

[@spetsnatzlegion3366]

Somehow this guy has less game than me which I didn’t think was possible

[@thedoeguy]

There's a wonderful tradition, that originated in D'Oyly Carte, to "embellish" this trio with spoof verses. This version is totally true to that tradition.

[@lachlang683]

John English! (26 March 1949 - 9 March 2016). Rest in peace. Thanks for sharing your love of performing, regardless of the genre. You have now truly achieved legend status!

[@darkhorse1773]

far toooo young!

[@TheKing-qz9wd]

Ploughs the water. Plows the water. Plows the daughter. (In sync with the guys on stage) *"WHAT?!?"*

[@jessicagray5658]

If anyone put's this whole movie on youtube I'll love them forever. I only have the video version and no video player...

[@lastbreathsigh]

it is already on youtube, just look up essgee pinafore and it should pop up

[@thomasvanwely]

@@lastbreathsigh It's now hidden but still on, I can give you the link if you won't tell ;)

[@brennag7378]

@@thomasvanwely me too please!

[@thomasvanwely]

@@brennag7378 watch?v=_vDsRd-IkZY

[@lordrettichvonwald3057]

@@thomasvanwely it doesnt work for me. is it the right link

[@starbug1409]

Sir Joseph: (tries to talk) (snorts)

[@rachelsquire7246]

starbug1409 smooth move if I do say so myself

[@ixarofthebargains493]

"And the tar who ploughs the Daughter" classic

[@tepesobrejac4360]

I'm not a native English speaker. Could you explain to me what it means. Google translate is just terrible.

[@dorkmax7073]

@@tepesobrejac4360 a "Tar" or a "Jacktar" was, in the 1890s when Gilbert and Sullivan wrote this opera, a common sailor. This comes from either the tarring of rope aboard a ship, or the tarring of work clothes. To "plow" a woman is a ribald euphemism for sex. Fornication. The song is about the Captain's daughter, and how her father wants her to marry his boss, the Lord of the Admiralty. But she is in love with a common Tar. The Lord of the Admiralty, being of the upper class, assumes her reluctance to marry him was because she was awed by his nobility, so he assures her that love shouldn't care about social class. This is why she jokes that he "makes his rival's case", because she can marry the common sailor with a clear conscience if rank does not matter.

[@tepesobrejac4360]

@@dorkmax7073 Thank you

[@battlewrathgaming5047]

I find Helen's movement simply enchanting and spritely!

[@connorsullivan2745]

When did Mr Bean join the navy?

[@brokenhallelujah87]

Wow, people get so worked up over this! Why do people care if someone updates a production that has been interpreted the same way for well over 100 years... different century, different humour, different demographic if you don't like Essgee there are a plethora of more traditional interpretations that you can watch... This comment may be irrelevant because most of the negative comments I read are from a couple of years ago but still! I am so so happy that this exists! I fall asleep watching any other version of G & S! "rumpy pumpy" hehe

[@theskycavedin]

brokenhallelujah87. Because it's not good. I don't want to see an "updated" anything where some unfunny modern hack shoves his own horseshit into a classic.

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

Wow, you really HAVE got a bee in your bonnet about this, haven't you?

[@YouaNumbahOneRacist]

God damn square. This was never _meant_ to be high class, it only became that way with time.

[@Mousy677]

@@YouaNumbahOneRacist Gilbert and Sullivan is basically a political comic where every concept is labelled with added dick jokes

[@henrymarks2237]

ratboy genius my favorite type of comedy

[@jonathantitterton9455]

my favorite line in this is "And the Tar who plows the daughter WHAT?!"

[@Sintar07]

Yeah, I was quite disappointed to find that that line seems to be unique to this version, or at least this is the only version I've seen on KZbin that includes it.

[@sciranger6703]

It's usaully "and a tar (low-class salior) you plows the water." But this is MUCH funnier.

[@crazyman8472]

Ring the merry bells! 😍

[@wanderingkernel5002]

"Now I've learnt the Hokey Pokey fever nights on Saturdays!"

[@deidreshand4641]

I love it when she said and the tar who plows the daughter when I first heard it I was only 12 or 13 so had no idea what was so funny about it until I was in my mid teens. From then on I don't think I'll ever forget it.

[@2HB2HB]

+Deidre Shand I was in the cast in our school musical (an aunt) and I didn't get it at 17 (it was 1974) but it cracks me up now.

[@2HB2HB]

+2HB2HB I think our music teacher was ahead of his time.

[@derricgreene]

I had to go back go make sure I heard right.

[@songsmith31a]

From the UK - the actor playing Sir Joseph brought to mind how Rowan (Mr Bean) Atkinson might have performed the role.

[@obiwanobiwan13]

@Tillyvalle Sullivan yes... Gilbert would've enjoyed the snarkiness, though, I think he'd be "nudging" Sullivan up there and saying, "Oh, lighten up, Arthur!" ;) But both were great, geniuses... I think Gilbert as a storyteller is underrated, and sometimes thought just good with Sullivan- but the truthi is its Gilbert AND Sullivan... one alone is great, but BOTH TOGETHER...

[@ignaciomoreno9655]

There is a lot of funny things in this song. But I think that the actress made one of the best performances of being tipsy: gestures, words...

[@jimhogue5544]

. . . and the tar who plows his daughter . . . Bold and hilarious additions throughout! Bravo.

[@thepantweaver]

This is an amazing adaptation of the song and show. It is wonderful, and the fun they're having is perfectly in line Gilbert and Sullivan.

[@Ignauhak]

5:01, after all the funny antics Sir Joseph got up to before with his nervousness, I found it JUST TOO FUNNY!!! I swear I was just an INCH from death by laughter!

[@brunomaples]

I love the addition of new verses. I think the traditional encores are a lot of fun, but this gives something new to people who have seen the usual oh so many times

[@thepantweaver]

Where do these alternate lyrics come from? I like the song so much better this way. And of course the performances are amazing.

[@lordprimus2410]

who knew that Palpatine had a good voice

[@Intrepidice]

”I am the senate of the Sea/the ruler of the imperial navee, Whose praise great Coruscant loudly chant/and so does his apprentice, his cousin, and his aunt ”

[@rosskerr1439]

Gosh, we're scared and gosh, we're frightened, 'Cause our itty-bitty new friend Has his teeny-weeny brain all set On blowing us to bits. O, how horrible, deplorable, This really is the pits!

[@TobinFell]

"Won't see this at D'Oyly Carte!"

[@Bucksavard28]

Is there anywhere I can watch this full production of Pinafore? It has some of my favorite renditions.

[@sarahmay1205]

Hahaha! The original is best, but this is pretty funny. 'Won't see this at D'Oyly Carte!'

[@masterofallthelakesintown2472]

Average discord mod with his kitten.

[@camarocico]

Oh, May all the Gods of Athens and Rome bless Gilbert and Sullivan! The muses have gifted these two gentlemen with such wit and rhythm that we poor ungifted mortals can only dream of... "Never Mind the Why and Wherefore!"

[@Smokr]

The Drew Forsythe Show! He freaking owned this production!

[@DarExc]

lol, I have always slipt that line in myself, I sung along with "and a tar who plows his daughter" by mistake once and always sung that afterwards ;p Cultural Filth you may believe it to be but most stuck up prudes said the same thing to their original performances...no offense.

[@dildonius]

People always forget that all this high-brow shit that stuff't shirt snobs think they're so much better than the commonfolk for liking and try to gatekeep - whether it's Gilbert & Sullivan or Billy Shakespeare - was considered low-brow shit for the common folk. The main section of Shakespeare's Globe Theater was one big, seatless moshpit-type area that was very VERY cheap to get into if not outright free, so that the average peasant could enjoy the show, while the upper classes paid to sit way up above them in the balconies. And the performances could get damn rowdy as the commoners would harass and heckle the actors, even throw shit at them if the play was a bomb or the actors were botching their performance. It was far from the stuffed-shirt, champagne & monocles, high-society, "Well I SAY, old sport!" type of affair that performances of Shakespeare's plays are thought of today. And Gilbert & Sullivan's whole entire thing is relentless mocking of the ridiculous, self-serious, stuffy, humorless, uptight dipshits who comprised the upper class in their day and HATED their plays ("...and whistle all the airs from that INFERNAL NONSENSE _Pinafore!_ -The Major General, _The Pirates of Penzance_ by G&S). But of course now that same class of self-serious, stuffy assholes have appropriate their works.

[@FOLIPE]

@@dildonius It's not true that the upper classes hated G&S they were both wildly acclaimed in their time. Gilbert was even knighted.

[@Elanchana]

Nevermind the why or wherefore, whoops, I think my underwear tore! XDD

[@PcCAvioN]

I can't tell if i love or hate the 80s synth orchestra

[@BlankJohnA]

Hate it

[@Coldstreamer17]

Actually this was recorded and performed in the late 90s XD

[@colinmccauley3301]

attended "Pirates of Penzance" many years ago by D'Oyly Carte in Boston. to see on video is one thing but in person, truly a once in a lifetime experience.

[@camarocico]

And furthermore, may the blessings of Olympus be upon them who have so bravely and fiercely butchered the verses that the muses hath enspired to the original authors!

[@daisybtoes]

@Dayvd Allen Where DO you find these DVDs? I've been looking for them for ages. And do they play on American players?

[@Steampunksaly]

Magnificent casting, beautiful costumes, backdrop and staging and choreography- it’s of the highest I have ever seen in this production - but sadly the organ accompaniment ( as skilled as it is) spoils this production for me - these talented singers and actors are undermined by the musical accompaniment, a great shame in my opinion

[@camarocico]

Some would say "The Pirates of Penzance" or "The Sorcerer" may be as famed as "HMS Pinafore" and "Mikado". But why would we argue, Gilbert and Sullivan could seem to do no wrong in my opinion! Exquisite!

[@jonprescott-sears5644]

I don't mind the liberties that they took with this production; it is entertaining and not too gimmicky. BUT the rinky-dink synthesizer in the orchestra pit sounds like five wind-up music boxes. You had a nice set, nice costumes, excellent performers... you couldn't spring for a decent orchestra? SMH.

[@paxxop]

What a joy to find this! I loved watching the original essgee productions of G&S and seeing this reminds me why. Was unaware it had been released on DVD, now I have to go find it!

[@jocelynpink1120]

Brilliant! I'm a great G&S fan!

[@karinkorenkova2059]

Is it just me, or does the synthesizer sound very sea-like

[@silvercat18]

His understanding of the female creature is legend.

[@tamlandipper29]

I love this version of the Sea Lord.

[@vulpezerdavulcan9055]

I love how the music is almost carnival-esque

[@michaelexman5474]

mr been goes to the opera

[@darcybrummett7004]

4:33 Anyone notice what Sir Joseph was doing?

[@craigabaybii07]

hahahaha this is brilliant can someone gt me the dvd???/

[@joules780]

why cant we have music like this today . I can't get enough

[@thepantweaver]

@XlightassassenX I'll admit many of the new lyrics in this production are really just quite silly, but I really think "I'll out-fox your trot, Lord Porter" is awfully clever, and very fun.

[@dauferm]

And the tar who ploughs the daughter? lol

[@eclecticdufus]

@MrSwifts31 That must have been a wonderful (if often grueling) experience. Of course, performers have been trying to add stage business ever since Barrington on the grounds that it gets a laugh. And Gilbert's unaswerable riposte was so would it if you sat down on a pork pie. OK, "tar that plows the daughter" is pretty funny. The real crime here is as you say--replacing Sullivan's great orchestration with cheap synthesized crap.

[@sallysmith9733]

Healthcare, was Sloth in the making. Well the Mp, s. Who was twixt. Lets pass on to the Upperr crust. Lets look at this wealth, could be sold. Create a Health. System. That would not be laden to a Commonwealth.

[@sallysmith9733]

Lets look at the water council. Lets look at at the Drain system in. The British Council. Lets Upgrade. Or Demolition.That is not woorking

[@timthorman7029]

The synthesizer is an interesting addition.

[@DaMav]

Hah hah hah Excellent!!

[@GeorgetownDude]

LOL -- Your's is the funniest comment I have ever read on Tube. Good on you, mate.

[@randybobos]

i like the stuff they added

[@zammer990]

5:26 anyone know what they say?

[@adambrown7600]

Naval gazing was amazing dancing hornbacks was the craze something like that anyway.

[@dorkmax7073]

So what is a Tar and how does one become such a thing

[@pinkroseperson256]

A lower-class sailor, like the guy that Josephine actually wants to marry.

[@speedweed6747]

You gotta plow the water, man! I get what you’re saying though👊

[@zelalife2559]

Can someone tell me what the new lyrics are after the 5:10 timeline

[@2HB2HB]

I love this

[@MateusVIII]

Anyone knows where i can get this version to watch all of it?

[@GregJamesMusic]

Sir Joseph’s expression at 0:25 is priceless. Very Mr. Bean-esque.

[@alicejingles8643]

It makes me think deeply that I talk like this regularly.. I would sound like the old dude if I were actually a dude

[@jasonmatthews534]

Merry bells rhythm?

[@sallysmith9733]

Drainage, historical, is a work in General. Lets upgrade.

[@lordrettichvonwald3057]

i would love to see this particular performance is it aviable anywhere this seems to be best i found.

[@marilynscott-waters7786]

I loved this song and personally want that magic Champagne bottle.

[@kathywil1]

absolutely wonderful.i love it

[@verkaforever]

What?! 😂

[@ulca01]

I couldn't help laughing when I saw Sir Joseph's facial expressions (especially in the few minutes of this clip) and the way he talks; very funny. The play seems to have been updated a little bit, according to my research the line "and a tar who plows the daughter", wasn't in the original; instead that particular line was "and a tar who plows the water"

[@barbarbarbar2]

Love it love it very much

[@0800Author]

I agree!!!!!

[@Wraithriel]

@Johnmartine63 I have it on VHS... I would LOVE to watch it again, I'll try and see about getting it transferred.

[@williamavalon4830]

Glorious ...!!!

[@lskarin]

Gilbert would have approved. Diction -- impecible. Local references? I don't know. I'm not a kiwi. Makes you proud of your language.

[@PhoenixBorealis]

We just studied Gilbert and Sullivan in Music Theater Appreciation. lol Comic Geniuses. :D

[@Lightney]

@alloallofan1 I'll out fox your trot, lord porter. Pun on the Dance the Fox Trot :)

[@msfyn]

@Johnmartine63 yes there is. ABC shops have it - if a problem -yell

[@webz3589]

You won't see this at d'oyle Carte

[@zetabyte99]

@EternallyGodBless i don't think so, they added words! and changed them around

[@alfredjonathankwak955]

This song was remade on the pdp-1x

[@stitchesandstaples]

@Johnmartine63 Yes there is - I got mine from the ABC shop in Australia.

[@zetabyte99]

@letsxxtango i guess she's having some odd thoughts.....

[@darcybrummett7004]

6:19 “Whoops, I think my underwear tore.” LOL

[@vking8084]

Ya hahaha

[@vking8084]

Rip john reed

[@obiwanobiwan13]

@EternallyGodBless Oh, you swore a Big Big D! ;)