English: An illustration of a scene from
H.M.S. Pinafore from the original theatre poster and playbill created for the original production in 1878 at the
Opera Comique in London. The characters shown, from left to right foreground, are Josephine, Little Buttercup (with hat), Cousin Hebe (?), Sir Joseph (above, on bridge), Captain Corcoran with boatcloak and cat 'o nine tails, Ralph, Dick Deadeye (with blond beard). The character crouching at right is likely intended to be the Boatswain.
The scene depicted is consistent with the moment in Act II after Captain Corcoran's line: "... to seek your Captain's child in marriage, why Damme, it's too bad!" Note that Sir Joseph has entered but does not yet seem to have heard the Captain's oath.
The illustration is also reproduced in
The Official D'Oyly Carte Picture History by Robin Wilson and Frederic Lloyd, p. 65 (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984
ISBN 0394541138) and also appears on the cover of the Dover full score of
H.M.S. Pinafore, (2002
ISBN 0486422011).