Cast List

Media and Downloads

Rehearsal Schedule and Calendar

Production Blog

History

Guestbook and Comments

Home

THE BALLAD OF THE PIRATE QUEENS is based largely on fact and the fascinating lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two real, larger-than-life pirate women who, disguised as men, infiltrated the male world of Caribbean piracy.  At its heart, the show—like the lives of the women—is about choice, destiny, freedom, and a woman’s right to chart the direction of her life.

ACT 1

PROLOGUE

The Ghostly Pirate Women, infamous female pirates from the past two thousand years, gather to tell the story of Anne and Mary.  While they wait, they introduce  one of the musical and philosophical themes of the story in the song, The Only Life That Matters. Anne and Mary arrive, and after a bit of scuffle, the story begins.  Throughout the show, the Ghostly Pirate Women act as balladeers and narrators.

SCENE 1:

Through The Ballad of Young Anne, the balladeer and actors present the story of Anne’s birth in Ireland and early years in America.  Anne’s father was a wealthy Irishman, and her mother was the household maid.  Anne’s parents escaped prosecution for adultery in Ireland and came to America to start a new life.  Anne was a headstrong, violent tempered child.  She had many lovers and finally married a young merchant, James Bonny. 

INTERLUDE

Anne sings a solo song about her unhappy marriage, Something Else.

SCENE 2

In The Ballad of Calico Jack we meet John Rackham and follow his rise to power, his defiance of the governor, and his love of women, fancy clothes, and excess.  But Rackham has a secret: he is terrified—of death, of injury, of being deposed as captain.

SCENE 3

In a harbor inn, Anne meets Jack for the first time. They dance and sing together (Lives Intertwined), joined by the boisterous crowd of pirates and Jack’s friends.  Anne’s husband, in a jealous rage, fights Rackam, but the simple merchant is no match.  Anne and Jack leave together, and James Bonny—who was a secret informer to the governor—is left at the mercy of the enraged pirates.

INTERLUDE

The Ghostly Pirate Women sing No Turning Back, as they tell the story of Jack and Anne’s first months together as pirates on the Pretty Anne.

SCENE 4

There is a great battle as Jack’s crew captures and plunders a Dutch ship.  The pirates celebrate and Mary Read (disguised as Mark Read) joins the crew.

SCENE 5

In a trio, The Dark-Eyed Sailor, Jack sings of his fear, jealousy, and insecurity; Anne sings about the strange new sailor; and Mary narrates the story of her life: her years in the Flemish army disguised as a man, her marriage and the death of her husband, and her voyage to America.

SCENE 6

As they are about to fight another ship, a jealous Jack confronts Mary about her relationship to Anne; Mary reveals that she is a woman.  Suddenly the crew is in a fierce battle.  They are losing when the Ghostly Pirate Women appear and, singing a reprise of The Only Life That Matters, inspire the crew to victory.

ACT 2

PROLOGUE

The Ghostly Pirate Women, plus Mary, continue the story and sing What We Left Behind, a song about what sacrifices they made.  Mary sings of her lost husband, the others sing of losing home, lovers, and security.

SCENE 1

A pregnant Anne is being left in Cuba to have Jack’s child.  She confronts Jack with her fears—abandonment, childbirth, the end of her freedom.  They sing a duet—Never to Return.  Mary sings about her secret love for Richard Corner, one of Rackham’s crew in the song Make Me a Home. At the end of the scene, Anne has given birth and the child is taken away.   There is a reprise of What We Left Behind. 

SCENE 2

Onboard ship, a violent and drunk Jack sings The Ballad of Coward Jack as he realizes he is too afraid to fight another battle; the governor’s ship is closing in on them.  The crew, depressed and afraid of capture and trial, sing Too Long at Sea.  At the end of scene, the battle commences.  The crew and Jack cower beneath decks, leaving only Anne and Mary to fight. 

SCENE 3

The Ghostly Pirate Women sing The Ballad of the Hanging Man as they tell of the pirates’ trial and hanging.  Mary and Anne, both pregnant, are returned to prison.

SCENE 4

Pregnant, Anne sings about Jack (As You Were). Unseen in the adjoining prison cell, Mary goes into labor.  Something is wrong.  Unable to help, Anne listens to Mary’s distress.  Mary dies, and the Ghostly Pirate Women appear to take her away.  Anne pleads to be taken, but they leave her behind.

SCENE 5

Mary, Anne, and the Ghostly Pirate Women tell us the rest of the story.  As they sing a reprise of The Only Life that Matters, they are joined by Jack, Mary’s husband, and the ensemble.  The show concludes with The Ballad of the Pirate Queens, sung by the full cast.