Beeson, Jack

Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1975)

Duration: 120 minutes
A romantic comedy in music in three acts

Libretto by Sheldon Harnick after the play by Clyde Fitch (E)

Scoring
lyrcolS,dramS,S,M(plays piano),3T,lyrBar(plays violin),BBar,7B; chorus 2(I=picc,II=picc,afl).2(II=corA).2(II=bcl,Ebcl).2-2.2crt.0.euph.1- timp.perc(1):BD/cym/SD/4tom-t/tamb/glsp/2tgl/2susp.cym(sm,lg)/ xyl-harp-pft(=cel)-strings.
Abbreviations (PDF).

Territory
This work is available from Boosey & Hawkes for the world.

World Premiere
9/20/1975
Kansas City Lyric Theater, Kansas City , Missouri
Jack Eddleman, director and choreographer
Conductor: Russell Patterson
Company: Kansas City Lyric Opera Company

Roles

COLONEL MAPLESON	Basso Cantante
Reporter from THE TIMES	Irish Tenor
Reporter from THE TRIBUNE	Tenor
Reporter from THE SUN	Baritone
Reporter from THE HERALD	Baritone
Reporter from THE CLIPPER	Bass
WILLEM VAN BLEECKER	Bass Baritone
CHARLES LaMARTINE	Baritone
JONATHAN JINKS	Tenor
MRS. GREENBOROUGH (Mrs. Gee)	Contralto (and pianist, if possible)
AURELIA TRENTONI	Lyric coloratura Soprano
"PAPA" BELLIARTI	Lyric Baritone (and violinist if possible)
MARY ("Annina")	Soprano
MRS. STONINGTON	Dramatic Soprano
MISS MERRIAM (deaf mute)
POLICEMAN	Buffo Bass
CUSTOMS OFFICIAL	Buffo Bass
MRS. JINKS (Jonathan's Mother)	Mezzo Soprano
Stage Doorman (role doubled by Customs Official)	Buffo Bass
Stagehand/Scene-Painter (role Doubled by Policeman)	Buffo Bass
Bandmaster, Bandsmen (from the orchestra)
3 or 4 Dancing Couples
Stagehands, sailors, stevedores
3 dogs

Time and Place
Early 1900s, USA

Synopsis
Jonathan Jinks and his friends Willie and Charlie go to welcome opera star Aurelia Trentoni. Charlie (jealous of Jinks's success with women) provokes him into betting he can seduce Aurelia. Jinks and Aurelia are immediately attracted to one another. Ashamed of the bet, Jinks tries to cancel it. Unsuccessful, he gives Charlie an IOU. In a gallant attempt to speed Aurelia's luggage through Customs, Jinks offers money to an amenable inspector. Surprised, he is arrested for bribing a U.S. official. Jinks, out on bail, becomes secretly engaged to Aurelia. “Papa” Belliarti—Aurelia's uncle and teacher—enters with Charlie. Charlie, presenting the IOU, claims Jinks is a fortune hunter who has wagered he would marry Aurelia. Belliarti forbids Jinks to see Aurelia again.  Aurelia returns from her triumphant debut in La traviata too distressed to attend the party given in her honor. Jinks appears, explains what has happened, and begs forgiveness. A policeman arrives looking for Jinks, who has missed his trial. Aurelia, playing the dying Violetta for the second time that evening, explains that Jinks was helping her to survive a recurrence of an old lung complaint. All the principals enter, bringing the party to Aurelia, and all ends well.

 

Moods
Comic, Dramatic, Romantic

Subjects
Relationships, Society

Items on Sale

Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines	Libretto	> Details
Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines	(Vocal Score)	> Details