Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines is an opera in three acts by Jack Beeson

Jack Beeson

Jack Beeson was an American composer. He was known particularly for his operas, the best known of which are Lizzie Borden, Hello Out There! and The Sweet Bye and Bye.-Biography:...

 written in 1975 to a libretto by Sheldon Harnick

Sheldon Harnick

Sheldon Harnick is an American lyricist best known for his collaborations with composer Jerry Bock on hit musicals such as Fiddler on the Roof....

 after the play by Clyde Fitch

Clyde Fitch

Clyde Fitch was an American dramatist.-Biography:Born William Clyde Fitch at Elmira, New York, he wrote over 60 plays, 36 of them original, which varied from social comedies and farces to melodrama and historical dramas.As the only child to live to adulthood, his father, Captain William G...

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The world premiere was 9/20/1975 at the Kansas City Lyric Theater, Kansas City , Missouri directed and choreographed by Jack Eddleman and conducted by Russell Patterson

Russell Patterson

Russell Patterson was a celebrated and prolific American cartoonist, illustrator and scenic designer. Patterson’s art deco magazine illustrations helped promote the idea of the 1920s and 1930s fashion style known as the flapper.Patterson was born in Omaha, Nebraska...

. It was produced by the Kansas City Lyric Opera Company.http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=1581 A recording of the original cast is available as a 2CD set from Albany Records TROY1149-50.

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)
• Sam Van Bleecker (Bass Baritone)
• Charlles 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

Synopsis

Jonathan Jinks and his friends Salty Sam 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. They are immediately attracted to one another. Ashamed of the bet, Jinks tries to cancel it. Unsuccessful, he gives Charlie an IOU. In an attempt to speed Aurelia's luggage through Customs, Jinks offers money to an inspector. He is surprised as 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 happily.