Pineapple Poll which the central character is named Poll Pineapple. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera "H.M.S. Pinafore" (especially its character Little Buttercup) was also based, in part, on this story. Cranko introduced new characters (Mrs Dimple) and gave Poll an admirer to enable a happy ending. Mackerras arranged the score of "Pineapple Poll" from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire, as well as Sullivan's comic opera "Cox and Box" (written with F. C. Burnand), and Sullivan's "Overture di Ballo". Music from all of the extant Gilbert and Sullivan operas is included, except for "Utopia Limited" and "The Grand Duke". "Pineapple Poll" premiered on
Pineapple Poll recorded at least seven times, including four performances conducted by Mackerras himself. Gervase Hughes wrote, "Although the orchestration is disfigured by over-reliance on "glissando" harps and succulent counter-subjects for the horns, much of the music comes over well in its new guise, and the combination of a melody from the opening chorus of "Patience" with the second act quintet from "The Gondoliers" is quite brilliant." A black-and-white studio film of "Pineapple Poll", danced by the Royal Ballet, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mackerras, was broadcast by BBC television in 1959. It starred Merle Park, David Blair and Stanley