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
The Lady and the Fool The Lady and the Fool The Lady and the Fool is a comic ballet, created by choreographer John Cranko with lesser-known operatic music by Giuseppe Verdi arranged by Sir Charles Mackerras. The story concerns the love of a poor clown for a society beauty, who finally rejects her wealthy suitors and chooses a life with the clown. After the success of "Pineapple Poll", Mackerras and Cranko sought a new collaboration, eventually deciding on adapting music by Verdi to a story by Cranko. The piece was premiered in 1954 at the New Theatre, Oxford, with its London premiere at Sadler’s Wells