During the Overture, a model pirate ship sailed back and forth along the horizon. Occasionally firing a cannon, a sound cue was timed to puffs of smoke from the technician operating the model ship.

Following the Overture, the full sized pirate ship rolls on with pirates on board. A rope ladder and ship mast are flown in to complete the effect.

I designed the two opera box units to give the illusion of a grand proscenium. Part of the ceiling was given the same marble paint treatment to complete the arch.
With the exception of the platforming, all of the other scenery transformed from the rocks of Cornwall beach in Act I, to...

...the ruins of a cathedral. To accomplish the act scene change, some units were flown, while other flipped around, or slid into hidden pockets.
In this particular song, actors appeared in both levels of the opera boxes.

A closer look at the Act II scenery.

In the final moment of the show, we wanted a visual reference to Queen Elizabeth I. Rather than using an actor, I designed a "Monty Python" style cutout that appeared from one of the opera boxes, and waved down to the audience.