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'Pirates of Penzance' is stellar
Play review
The story line of "Pirates" is typical G&S fare. Most of their operettas follow a familiar pattern: An innocent, somewhat dim female ingénue emerges from a pack of twittering females to fall in love with a handsome tenor who has an identity problem. Act I ends tidily, but a plot complication sets the insanity in motion all over again in Act II. When bumbling constabularies attempt to thwart the plans of a gaggle of equally inept adversaries, confusion reigns until an absurd notion solves everyone's problems and all live happily ever after. Despite the predictable framework of each operetta, what makes Gilbert and Sullivan's musicals so marvelous are the sprightly melodies, tongue-twisting patter songs and ridiculous plot twists. In an attempt by the composers to forestall unauthorized versions in the states, "The Pirates of Penzance" (1879) was the only G&S operetta to make its debut in New York rather than London. The title takes aim at American piracy of previous G&S works. Using the small, peaceful town of Penzance, located on the rocky coast of Cornwall in southwestern England, as the story's locale was also an injoke, as it was the most unlikely of places where pirates might be found. The protagonist, Frederic, is a pirate-in-training who, having just reached his 21st birthday, is relieved of his obligations to the band of pirates who trained him. Frederic falls in love with Mabel, a sweet young thing who turns out to be one of the daughters of Major General Stanley, a prim and proper military official. But when Frederic realizes he's a leap-year baby and thus has had only five birthdays, he must return to the fold as a pirate once again. Although the VCGSRC stock company is accomplished as always, there are a few fresh faces that provide "Pirates" with some of its finest moments. The brightest new arrival to the unit is Nick Newkirk, who plays Frederic. Possessing a glorious tenor voice, Newkirk is magnificent in the role and appropriately dashing in his sword fights with the Pirate King, wellplayed by another newcomer, Jeff Dokken. Matching Newkirk's brilliance is 16-year-old Molly Siskin, who plays Mabel, the winsome heroine. The pair's duet on "Stay, Frederic, Stay" is one of the most charming moments in the show. Siskin also displays her 3½-octave range in her coloratura solo, "Poor Wandering One." The riotous Gary Saxer plays the plum role of Major General Stanley, faultlessly rattling off one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most famous patter songs: "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General." Sporting a white pith helmet and bushy mustache and wielding a white parasol, he brings down the house with his performance, topping it off by accepting a challenge from Dokken to reprise the song at a "prestissimo agitato" tempo. One can always count on Molly Pei to play G&S matrons who range from a bit daft to stark raving mad. Her exquisitely pliable face is at times as expressive as that of Lucille Ball. Pei's comical portrayal of the pirate maid Ruth is priceless, and she proves that she's just as capable in the patter genre, matching tongues with Newkirk and Dokken on "My Eyes Are Fully Open." Other worthy members of the cast include Anthony Moresi as the clueless Sergeant of Police and the talented Wynsum Kearns, Chelsea Glasner and Vivian Gibson as the Major General's other daughters. Zach Spencer continues to show his expertise in making a four-piece band sound like an orchestra, and Chelsea's mother, Beth Glasner, more than ably handled the period costumes. You should walk the plank if you miss this show. "The Pirates of Penzance" plays at the Theatre on the Hill through April 5. For information, visit www.vcgsrc.org. |
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