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Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance

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2009-11-04

The Pirates of Penzance at MBCThis November, Mary Baldwin College Theatre presents The Pirates of Penzance, the much beloved comic operetta by W.S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Starting with its tremendously popular 1981 Broadway revival, love of Pirates has steadily grown, and it remains today a standout in the G&S canon with numbers like “I am a Pirate King, ” “Poor wand’ring one, ” “With cat-like tread …” and “I am the very model of a modern Major-General” shining as some of people’s favorite songs in musical theater.

The Pirates of Penzance follows the story of Frederic, a duty-driven youth who, as a child, was mistakenly apprenticed to the notorious Pirates of Penzance. Now, on his 21st birthday, Frederic is released from his obligation to the Pirate King and his mates. Finally Frederic can start a new life where he can atone for his pirate past. He looks like he’s on his way when he falls for the pretty, young Mabel, whose Major-General father is ready to help Frederick plan the downfall of his former colleagues. However, plans fall apart when the Pirate King appears with a call to Frederic’s overarching sense of duty. How can this be? Will the pirates ever be brought to justice? Will Frederic and Mabel ever get together? Join us to find the answers.

Frederic is played by Paul Rycik. His Mabel is played by MBC’s own Katelyn Scott (the Mother Superior in MBC’s ’08 production of Nunsense). The Pirate King is played by Ben Houseknecht and the Major-General by Brent Hull. Joining them are Rin Barton as Edith, Amanda Pierson as Kate, Helena Billington as Isabel, Miranda Uphoff as Ruth, Brad Rinaldo as Samuel, Bronson Anderson as the Police Sergeant, and a large supporting cast of pirates, daughters, and policeman that would give the Keystone Cops a run for their money.

Directed by Gilbert & Sullivan aficionado, Frank Southerington with musical direction by Brian Holsopple (fresh from his Shenan Arts run as Sweeney Todd) and with accompaniment by Don Roe, this Mary Baldwin College production of Pirates promises to be a night of beautiful music and delightful silliness.

Performances cover two weekends in November: the 13th through 15th and the 18th through 22nd. Wednesday through Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. Shows are performed in the Fletcher Collins Theater, located in the Deming Fine Arts building on the Mary Baldwin Campus.

Ticket reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited, and can be made with Visa or MasterCard by contacting the box office at 540-887-7189. Box office hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.

Photo caption: Miranda Uphoff as Ruth, Paul Rycik as Frederic, and Ben Houseknecht as the Pirate King in MBC's production of The Pirates of Penzance.