Posted: August 15, 2009
By Peter Adelsen
Sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dim-witted lovers and an eccentric Major-General make their way to Indiana University Kokomo's Havens Auditorium stage this weekend.
Kokomo Civic Theatre begins its 2009-2010 season with the revival Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance," an operetta that is more like a romantic comedy.
Executive Director Steve Hughes of Kokomo Civic Theatre is also directing the show.
"This is a huge comedy," Hughes said. "We have pirates in love with being pirates and the Keystone cop type of policeman."
Keystone cops are incompetent policemen.
The story revolves around Frederic who is released from his apprenticeship to sentimental pirates after his 21st birthday. It turns out that he was born on Feb. 29, so he only had a birthday every leap year, so he must serve another 63 years. He later finds out from Ruth, his maid who also is in love with him, that she had misunderstood Frederic's father's instructions. Frederic was supposed to be an apprentice to a ship's pilot, and not a pirate.
"This is really very silly and lots of fun!" Hughes said.
Some of the musical selections from this highly popular operetta are "Poor Wandering One," "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General" and "With Cat-like Tread."
Hughes is proud of how the rehearsals have been going.
"We have a lot of strong singers and a strong cast of college students who are home for the summer," Hughes said.
The cast includes: Michael Julian, the Pirate King; Andrew Newton, Frederic; Laura Smith, Mabel; Chris Dixon, the very modern Major-General; Beth Metcalf, Ruth; Kris Fisher, Samuel, second in command to the Pirate King; Tony Dyer, Sergeant of Police. Other characters are: Mabel's sisters Edith, Kate and Isabel are being played by Rachel Bates, Amanda Kasem and Elise Duncan. Mabel's other sisters are being played by Marlea Duncan, Jillian LaDow, Emily Schubert, Devin Unrein and Holly Yeung. The remaining pirates and policemen are being played by Steve Bachmann, Joanna Brewer, Dave Buffington, Doug Harvey, Gloyd Johnson, Gregory Lewon, Taylor Metcalf, Tucker Metcalf, Jesse Salinas, Ben Summers and Rex Swank.
Show times for "The Pirates of Penzance" are 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The ticket prices are $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $10 for students (through college). Tickets may be reserved by calling 765-454-8800. The Havens Auditorium box office is open 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, and one hour prior to each performance.
"The Pirates of Penzance" first opened in 1879 and it later had its revival in 1980 when it premiered in New York's Central Park, leading to the hit Broadway run.
The next Kokomo Civic Theatre performance will be "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)." It will premiere in November.
Link: http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_794536f4-8835-5377-bfac-7a70b6d39b46.html
No comments:
Post a Comment