Goodspeed's Excellent "Pirates of Penzance"
With a little help from his friends, Gordon Greenberg has taken Gilbert & Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" and sets it spinning with innovation, imagination, spin, invention, and pizzazz. The result is a dashing musical comedy designed to please theatergoers of all ages. The original 1880 operetta (a gem in itself) evolves into a Caribbean flavored treat at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT.
Early on, charismatic Pirate King (Andrew Varela) and crew arrive in the West Indies. Youthful Frederic (Jason Michael Snow) is finally freed from his period as an indentured servant but he must now deal with a curse: he must "befriend" a lovely virgin and marry.
That is just the beginning of a ribald and, given this upbeat take, enthusiastic and lively production. Rob Bissinger's trappings enhance throughout.
Leading a not-terribly-threatening brigade of pirates is the Pirate King (Andrew Varela). Two women sitting nearby agreed that Varela was Depp-like which cannot detract but it could, possibly, distract. Varela has presence, voice, and command.
A first act highlight included Ed Dixon's stout (forgive the pun) rendering of, you know this one -- "A Modern Major-General!" Dixon perfectly perfonifies that character.
After intermission, the scene shifts from outside exterior waterside to Major General's abode (he seems to have about him, at all times, an incredibly luscious collection of young women).....David Woolard's wardrobe finds the maidens amid restrictive skirts and pantaloons which yield to unyielding corsets. Bright eyed, plastic smiles adorning their faces, the girls are camp and fun and alluring all at once.
Greenberg's aforementioned colleagues include book writer and lyricist Nell Benjamin and musical arranger, John McDaniel. All deserve not simply kudos but A + for not merely adapting but injecting an already splendid G&S script with twenty-first century adrenaline.
In terms of plot, as in the original, somewhat naive Frederic is surrounded by Major General's daughters. He chooses Mabel (Farah Alvin) as his future bride. By the way, Frederic was born during leap year; thus he is five years of age. The Pirate King, in parallel, finds his match in Ruth (Joanna Blushak) who has been around the block or the harbor - whatever.
During the second act, Reggae influenced Sergeant and his police charges join in the festivities. They sing "A Policeman's Lot......is not a happy one." Having played a much more conventional version of the police leader when I was approximately fourteen, I happily anticipated the moment when a traditional-looking sergeant would appear. Imagine my surprise!
It seems as if another version of "Pirates" will open this coming Thursday in Australia. Here's a small wager that it cannot possibly hold a candle to the amusing, diverting, upper quality presentation at the Goodspeed. That show continues through Dec. 10th. www.goodspeed.org; (860) 873-8668.
Early on, charismatic Pirate King (Andrew Varela) and crew arrive in the West Indies. Youthful Frederic (Jason Michael Snow) is finally freed from his period as an indentured servant but he must now deal with a curse: he must "befriend" a lovely virgin and marry.
That is just the beginning of a ribald and, given this upbeat take, enthusiastic and lively production. Rob Bissinger's trappings enhance throughout.
Leading a not-terribly-threatening brigade of pirates is the Pirate King (Andrew Varela). Two women sitting nearby agreed that Varela was Depp-like which cannot detract but it could, possibly, distract. Varela has presence, voice, and command.
A first act highlight included Ed Dixon's stout (forgive the pun) rendering of, you know this one -- "A Modern Major-General!" Dixon perfectly perfonifies that character.
After intermission, the scene shifts from outside exterior waterside to Major General's abode (he seems to have about him, at all times, an incredibly luscious collection of young women).....David Woolard's wardrobe finds the maidens amid restrictive skirts and pantaloons which yield to unyielding corsets. Bright eyed, plastic smiles adorning their faces, the girls are camp and fun and alluring all at once.
Greenberg's aforementioned colleagues include book writer and lyricist Nell Benjamin and musical arranger, John McDaniel. All deserve not simply kudos but A + for not merely adapting but injecting an already splendid G&S script with twenty-first century adrenaline.
In terms of plot, as in the original, somewhat naive Frederic is surrounded by Major General's daughters. He chooses Mabel (Farah Alvin) as his future bride. By the way, Frederic was born during leap year; thus he is five years of age. The Pirate King, in parallel, finds his match in Ruth (Joanna Blushak) who has been around the block or the harbor - whatever.
During the second act, Reggae influenced Sergeant and his police charges join in the festivities. They sing "A Policeman's Lot......is not a happy one." Having played a much more conventional version of the police leader when I was approximately fourteen, I happily anticipated the moment when a traditional-looking sergeant would appear. Imagine my surprise!
It seems as if another version of "Pirates" will open this coming Thursday in Australia. Here's a small wager that it cannot possibly hold a candle to the amusing, diverting, upper quality presentation at the Goodspeed. That show continues through Dec. 10th. www.goodspeed.org; (860) 873-8668.
posted by Fred Sokol at 4:34 AM
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