Gilbert and Sullivan music is fun. And Piedmont Players poured a ton of energy and enthusiasm into their
bright and bouncy production of ‘‘The Pirates of Penzance.’’
The arrival of the pirate ship
earned applause opening night, and the tortuous-looking steps from the stage up to the
balcony proved an effective tool for moving pirates and police about.
So, good music, attractive set,
bright costumes, what more could you ask for?
A dynamite cast? Provided.
Of course, the lead players shine.
And, a big plus, the ensemble is delightful.
Robert Van Geons is the adorable,
honorable Frederic and obviously believes every word he speaks or sings. You can tell
he’s having fun.
But so is Rick McCollister, the
dashing pirate king. McCollister has a rich voice, a charming manner and brings great
gusto to his role.
Jenny Carroll, with a pure,
bell-like voice, showcases her remarkable talent as Mabel, Frederic’s true love.
Carroll is always a joy to hear, a pleasure on the stage.
Steve Pharr mixes military rigor
with stereotypical British fussiness in the right blend as the Major-General. He looks
just right and manages the multitudinous words of the fast-tempo ‘‘I Am the Very
Model of the Modern Major-General.’’
Where to begin with the rest of
the cast? The daughters are delightful. Their entrance brought laughter, their signing
earned applause. They have all developed characters, mincing steps, longing looks and
tantalizing titters. They’re like a bubbling champagne fountain.
Michelle Newman as Edith is a
standout, with a strong voice and cute character with lots of personality.
Among the pirates, who later
double as police, Dan Mikkelson has turned an ensemble part into a devilishly funny gem.
His Keystone Cop impression is dead on, and as he hides in the audience, trying to avoid
the pirates, he really steals the show, wherever he is. Try to remember the folks on
stage, too.
Dan Kanemori really got into his
pirate’s role of Samuel, even shaving his head. His small spotlights show his talent.
John Biggers, who will forever be
remembered as Jesus in ‘‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’’ takes the role of
pirate and then police sergeant, doing some clever vocal tricks.
Wanda Deal Williams is Ruth, the
unlikely ‘‘nanny’’ to the pirates, but hopelessly in love with
Frederic.
And David Hagy conducts a small
orchestra that provides spritely accompaniment to the whole thing.
The audience loved the opening
night performance. Who wouldn’t? Director Reid Leonard has created a first rate
production. The set is clever, with little surprises popping in, including a hilarious
portrait of Queen Victoria by Mark Brincefield. The cast works as one, and the individuals
all get into a character. They all seems to be enjoying themselves tremendously.
Occasionally, you’ll miss
words in the fast, clever songs. But the cast does a very good job of getting all those
syllables out most of the time.
The story is simplicity itself.
Frederic was indentured to the pirates as a child but has reached his 21st birthday and
can leave. He’s the duty-bound type, and while he loves all his comrades, he hates
their enterprise and vows to wipe them out.
But those guys are pushovers.
They’d never hurt a soul. Especially not an orphan, since they’re orphans
themselves. Charming.
Frederic walks off the ship and
immediately falls in love with Mabel, once he figures out old Ruth is old, indeed. Then
the pirates stop by and fall in love with all of Mabel’s sisters and are ready to
marry them on the spot. Slight complication – the Major-General is their father. And
guess what? He’s an orphan.
Well, take it from there.
The two-hour musical is suitable
for all ages, and a perfect prescription if your funny bone is ailing. Just remember:
Audience participation may be required.
‘‘The Pirates of
Penzance,’’ underwritten by Rowan Health & Fitness Center, continues
tonight and Saturday and June 2-5 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Meroney
Theater. For tickets call 633-5471.
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