By Susan Dunn
Theater audiences can’t resist something naughty. And we know from our youth that pirates are the swashbuckling baddies, the colorful villains, the fairytale scoundrels whom we fear and revere. Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic Pirates of Penzance plays on us with two gotchas: the bold and brazen dark thieves of the seas, led by a colorful Pirate King, juxtaposed with these same pirates’ compassionate hearts for orphans. So all of their marks mysteriously turn out to be… you got it. Orphans! It’s a premise just too silly and delicious, and we surrender.
” … this wild ride of a musical is stuffed with delights …”
Mountain View’s Lamplighters troupe has perfected an itinerant model for their musical performances. Each new show opens with a customized proscenium framing the theater curtain as we hear the live orchestra, ably conducted by Brett Strader.
As the curtains part, the pirates emerge over a set of rocks and crannies, introducing our esteemed Pirate King, wonderfully portrayed by Edu Gonzalez-Maldonado, and introducing our Apprentice Pirate Frederic, sung by the versatile and romantic lead, Max Ary. Frederic’s story unfolds that he was apprenticed to the Pirates due to a mistake in hearing correctly the difference between the words “pilot” and “pirate.”
From that error, a whole life ensued! This tale of mistakes is detailed by a third lead, Ruth, the Maid of all Work. Sarah Szeibel masters this challenging role as the only female in Frederic’s life—at first. Abandoned by him in Act 1—after he discovers younger and more beauteous damsels—Szeibel continues to excel in Act 2 as a sidekick to the Pirate King.
Two other standouts are alone worth the price of admission: Major-General Stanley (Joshua Hughes) and his ward Mabel (Syona Ayyankeril). Hughes executes with dash, verve and aplomb the dizzying musical number and showstopper: “I Am The Very Model Of a Modern Major General.” And just as we are wrung out by the non-stop flood of words, he expands the hilarity. He seems to forget his lines and is prompted by his wards—a refresh that leads us to higher levels of laughter. Ayyankeril is the young beauty who steps up to be the future wife of Frederic, and sings with relish to a high E-flat.
This wild ride of a musical is stuffed with delights such as the men’s chorus playing the pirates and the constables, along with the women’s chorus of young beauties who are all wards of the Major-General and are all ready for a wedding match – be the mate pirate or constable.
Choreography and scenic details are woven together into a sure-fire delight by director Michael Mohammed. You won’t want to miss your nostalgic chance to imagine a world of soft-hearted pirates and bumbling, reluctant but dutiful constables. Piratess of Penzance is perfect entertainment for all ages.
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ASR Senior Contributor Susan Dunn has been on the executive boards of Hillbarn Theatre, Altarena Playhouse, Berkeley Playhouse, Virago Theatre and Island City Opera, where she is a development director and stage manager. An enthusiastic advocate for new productions and local playwrights, she is a voting member of the SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and a recipient of a 2015 Alameda County Arts Leadership Award. Contact: [email protected]
| Production | Pirates of Penzance | |
|---|---|---|
| Operetta by | Gilbert and Sullivan | |
| Directed by | Michael Mohammed | |
| Producing Company | Lamplighters Music Theatre Co. | |
| Production Dates | Aug 3rd-4th | |
| 1st Venue | Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041 | |
| 2nd Production Dates | Aug 10-11 | |
| 2nd Venue | Lesher Center for the Arts, Hoffman Theatre, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, 94596 | |
| 3rd Production Dates | Aug 17-18 | |
| 3rd Venue | Blue Shield Theater, YBCA, 701 Mission Street, San Francisco, 94103 | |
| Website | www.lamplighters.org | |
| Telephone | (415) 227-4797 | |
| Tickets | $73-$83 | |
| Reviewer Score | Max in each category is 5/5 | |
| Overall | 4.5/5 | |
| Performance | 4.5/5 | |
| Book/Lyrics | 4.5/5 | |
| Stagecraft | 4/5 | |
| Aisle Seat Review Pick? | YES! |