‘Pirates of Penzance’ A Resounding Hit

     “Pirates of Penzance” is a rollicking tale about inept, but duty-bound pirates; giggling, but sensible maidens; bungling, but well-meaning policemen; and “the very model of a modern Major-General,” whose cross-purposes are eventually happily resolved. There are laughs aplenty, and a bounty of great song and dance in the Falmouth Theater Guild’s glorious production of this hilarious 129-year-old comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan.
     Laura Garner directs the lively 44-person cast, which is often on stage in its entirety, and is creatively choreographed by Michele Colley-Whittier. Geraldine Boles conducts the talented 10-person orchestra.
     As the story begins, one of the famed pirates of Penzance, Frederic (Steven C. Koglin), has reached his 21st year and finished his pirate apprenticeship, and the group is celebrating his new role as a full-fledged pirate. He turns down this honor, saying that, through a misunderstanding by his hard-of-hearing nursemaid Ruth (played by Cathy Lemay with great comic expression) he should have been apprenticed to a pilot instead. Now he is off—with Ruth, who has convinced him that she is attractive—duty-bound to make an honest man of himself, and, as he says to the pirates, “devote myself, heart and soul, to your extermination.”
     The Pirate King (played with gusto by Eddie Camara) responds with a rousing song about “what a glorious thing it is to be a pirate king,” comparing the ethics of piracy favorably with business and government. Mr. Camara makes a robust Pirate King, playing his role with gusto. The pirates, ranging from young boys (and girls) to older men (and women), are gaily costumed in an array of colors and styles, adding to the frivolity.
     On land, Frederic argues with Ruth after he discovers a bevy of beautiful maidens; then we discover that Steven Koglin has a marvelous, operatic voice, very well-suited to his role, and that Cathy Lemay can convey a wide range of emotions with her pleasing voice, which blends well with Mr. Koglin’s.
     The multitude of young women and girls, who turn out to be the daughters of the Major-General, are sweetly dressed in long pastel skirts and white blouses, and their song and dance is delightful. Katie Lynch Koglin, whom we saw recently as the harp soloist with the Simon Sinfonietta, is also a fine vocal soloist and actress. The women immediately fall for Frederic’s “rare beauty,” and their attraction to him is charmingly portrayed. But it is Mabel (Jennifer Perrault-Minshall) who responds to his request for a woman who will help him reform and wins his love. Her singing is both comic and operatic, just perfect for this production. Embarrassed by Frederic and Mabel’s attraction for each other, the rest of the sisters decide, in a very amusing song and dance, to talk about the weather instead of watching the new lovers.
     The pirates arrive, and, soon thereafter, the underdressed Major-General Stanley, played by Glenn Wall, who so well portrayed Daddy Warbucks in FTG’s fall production of “Annie.” He is excellent in this role, too, performing an impressively fast version of the operetta’s most famous song, “I am the very model of the modern Major-General.”
     The situation gets complicated, and the police are brought in to protect the Major-General and his daughters from the pirates. The entrance of the police and their subsequent singing and dancing, with occasional propping up by the Sergeant (Rob Minshall) is outstanding, one of the highlights of the show.
     Ruth reappears in a hilariously outlandish pirate dress, and there is a lot of very entertaining overacting by the Pirate King and Ruth when they tell Frederic of a little complication that ruins his plans. Several other scenes are particularly funny: one in which pirates hide in plain sight while the Major-General sings, and another involving a police and pirate ballet.
     The choruses were wonderful, whether pirates, daughters, police, or all together. Their spirited sound filled the theater, and the choreography was very well-suited to the production. I enjoyed the way crowds of people moved together as one, with younger members adding a touch of whimsy.
     The orchestra is crucially important in a production such as this one, and it did not disappoint. The musicians added just the right support, providing a solid musical performance and festive flourishes, but never overwhelming the singers. Conducted and directed by Geraldine Boles, the group includes Sam Dunham and Paula Muldoon, violin; Anna Trowbridge, cello; Dr. Tom Sweeney, bass; Sydney Bretler, flute; Berke McElvey, clarinet; David Thomas, trumpet; James Thomas, trombone; Marco Catipovic, French horn; and David Golden, percussion.
     The set for the first half of the play is a beach by the ocean, with a grounded pirate ship off to the side. The arrival and departure of the Penzance pirate ship is done in a creative and humorous fashion. The set for the second act is a little more elaborate, depicting the home of the Major-General and the tombstones of his “purchased” ancestors. Both sets serve their purpose well.
     The play opens tonight at Highfield Theatre in Falmouth and runs through May 11. Shows on Fridays and Saturdays, April 25, 26, May 2, 3, 9, and 10 start at 7:30 PM, and Sunday matinees on April 27, May 4, and 11 start at 2 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12 for children and seniors.