 Review |
March 25th, 2010 |
Untitled Document
Pirates of Penzance
A Review
by lyle e davis
First off, let me acknowledge that I’ve never been much of an operetta fan . . . nor of Gilbert & Sullivan productions.
That feeling dwelled within me probably because I had never seen either performed as it was performed at the Welk Resorts Theatre of a recent Friday evening.
An enjoyable evening began with a sumptuous buffet dinner, during which time I met and dined with long time pal, Doug Best, he of the Doug Best Swings Show that brings back all the great music of yesteryear. Doug, his wife Lorene, a table of amiable guests, and good food. All a pleasant start to what would become an even more pleasant evening.
Off we went for a short walk to the Welk Resorts Theatre, where more and more great shows continue to appear.
Currently appearing, through May 2nd, is Pirates of Penzance, a rollicking operetta from the prolific pens of Gilbert & Sullivan.
What won me over was the superb choreography, the superb singing . . . voices that were simply out of this hemisphere, if not this world.
The story line revolves around a young boy who is apprenticed out to become a pilot of a ship. Due to a hard of hearing nursemaid who thought the boy’s father said “apprentice him to become a pirate,” the young lad does just that. He joins a group of vagabond pirates (all of whom dance and sing quite well, thank you) and earns his spurs. Or whatever it is that pirates earn when they’ve finished their apprenticeship.
It’s a comic operetta that feels like a slapstick, uproarious musical. It’s a good natured romp through life with a coming-of-age of the young man who is no longer an apprentice and now hazards to go out into the real world.
Along the way he has to not only deal with his mentors, the swashbuckling pirates, but he also meets something new to his eyes . . . .beautiful maidens, and a doddering old Major General (who, if anyone steals the show, he does). He also has a beautiful daughter . . .which factors neatly into the operetta.
When the young lad turns 21 he is no longer an indentured servant, but a free man. He now becomes a moral killjoy and vows to destroy the very pirates who had taught him all his skills.
Ingrate.
A series of comical, farcical scenes ensue, as the Pirate King and Ruth (the hard of hearing nursemaid who would like to have the handsome young man all to her elderly self) concoct a bizarre scheme to retain the lad.
Lots of music, lots of dancing, humor that still rings as true today just as it did when Messrs Gilbert and Sullivan dipped their quills into inkpots and put the book and music on parchment.
In the end, the pirates all get to marry the pretty maidens, chaos is overcome by all parties and everyone, presumably, lives happily ever after, singing and dancing into their more elderly years.
It’s a grand evening. Dinner at the Welk Resort, followed by an amusing musical comedy in operetta style
Pirates of Penzance runs through March and April, closing on May 2nd. There are no Tuesday shows.
Brunch buffet begins at 10:30am and seating for the show at 12:45pm for a 1pm curtain. This is a different format this year so please note the time change to 1pm
Shows include matinees Wed/Thurs/Sat/Sun and evening shows Thurs/Sat. For information call:
(888) 802-SHOW
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