By Rae Hunt
As a reviewer for Front Row Reviewers, I can recommend enjoying an evening of piracy, comedy and love with the Parker Theatre’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. With swashbuckling pirates and lovely maidens and a very fast-talking General, it’s all you could want for a Spring evening out.
The Pirates of Penzance is a comedic tale of an apprentice, Frederick (Alan Smith), who upon turning 21, vows to eradicate all pirates as he finds their life of crime contrary to his personal sense of honor. Leaving the band of pirates with his nursemaid Ruth (Natalie Killpack-Daniel), he sets off to find himself a young woman to fall in love with. Once he reaches the shore, he finds several young women but none who want to marry him. As he tries to convince them to help him reform from his previous life as a pirate, Mabel (Karllen Johnson), a late comer to the beach, agrees to marry Frederick. A short while later, the pirates arrive and try to kidnap the other girls to marry for themselves. It is revealed that their father, a Major General played delightfully by Owen Richardson Jr., who appeals to the pirates by claiming to be an orphan so the pirates release them and leave.
Later Frederick finds out that due to his birthday being on a leap year and his contract with the pirates being tied to his 21st birthday that he still has another 63 years of service to the pirates. Bound by his personal honor, he feels obligated to advise the Pirate King (Tyler Oliphant) that being an orphan was a lie told to save the Major General and his bevy of daughters.The Pirate King decides to attack the Major General in retaliation. Frederick, now realigned with the pirates, is unable to help defend the ladies and their father and they need to rally the local, cowardly police force in order to protect themselves. Will they prevail or will the Pirate Kingsucceed in carrying off all of Mabel’s sisters?
As our primary characters Frederick and Mabel, Smith and Johnson have undeniable chemistry on stage. Smith is convincing as an idealistic young man whose actions are bound by his sense of honor. He is dashing and brave and is very earnest in his dealings with the pirates and the Major General. Johnson has an excellent stage presence and regally carries herself across the stage. She’s beautiful and poised. Together, they make the match between Frederick and Mabel believable but also like a pretty fairytale.
Oliphant is everything a Pirate King should be. Haughty, proud, and vengeful when double-crossed. Oliphant does a fantastic job in projecting to the audience. His voice carries very well and I was very impressed with his stage presence.
Killpack-Daniel as Ruth does an excellent job with this role. She’s fun and flirty when trying to get Frederick to marry her despite being twice his age. She also is convincing when Ruth is cunning and devious when working with the Pirate King to tell Frederick’s still under contract with the pirates.
The only sister with much of a role to herself, besides Mabel, is Edith, played by Elizabeth Myers. Myers is memorable as she helps Mabel convince the police Sergeant to help their family in their plight against the pirates. I really enjoyed her solo; her voice is so lovely to listen to.
My favorite character in any Pirates production is always the Sergeant and this time is no exception. Connor Evans is definitely one for the books. Evan’s performance as the wiry, cowardly Sergeant is memorable, athletic, and uproariously hilarious. He convincingly pulls off a character who puts up a good bravado while simultaneously trying to get out of this dangerous situation. However, Evans shows dedication to upholding the law with great humor.
Parker Theatre’s The Pirates of Penzance is directed by David K. Martin, choreographed by McKenna Hague, with music direction from Anthony Buck. The fantastic costumes are designed by Rebecca Richards and excellent lighting by Nathan Hadley. Spot light operators Olivia Ethington and Livia Austin also do a fantastic job with lights on our characters as they moved across the stage. The rest of the ensemble with the pirates, sisters, and policemen are impressive in their own right, the songs are lively and enjoyable and the dialog delivered with clarity and humor.
You will not want to miss out on all the revelry and piracy in this comedic show.
Parker Theatre presents The Pirates of Penzance, music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert.
Parker Theatre, 3605 South State Street, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
Apr 15 – May 13, 2023, 7:30 PM, 3:30 PM Saturday matinee. See site for individual performance details.
Tickets: $27 Adults / $18 Children
Contact: 801-532-600, boxoffice@parkertheatre.org
www.parkertheatre.org
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