Reviewed by Tony Annicone
The Wilbury Group’s closing show of their season is “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan wildly adapted by Sean Graney and Kevin O’Donnell. The show first opened on December 31, 1879 but this version is a fresh take on their most popular comic opera. This subversive, loopy, and fantastically eccentric take on Gilbert and Sullivan’s preposterous musical took audiences in Chicago by storm when presented by rebel theatre makers The Hipocrites.
Just think banjos, beach balls and guitars. Frederic was mistakenly apprenticed as a young boy to a band of sentimental pirates. Now 21, he falls head over heels in love with the Major-General’s daughter and foreswears the buccaneers life forever, or so he thinks. Alas, he was born on February 29 and remains apprenticed to the Pirates. Frederic who hasn’t seen any women except his 47 year old nurse, stumbles upon some maidens and falls in love with the prettiest, Mabel. This buoyant, award winning “Pirates of Penzance” by Sean Graney and featuring just twelve performers (who also serve as the orchestra) is an irreverent and fresh homage to a world turned upside down for diehard Gilbert and Sullivan fans and newcomers alike. This show is an hilarious farce with sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dimwitted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters, and their eccentric Major-General father played in this version by a woman, all morally bound to often ridiculous dictates of honor and duty. Director Josh Short, musical director Matt Requintina, and choreographer Ali Kenner-Brodsky bring this nineteenth century show into the twenty first century with these talented performers with this clever script and their hard work on all the tongue twisting lines and lyrics. It is a high energy blast from start to finish with sing a long antics before the show, with roasted hot dogs or veggie dogs on a beach style setting. Matt obtains gorgeous harmonies in the group number “Hail, Hail to Poetry” which is absolutely breath taking.
Josh supplies many moments of shtick with his talented cast. He uses promenade seating where most of the audience moves constantly as the action takes place among and around them constantly. The two leads in this show are Brian Kozak and Shannon Hartman as Frederic and Mabel. His tenor voice soars in his numbers including “Oh, Is There But One Maiden Breast?” and the two duets with Mabel “Stay Frederic Stay” and “All Is Prepared.” Brian’s comic interactions with the cast are wonderful to behold. He is a hoot as he sings “Eye of the Tiger” before the policemen enter the scene. Shannon has a phenomenal soprano voice which soars off the charts especially impressive in her “Poor Wandering One” and “Sorry Her Lot” as well as the two duets with Brian. Their comic antics are priceless as they also play guitars as they accompany themselves.
Shannon makes some quick make up changes as she also plays the comic, elderly Ruth who lusts after Frederic. Her makeup for this role is hysterical with fake buck teeth, glasses and she stands all stooped over.. She plays the dotty nursemaid who gave Frederic to the Pirates years ago because of her deafness he was supposed to be a pilot not a pirate. Shannon uses her mezzo range in “When Frederic Was a Lad” and in the “Paradox” number The mighty pirate king is played excellently by Jason Quinn. He commands his scenes with comic touches and displays his strong voice in “I Am a Pirate King.” He runs roughshod over his men but underneath reveals a tender side to his many antics. He also plays the leading cop, too.
The biggest scene stealer is Jennifer Mischley as the Major General. Her version of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” is perfect. She annunciates every word so you can understand the comic meaning in the lines of this patter song. Also hilarious is her second act song “Sighing Softly to a River” while clad in a leopard nightshirt. Jennifer’s voice and comic timing sparkle during the performance as she plays this male role. The comic four sisters, Sara Leach, Maggie Papa, Sherry Romanzi and Emma Sachetti also sing beautifully in their numbers. The funny pirates and cops, Brien Lang, Jeff Hodge, Richie Whitehead have wonderful comic timing with Aaron Blanck as Larry, one of the funniest characters in this show. So for a fun filled new look at this classic operetta of yore that makes it more accessible to current day audiences, be sure to catch Wilbury Group’s wild, wacky and crazy “The Pirates of Penzance” before they sail off into the sunset. Tell them Tony sent you.
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE(17 May to 3 June)
The Wilbury Group, 40 Sonoma Court, Providence, RI
1(401)400-7100 or www.thewilburygroup.org
