A rollicking band of pirates
During Family Weekend, Muhlenberg students performed in the opening weekend of The Pirates of Penzance, a joyful romp through themes of duty, loyalty, and—of course—piracy. The Pirates of Penzance follows a young man, Frederick, as he is caught between two worlds: the sea, where he was raised by The Pirate King and his band, and the land, which holds his love, Mabel, and her lawful father, the Major-General. This musical was written in 1879 by Gilbert and Sullivan, and the influence of the Victorian Era is apparent within it. The Pirates of Penzance remains delightful and relatable to a modern American audience through its infectious songs, vocabulary-rich lyrics, and hilarious wordplay.
Muhlenberg’s production, directed by Charles Richter, runs for two weekends, which is a feat considering the more challenging nature of Gilbert and Sullivan’s material. To combat this, there are two casts of the show, with most of the main characters switching actors during different performances. Two actors do play in all of the performances: Alan Mendez ‘17 as The Pirate King, and Kelly Shannon ‘18 as Ruth, the Pirate Maid. After watching both of these actors perform, it is easy to see why they were given the opportunity to be in both casts. Mendez possesses an electric, charismatic energy that makes him a perfect Pirate King. His balance of likability and powerful singing and speaking voice makes anyone want to don pirate garb and join his merry band. Shannon is equally fantastic, with excellent comedic timing and an operatic voice which makes the audience both laugh with and at Ruth during the show.
Other members of the cast in the performance I saw stood out as well. Nicky Rosolino ‘18 made for a superb Major General, mastering the tongue-twisting “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” effortlessly, and Elissa Wells ‘17 sang beautifully as Mabel.
Noah Sunday-Lefkowitz ‘18 was another highlight, performing as a naïve but eager Frederick, showing a great deal of talent with the wide range of his vocals.
However, the matinee performance that I viewed on Saturday, Oct. 29 was not without flaws. As with the difficulty of the elite Victorian England vocabulary, paired with classically fast Gilbert and Sullivan song speeds, at several times the solo singers seemed to be out of sync with the orchestra. With this challenge, it was sometimes clear to see some of the actors actively thinking about recalling the words or keeping with the music, even from some of the more talented actors in the production, which took away a bit of the emotion and power that some of the songs required. Those issues aside, though, the cast singing as a whole (notably during “Oh, Men of Dark and Dismal Fate” and during its refrain after the curtain call), was incredibly well-balanced, and some of the best-sounding musical work I’ve heard during my years here.
As for other elements of the production, the set of The Pirates of Penzance was incredibly well-done, with rich scenes of mountains, the sea, and an ornate—and very royal—stage decoration hung on the outer portion of the stage. The costumes were colorful and appropriate for the time period, with some of the best being that of The Pirate King, as well as of Mabel and her many sisters. These bright costumes danced under the lighting, with all members of the cast fitting in with each other, yet each standing out as unique and memorable characters, even as members of the chorus.
Be sure to go and plunder the Empie Theatre next weekend, and may The Pirates of Penzance touch your pirate head and your pirate heart. Upcoming performances are on Nov. 4 at 8 p.m., Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., and Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Muhlenberg Theatre & Dance Department