“The Pirates Of Penzance!” To Be Staged

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Bermuda is getting set to present “The Pirates Of Penzance!” from October 9 through October 18, 2014 at the Earl Cameron Theatre at City Hall.

A spokesperson said, “The last time a Gilbert and Sullivan show was produced by the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Bermuda was in 1996; now, 18 years later, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Bermuda is going back to its namesake’s vaults and reinventing “The Pirates of Penzance.”

The cast of “The Pirates of Penzance” rehearses

“In the same way that Shakespearean texts exist to be interpreted in many ways, the same could be said of the Gilbert and Sullivan scores. This year’s production team plans to stage the show as an unabashed musical – think a classic musical comedy romp in the sand dunes – with echoes of Pirates of the Caribbean.

“This wonderfully witty and classic musical play concerns the story of Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year and accompanied by his nursemaid Ruth, is released from his accidental apprenticeship to a band of tenderhearted pirates led by a Pirate King.”

“Once ashore, he meets Mabel, one of the many daughters/Wards in Chancery of Major-General Stanley, and the two young people fall instantly in love. He then swears to pursue the pirates and bring them to justice for their crimes, driven by his over-arching sense of duty.

“In order to do so, he enlists the somewhat wary local constabulary to assist. However, before he can set out on his “dread adventure,” Frederic finds out that he was born on February 29, and so, technically, he only has a birthday each leap year and is only 5-years-old by birthday reckoning.”

“His apprenticeship indentures state that he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday, and so he must serve for another 63 years as a pirate and return to a “life of plunder.” Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic agrees to return to the pirates with his only solace being that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully.

“After Frederic’s departure, Mabel calls forth the constables who, with some cajoling, set off stealthily to destroy the pirates and free Frederic – but when they meet up with the pirate band, the pirates are more than ready for the attack and a comic melee ensues.”

“The performances will feature a fantastic seaside theme with cotton candy and a pirate photo booth, as well as treats and pirate-themed merchandise for children, all right in City Hall.”

The show’s artistic and production team includes:

• Producer: Deborah Smith-Joell
• Artistic Director: Andrew Lynford
• Musical Director: Philip Shute
• Stage Manager: Kevin Connor
• Set Designer: Cleo Pettitt
• Lighting Designer: Fridthjofur [Fiffi] Thorsteinsson
• Sound Designer: Richard de Whittaker
• Costume Director: Vaughn Sullivan
• Director of Publicity: Alexander Damon Rosati

The show’s cast includes:

• Mark Hamilton – Pirate King
• Paige Hallett – Mabel
• Adrian Kawaley-Lathan – Frederic
• Alexander Damon Rosati – Major General Stanley
• Alan Brooks – Sargent
• Carol Birch – Ruth
• Owain Johnston-Barnes – Samuel
• Micah Jimenez – Simon
• Shaquille Lathan – Gladstone
• Adam Farrell – Septimus
• Jon Brunson – Albert
• Brian Wedlich – Theodore
• Chris Dyer – Percy
• Gordon Emmerson – Herbert
• Che Barker – Seamus
• Debbie Raat – Edith
• Lauren Genevieve – Isabel
• Isabella McKenzie – Kate
• Gabriella Rosati – Harriet
• Corrie Cross – Lucinda
• Tiara Shine – Clarissa
• Katrina Kawaley-Lathan – Winifred
• Tifa Hann – Phyllis
• Lizz Pimentel – Lavinia

The show’s urchins team includes:

• Mia Baccaglio – Cross Bones
• Ethan Soares – Cross Bones
• Chiaje Rudo – Cross Bones
• Jonah Davidson – Cross Bones
• Xavier Lee – Cross Bones
• Abigail Powell – Cross Bones
• Tristan Currelly – Skulls
• Olivia Currelly – Skulls
• Alexis Moore – Skulls
• Ezequiel Jimenez – Skulls
• Amari Stewart – Skulls
• Lola Pimentel-Barker – Skulls

Tickets to the show are available for $55, while a special opening night reception on October 9 will be sponsored by Bermuda Premium Spirits Ltd; a special pre-theatre dinner package will be hosted at Victoria Grill for $39.95.

Tickets and dinner packages are on sale now at ptix.bm, and those interested in the show can visit the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Bermuda website or the show’s Facebook page for more information.

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