Frederic (Ian MacGillivray) is an earnest and honorable pirate. As this musical comedy opens, Frederic is on the eve of his 21st birthday. The comedy begins when Frederic announces politely to the pirates that he will renounce his pirate ways as soon as the term of his apprenticeship expires upon his 21st birthday. Further, in a display of kindness, Frederic informs his brother pirates that despite his love for them, he will then commit himself out of his sense of honor, virtue and duty to the extermination of piracy! The Pirate King (Seaumus Flanagan) rejects Frederic’s suggestion that the Pirates return to civilization. “No Frederic,” he declares. “It cannot be. I don’t think much of our profession, but compared to respectable people, we are fairly honest.”
The pirates encourage Frederic to take with him the only woman Frederic has ever known—or seen—since he was 8 years old, Ruth (Molly Palese), the hard-ofhearing nursemaid who misheard her instructions to apprentice the 8 year old Frederic to a pilot. Bearing her no ill-will, Frederic considers life with Ruth, when he sees the young daughters of Major-General Stanley (Juliet Williams). What ensues is a delightful comedy involving a chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley’s daughters, among them Mabel (Campbell Tankersley), Edith (Rachel McLeod) and Kate (Lauren Lemieux). When the chaos subsides what will become of Frederic and the pirates, and what of the beautiful daughters? Will they find love or honor—or both?
The Pirates of Penzance or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera’s official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on December 31,1879. This production of Pirates is directed by Henry Eichman, the founder of Midcoast Youth Theater. The music director is Courtney Babbidge, vocal coach Julia Nadeau and Choreographer Cory Bucknam.
Midcoast Youth Theater is dedicated to providing performing arts opportunities to young people in Midcoast Maine. It produces five musicals each year, engaging 200 to 500 participants each season.
Five productions a year include family shows in winter and spring, and separate elementary, middle school and teen shows during the summer. Children are involved in the entire theater process not only performing, but also serving as technical crew, apprentice directors, stage managers and choreographers.
Pirates of Penzance will be presented at 7 p.m. August 7th and 8th and 2 p.m. August 9th at the Chocolate Church.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.
For more information about shows and auditions, visit www.youth-theater.org, find Midcoast Youth Theater on Facebook or call 207-837- 8567.
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