On Thursday night, the ACU Department of Theatre premiered its final production of the academic year. The Pirates of Penzance, directed by Kari Hatfield, assistant professor of theatre, weaves a tale of tender-hearted pirates, an incompetent police force, a major general, a bustling group of sisters and a young man trying to find his place among them all. The play, written in 1879 by Arthur Sullivan and W.S. Gilbert, makes use of a very large cast and is filled with constant comedy and music that will make you want to join the dance numbers on stage.
Jace Reinhard, freshman theatre major from Greenville, Ill., holds the role of Frederic, the naive pirate apprentice that longs for love and a civilized life. Reinhard fills his performance with charm and remains fresh faced throughout fast-paced musical numbers and a plot that requires him to interact with almost every cast member. Frederic’s nurse, Ruth, is played by Kelley Barker, junior theatre major from Mesquite, who really comes alive in the second act.
Providing the play with its most operatic moments is Brynn Smith, sophomore theater major from Fort Worth, who plays Frederic’s beloved, Mabel. Smith beautifully procures the show’s most challenging notes and provides calm moments among the craziness. Mabel’s father is Major-General Stanley and is nobly portrayed by Caleb Robinson, junior theater major from Abilene. Robinson doesn’t break a sweat when he takes on the iconic and ridiculously rapid song, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.”
In addition to these lead characters are the pirates, Major-General Stanley’s daughters and policemen that aren’t afraid to fill the theater and play with the audience. The daughters maintain a balance of fear and flirtation while the policemen create an air of uniformed ineptitude. Having the most obvious fun on stage are the pirates. These men fill the show with weapons, dancing and acrobatics. While all the cast members work well in the various groups, two stand out because of their excellent comedic timing. Andrew Lang, freshman theatre major from Abilene, and Brittany Taylor, senior theatre major from Saginaw, never miss an opportunity to provide a laugh.
Amid this very large cast, the character that will constantly grab your attention is the Pirate King. Peter Hargrave, junior theatre major from Amarillo, performs this role with never-ending energy. In contrast to Frederic, the Pirate King has no qualms about his profession and relishes being as rakish and audacious as possible. Hargrave’s affection for this character shows as he excitedly milks his every move for comedic effect. In addition to his abounding body language, Hargrave improvises great pieces of dialogue during hectic scenes that are worth paying extra attention to.
Tying together all of these performances are an amazing set of songs. The music of The Pirates of Penzance maintains relevance despite being over 130 years old. Many of these numbers will most likely be recognizable because they continue to be sampled and parodied to this day.
The Pirates of Penzance is a classic that should almost be required viewing for any cultured individual. However, more important than its history is its ability to provide plenty of laughter. Shows will continue Friday and Saturday night and April 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. in Fulks Theater. Tickets are $15 and can purchased at the Williams Performing Arts Center box office or online at www.acu.edu/theatre.
