This gem of an operetta has been around for many years. I saw the D'Oyly Carte production in London years ago. This famous company used to come to the New York City Center on 55th Street as well, so I may have seen it there as well.
Will SwensonLast's night's production was based on the version done in New York City in the 1980's which starred Linda Ronstad. The cast included Philip Boykin as a large and large-voiced Samuel, Jane Carr as a wonderful, matronly Ruth, Will Swenson as a handsome, dashing Pirate King, David Garrison as the Major-General (who, as Anna Russell tells us, does a little dance and an encore of 'A Modern Major-General', whether we want him to or not), Alex Gibson as the Sergeant, Scarlett Strallen as a sweet voiced Mable, and Kyle Dean Massey as the confused, charming Frederic.
Scarlett StrallenAll of the singing and acting were admirable, though Mable did miss a couple of her high notes.
David GarrisonThe wonderful plot involves the unfortunate Frederic, whose nurse maid Ruth, apprentices him to a Pirate, misunderstanding her instructions to apprentice him to a Pilot. He is to be indentured until his 21st birthday. Since he was born on February 29th, this will technically make him 63 before he gains his freedom. Well- you get the idea. Only Gilbert and Sullivan could come up with this conundrum.
Kyle Dean MasseyThe brilliant choreography was by Joshua Bergasse and the direction by John Rando. It made for a delightful evening of theatre.
Jane CarrOn Thursday we will drive to the Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, NY to hear Sweeney Todd, The Crudible, La Bohème, The Thieving Magpie, plus a recital by Stephanie Blythe. Whew, I'm tired already.
We return to Berkshire County to hear Marin Maisie and Jason Danielly at Barrington Stage on Monday. A wonderful pile-up of musical theatre!
More later....
