With Cat-Like Tread: The Pirates of Penzance at the Cohoes Music Hall, Review
The Pirates of Penzance at the Cohoes Music Hall, Review
Gilbert & Sullivan’s Comical Romp About Pirates and Merry Maidens
The arrival of CR Productions’ The Pirates of Penzance, running at the Cohoes Music Hall through February 19th, seems to come with coincidence. If the timing of a February leap year performance schedule isn’t enough, the fact that this famous play and this historic playhouse were birthed in the same decade should be. The biggest coincidence of all, however, is that no one was sure that the Capital District would welcome Gilbert and Sullivan, but in fact they have embraced it.
First performed in 1879, The Pirates of Penzance, marks the second Gilbert and Sullivan operetta at the theatre. In 2010, Cohoes Music Hall introduced its first G&S production, The Mikado (1885). It was a hit, and so Pirates comes to follow.
The opening scene takes place on a pirate ship when Frederic bids farewell, upon the arrival of this twenty-first birthday, to the band of pirates that he was bound to serve since he was eight years old. During his good-byes, he informs the men that he will no longer be faithful to them and has every intention to do them in.
He leaves with his nursemaid, Ruth, who convinces him that she is the only woman for him, using his naivety to her advantage—he had never laid eyes on any woman, but her in his life. He quickly learns that not only is she more than twice his age, but that, with the coming of a group of young maidens, Ruth is not as beautiful as she claims.
The set turns to a flurry of colorful dresses, lace parasols and giggling young women. Frederick is mesmerized and ready to take a wife. Not knowing which of these sisters will choose him, Mabel steps in and steals his heart. The girls’ father, Major-General Stanley arrives soon after to dissuade the pirates who have come onto the scene to take Mabel’s sisters away and marry them. Lucky for the Major-General, the group of bungling pirates have a backfiring rule about never pillaging or harming an orphan, or someone who claims to be one.
In Act Two, Frederick learns of an unforeseen “paradox” involving his February 29th (leap year) birthday and his servitude. The Pirate King with Ruth in tow, breaks the news to Frederick, who moments before was planning their demise, and to marry the lovely Mabel. Frederick, a slave to his sense of duty, decides to embrace the fact that he is technically 5 (and one quarter) years old and goes back to take up his post as a fellow pirate.
The choreography of the large ensemble is flawless, at many times during the performance twenty-one players together took to the stage singing and dancing. The full stage was mesmerizing and enjoyable.
Jesse Coleman plays the Pirate King with the flamboyance of only a man wearing ruffled shirts can. He takes charge of the scenes with his presence and his booming vocals. “Oh, better far to live and die” and “When you have left our pirate fold (‘A Paradox’)” highlighted his talents.
Eleanore Thomas (Ruth) impresses early, showcasing her vocal talents with her performance of “Frederick was a little lad” and “Oh false one you have deceived me.”
Frederick, played by John Farchione, demonstrates that his talents are not limited to his outstanding voice, but also in his delivery of one-liners that pepper the show. He does this often in his encounter with the girls and later in Act Two when helping the pirates rob the Major-General’s home.
A stand-out in the comedic department was Megan Cone (Edith) with her hilarious facial expressions, on cue school girl squeals and wonderful voice. “Stop, ladies, pray!”, “Oh, is there not one maiden breast?” and “What ought we to do?” were painted with her physical comedy, complete with knuckle biting and on-cue eyebrow-raising.
Jerry Christakos as Major-General Stanley, stole the show with his physical comedy and silliness during numbers like the famous “I am the very model of a modern Major-General”, where he showcased his talents during the fast-moving patter song with tongue-twisting rhyming that Gilbert and Sullivan are so famous for. “I’m telling a terrible story” was another example of his crowd-pleasing presence.
Matthew J. Fick’s lightening and scene design highlighted Karin Mason’s elaborate, bright colored costumes for the stage, full of whimsical characters.
Complete with the largest orchestra (nine pieces) to ever perform at the historic music hall, the music was delightful. The unamplified vocals were splendid, although at times it was hard to hear some of the actors and as a result, some of the fast moving staccato lines were missed by the ear.
The show ends with Frederick, out of loyalty to the pirates, describing the Major-General’s deception regarding being an orphan. The pirates vow to kill the Major-General and a fight soon ensues between the police and the pirates. The pirates prevail, but it is short-lived as the police quickly turn the tables: “On your allegiance we’ve a nobler claim. We charge you yield in Queen Victoria’s name.” The pirates immediately give themselves up. Ruth pleads that they are noble men that “have gone wrong” to save them from the Major-General’s order to take them into custody.
The Major-General has a change of heart that develops as quickly as the pirates surrender and exclaims: “Resume your rank and legislative duties. And take my daughters, all of whom are beauties.”
The Pirates of Penzance is a charming and, at times side-splitting, performance of which only Gilbert and Sullivan can provide: a classic Victorian-Era comedy with plot twists and turns of the utmost absurdity that translates well into the 21st century.
For tickets and information, visit www.cohoesmusichall.com
–Nicole M. Arciello Berhaupt is an Assistant Editor for The Free George. Photo by Theresa Thibodeau
The Free George is the online magazine and visitors’ guide of Upstate NY, covering things from Albany to Lake Placid, including Saratoga, the Lake George region and the Adirondacks. Check out our City Blogs section for our extended coverage areas as well.
Short URL: http://thefreegeorge.com/thefreegeorge/?p=16796
