`PIRATES OF PENZANCE' PEERLESS : CULTURAL ARTS PRODUCTION FULL OF MUSIC, FUN.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News A Gilbert & Sullivan operetta operetta (ŏpərĕt`ə), type of light opera with a frivolous, sentimental story, often employing parody and satire and containing both spoken dialogue and much light, pleasant music. is almost a sure bet. Such is the case with ``The Pirates of Penzance pirates of Penzance surrender only when charged by the police to yield in the name of their beloved Queen Victoria. [Br. Opera: Gilbert and Sullivan The Pirates of Penzance] See : Loyalty pirates of Penzance ,'' produced by Comedy Tonight Productions and playing at the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Cultural Arts Center. It's got lovely music, lighthearted comic satire and it's just plain fun. Mix together a band of rowdy yet tender-hearted pirates, who refuse to attack orphans, a pompous major general of the British army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. It came into being with unification of the governments and armed forces of England and Scotland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. , his nine alluring maiden daughters, and a group of British ``Bobbies'' reminiscent of the Keystone Kops Keystone Kops the slapstick film comedians specializing in wild chases (1912-1920). [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 399] See : Zaniness of silent movie fame and the result is entertainment for the entire family. There's a bit of swordplay, a few chases, lively dancing and some wordplay amusement with homonyms. Frederic, a playful Gary Saxer, has been apprenticed to a band of pirates (led by the robust Damian Gravino, as the Pirate King) because his hard-of-hearing nurse Ruth, the jolly Peggy Walsh, thought she was pairing him with a ship's pilot, not a ship's pirate. Now that he's 21 and his apprenticeship is over, Frederic is eager to explore the world. Poor Frederic, he's torn by his choices. Should he do his duty and rid the world of his pirate comrades? He's met no women besides his middle-aged nurse and wonders whether she's pretty. What does he make of the female gender? By chance Frederic happens upon the Major General's delicious daughters - Christina Borgioli, Kim Coger, Molly Walsh, Aubri Webb, Marisabel Viramontes, Jessica Delaney Gibson, Lynda A.H. Paul and Shyla Erich. He's interested in all of them, but daughter Mabel (beautifully sung by Patricia Lathrop-McPherson) snatches him for her own. The dashing pirates appear - Jeff Wallach, David Friel, Roger Linkletter, Cameron Stewart Cameron Stewart is an Eisner Award-nominated Canadian comic artist who has worked for DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse. Biography Along with Kagan McLeod, Ben Shannon, Steven Murray, and Chip Zdarsky, he is a co-founder of the studio The Royal Academy of Illustration and , Steve Titmass, Jim Bukowski, Harrison Ray, Adam Traub and Jesse Viramontes (all of them also play police) - and want the maidens for themselves. But Daddy, Major General Stanley (the plucky pluck·y adj. pluck·i·er, pluck·i·est Having or showing courage and spirit in trying circumstances. See Synonyms at brave. pluck Lloyd Allen), claims he's an orphan and would be lonely without his daughters. The Major General enlists the help of the Sergeant of Police, hilariously and broadly played by Gabriel Vega and his men, encourages Frederic to lead them to the pirates to destroy them. Comic chases ensue, but all ends well and melodically. The production overall was excellent and the singers particularly superb, especially when led as an ensemble by the music director and pianist for the play, Zachary Spencer. Compliments to Rebecca Hanes for direction and staging. THE FACTS: WHAT: ``The Pirates of Penzance'' by Gilbert & Sullivan. WHEN: Today and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and Wednesday at 8 p.m. through Jan. 31. WHERE: Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave. COST: $12, $10 and $5. INFORMATION: (805) 581-9940. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Swashbuckling swash·buck·le intr.v. swash·buck·led, swash·buck·ling, swash·buck·les To act as a swashbuckler, as in a movie or play. [Back-formation from swashbuckler. cast members cavort ca·vort intr.v. ca·vort·ed, ca·vort·ing, ca·vorts 1. To bound or prance about in a sprightly manner; caper. 2. on stage in a rowdy scene from ``Pirates of Penzance'' at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. (2) Mabel, Patricia Lathrop-McPherson, and Frederic, Gary Saxer, fall in love in ``Pirates of Penzance.'' |
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