Drayton Entertainment brought one of its first productions back to the stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse as part of the theatre’s 2015 season.
With Drayton Entertainment celebrating its 25th anniversary and the Waterloo Regional Gilbert and Sullivan Society showcasing its 40th anniversary, the two have joined forces to bring to life a modernized version of the classic musical The Pirates of Penzance.
A cast of experienced and talented actors were chosen to entertain showgoers.
Set in the small fishing village of Penzance, Cornwall, England, the story follows Frederic, a young man who at the age of eight was apprenticed to a group of pirates through a mistake made by his nursemaid, Ruth.
With his indenture complete at age 21, Frederic is released from the pirates and vows to exterminate piracy. With little experience in the world outside of a pirate ship, Frederic discovers a bevy of beautiful maidens and soon falls head over heels in love with one particular maiden.
Frederic’s apprenticeship with the gang of pirates is reactivated after the discovery of his Feb. 29 birth date, making him only five-and-a-quarter years old. In a pirate raid on Penzance, the village bobbies convince the pirates to yield “in Queen Victoria’s name,” leaving the maidens and their caregiver Major General Stanley unharmed.
Drayton Entertainment’s Alex Mustakas directs and plays the role of the Pirate King. From the director’s chair, Mustakas has added enough present-day ideas to keep the audience entertained from start to finish. As the Pirate King, Mustakas portrays the infamous character with a balance of villainy, wit and humour. His powerful voice does not go unnoticed throughout the production.
Jamie McKnight is suited to the role of the young apprentice, Frederic, with his boyish good looks and charming personality.
In her first role with Drayton Entertainment, Suzanne Rigden plays the sweet maiden Mabel, who is smitten with Frederic. Rigden’s strong operatic voice easily filled the theatre but would be better suited to a larger venue.
Sergeant of Police Eddie Glen and his bumbling band of tap dancing bobbies keep theatregoers entertained with their verbal and physical comedic presence involving temper tantrums, ballet dancing and robotic movements.
Choreographer and assistant director David Conolly’s talents were evident in each scene, from small and intimate to grand ensemble numbers. On numerous occasions the stage was filled to capacity with actors and actresses performing well balanced dances from ballet to rock and roll.
Set design by Jean- Claude Oliver portrayed an English port of the era. Its minimalist appearance suited the stage. Props were appropriate and not overwhelming. No stranger to Drayton Entertainment, costume coordinator Jessica Bray’s talent for her craft was evident in the materials and colours chosen to accurately portray the time period. Bonnets, parasols, bloomers, white boots and long flouncy dresses dated the females of the cast; while knee-high black boots, colourful bandanas and striped pants were the costume of the scruffy, unshaven, pirates. No pirate performance would be complete without a parrot resting on a buccaneer’s shoulder.
One small glitch in the performance occurred when a wireless microphone became unattached from an actor’s head on two separate occasions. Without disrupting the scene, fellow actors discretely corrected the faulty apparatus.
Drayton Entertainment’s performance of The Pirates of Penzance is filled with comedy, tradition and a host of talent. Intermixed with the tradition are scenes involving a famous Canadian institution, classic musicals, movie releases, modern dance routines, an oxygen tank and a local farmer’s market.
Runs until Oct. 25
The show is on stage until Oct. 25. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre, online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 519-747-7788 or 1-855-372-9866 toll free.
