Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
From left, Anja Reynolds, Mat Taylor, Emily Carnahearn, Ferren Morse and Tony Conventry draw their weapons in Connection Street Theatre's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" opening Saturday in Shelton.
Consider the rapid-fire lyrics that kickstart the Gilbert and Sullivan tune "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General," probably the best-known song in the duo's 1879 operatta "The Pirates of Penzance":
"I am the very model of a modern Major-General
I've information, vegetable, animal and mineral.
I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical
From Marathon to Waterloo, on order categorical"
That's the kind of flight of fancy you can expect when Shelton's Connection Street Theatre stages the two-act comic opera at 7 p.m. Saturday May 13 and May 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday May 14 and May 21 at the Faith Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1212 Connection St., Shelton.
Tickets are $5, and are sold at the door, which opens 30 minutes before each performance. Information: faithshelton.org.
The story centers on Frederic, who having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people fall instantly in love. Frederic soon learns, however, that he was born on the 29th of February, and so technically, he has a birthday only once every leap year. He was apprenticed to the pirates until his "21st birthday," which means he must serve another 63 years.
The songs include "Rollicking Band of Pirates We Are," "When Frederic was a Little Lad," "What Ought We Do?" and "Stop, Ladies, Pray!"
Director Michelle Whittaker said the group picked the show "because it is a lot of fun for both the cast and audience."
"It's different from most musicals in that the show is almost entirely sung," she wrote in an email to the Journal. "First on Broadway in 1879, it's now public domain, which means no paying royalties to perform it allows us to keep our tickets prices low, which is really important to our mission to make live theater available to everyone in the community."
She added, "I think you can't watch this show without it putting a smile on your face."
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