BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Music's opera program presents Gilbert and Sullivan's comedy, "The Pirates of Penzance," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, 10 a.m. Friday, March 7, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Alys Stephens Center's Sirote Theatre, 1200 10th Ave. S. The production is directed by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk, D.M.A. Tickets are $10, $15 and $20; tickets are $5 for the matinee on March 7.
Call 205-975-2787.
Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" is half musical theater, half opera, and wholly hilarious. Irreverent and entertaining, "The Pirates of Penzance" is the story of young Frederic, mistakenly indentured to be a pirate instead of a pilot by his hard-of-hearing nursemaid, Ruth. The pirates, led by the Pirate King, reluctantly let Frederic leave when he turns 21, per the original agreement. Since Frederic has never seen another woman, nursemaid Ruth convinces him to take her with him.
A bevy of beautiful young ladies appears. Frederic realizes his naiveté and casts Ruth aside for lovely Mabel. The pirates try to kidnap the ladies, who are rescued by their bumbling father, General Stanley. Stanley appeals to the pirates' good natures by telling them that taking his daughters would leave him alone, since he is an orphan. The pirates, all orphans, weep and release Stanley and his daughters. But Stanley is no orphan; he lied and is guilt-ridden. Everyone the pirates try to rob is orphaned; the secret of the tender-hearted pirates is out.
Frederic sets out to defeat the pirates with a team of fearful policemen. Meanwhile, Ruth and the Pirate King have found a loophole in Frederic's contract. He thought he was indentured until his 21st year. Instead, he's bound until his 21st birthday, and he was, of course, born in a leap year. Mayhem ensues, but Frederic and Mabel are reunited, pirates and policemen make peace, and a happy ending is had by all.
The cast in order of appearance: Tyler Henderson of Huntsville; Jake Richey of Clay; Sean Fleischman of Huntsville; Nancy Lewis of Washington, D.C.; Samantha Pace of Alabaster; Marybeth Verchot of Decatur; Erica Ashley Arrington of Greensboro; Elizabeth Bannister of Huntsville; Linc Parrott of Madison; Paul Mosteller of Philadelphia, Pa.; Matthew Russell of Huntsville; Kiyoshi Scissum of Huntsville; Bryan Bastow of Huntsville; Brian Denton of Mount Olive; Chris Reid of Gardendale; Drew Buie of Dothan; Zach Cleghorn of Arley; Meredith Foster of Birmingham; Lori Ayler of Mobile; Whitney Cummins of Madison; Madison Holler of Helena; Erin Pair of Birmingham; Rhea Reuter of Madison; Mark Kunkel of Napa, Ca.; Patrick Dailey of Pinson; Drew Morton of Hoover; and Frank James of Huntsville.