When you think of the inaugural production from a brand new theater company started by a team of enthusiastic recent college graduates, your mind doesn’t immediately go to Gilbert and Sullivan. That is, however, exactly what the fledgling theater company The Core Ensemble decided to do with their first public endeavor, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.
The Core Ensemble has taken this large scale operetta traditionally performed with a big orchestra, a big chorus, and an even bigger ship and adapted it into a one-act, 10 person, stripped down, black box production. This intrepid group of actors seemed to have willed this performance into existence with sheer energy and silliness. Director Spencer Funk has melded the barely contained zaniness of the Marx Brothers with circus elements and some light Three Stooges fight choreography thrown in for good measure. There are times that the movement onstage interferes with the challenging vocals of a Gilbert and Sullivan score but overall, it is pretty impressive what this pared down group of singers and a piano are able to accomplish. When we reach the climax of “Hail Poetry”, the cast proves that they are capable of some serious singing. It makes me wish that they had incorporated a little stillness to allow the music to shine.
That is not to say there were not some standout vocal performances. Julia Holden-Hunkins as Mabel soared effortlessly through the marathon aria “Poor wand’ring one” with a healthy dose of Disney princess charm. Warren Levi Haney is delightful as the doltish yet sincere Frederic though the extremely difficult range of the role is, every once in a while, out of his reach. Sara Glauser as Ruth and Barrett Penrod as The Pirate King bring their scenes to life with a sparkling, swashbuckling warmth and some stellar vocals. Daniel J. Lacker and Nick Vogl, as the Police Constable and Police Sergeant respectively, stole their fair share of scenes Keystone Copping their way through the show.
Overall, what this young theater company has accomplished is impressive. They have completely reimagined a challenging piece of musical theater that is often treated far too preciously. While not all of the ideas and concepts were successful and there were maybe a few more penis jokes than Gilbert and Sullivan had envisioned, fresh voices in the Seattle theater scene should be encouraged.
Pirates of Penzance, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W.S. Gilbert is being produced by The Core Ensemble. Playing through September 3 at 18th & Union. For info and tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3041659.