Stage Door News
Stage Door News
A bevy of beauties, blue-blooded Blackbeards, bumbling bobbies, a bound apprentice and a Modern-Major General all run rampant across the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse stage in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. The award-winning comic operetta delights audiences for three weeks only from October 7th to October 25th.
“The Pirates of Penzance is a fast-paced production full of fun comedy, dazzling dance numbers, and outstanding music – it’ll leave you singing and laughing your way out of the theatre,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment.
Long before Johnny Depp swaggered his way across the Caribbean, a band of swashbuckling (but tender-hearted) pirates set hearts aquiver with their high seas hi-jinks. Set on the coast of Cornwall, The Pirates of Penzance tells the topsy-turvy tale of young Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to the sympathetic pirates until his 21st birthday, due to an error made by his hard-of-hearing nursery maid. When he grows up and falls in love with Mabel, a local maiden, he renounces his pirate heritage and swears to rid England of the scourge of bad guys, thus setting in motion a hilarious tale with outrageous twists and turns.
This fun-filled comic operetta is in great hands with a top notch Creative Team led by Mustakas, who handles directing duties and will also appear as the bold and brash Pirate King.
Mustakas played the notorious Pirate King in the Drayton Festival Theatre’s inaugural 1991 Season. Now, he is returning to his theatrical roots with one of his personal favourite roles prepared to swing a sword and sing the memorable tune “I Am the Pirate King.” Fittingly, this production coincides with the 40th Anniversary of the Waterloo Regional Gilbert & Sullivan Society where Mustakas was introduced to the legacy of the Gilbert & Sullivan canon as a teenager, performing in various productions under the stewardship of mentor and lifelong friend John Kerr.
David Connolly will support Mustakas as the Assistant Director and Choreographer for the production, with Steve Thomas as the Music Director. They are joined by Set Designer Jean-Claude Olivier, Costume Coordinator Jessica Bray, and Lighting Designer Simon Day.
In addition to Mustakas, an impressive cast has been assembled for this production including Jamie McKnight as the dutiful pirate apprentice Frederic. McKnight’s terrific tenor voice and penchant for silly comedy make him an excellent fit for the role. Audiences may remember him as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Prince Herbert in Monty Python’s Spamalot, and Prince Justin in Snow White: The Panto.
Budding Canadian soprano Suzanne Rigden makes her Drayton Entertainment debut as Mabel, the dazzling damsel who captures the heart of young Frederic. Rigden is rapidly gaining recognition in the classical music world and was recently named one of CBC's Hot 30 under 30. She has performed in concerts and operas around the world, and earned rave reviews for her comic portrayal of Adele in Die Fledermaus at Vancouver Opera earlier this year.
Audience favourite Rebecca Poff takes on the role of Ruth, the befuddled nursemaid who mistakenly makes Frederic an apprentice to the pirates. Poff has appeared in numerous Drayton Entertainment productions over the years – audiences may remember her as the Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, and Patsy in A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.
Veteran actor David Talbot is the delightfully daffy Major-General Stanley, who will do just about anything to persuade the pirates not to kidnap his daughters. Talbot is an accomplished actor, having appeared in countless stage productions across Canada as well as in several TV shows and films including Murdoch Mysteries, Covert Affairs, The Firm, Flashpoint, The Time Traveler’s Wife and more.
Eddie Glen is sure to leave audiences in stitches as the goofy Sergeant of Police. Audiences may recognize Glen from his roles in Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Last Resort, and as Monsieur Thenardier from last season’s Les Misérables. Nick Settimi, who is well-loved for his portrayals of the Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Patsy in Monty Python’s Spamalot, and Willard in Footloose, will take on the role of Samuel, The Pirate King’s sidekick.
The Major-General’s daughters are played by some of the best female performers in Canada including Jayme Armstrong as Edith, Mairi Babb as Kate, Heather McGuigan as Isabel, along with Ashley Arnett, Judy Kovacs and Sarah Matton.
The exceptional cast also includes Sam DiGiuseppe, Dani Jazzar, Galen Johnson, Andrew McAllister, Nicholas Nesbitt, Gregory Pember, and Christopher Wilson.
The Pirates of Penzance is proudly sponsored by St. Jacobs Furniture House and Commercial Print-Craft Limited. The Orchestra Sponsor is Waterloo Regional Gilbert & Sullivan Society. Media Sponsors are AM 740 and the Wellington Advertiser. The Design Sponsor is Robert Sager, TD Wealth Private Investment Advice. The 2015 Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
Regular performance tickets are $42.00 for adults; $25.00 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for preview performances scheduled before the official opening and groups of 20 or more are $34.00. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com or by calling the Box Office at (519) 747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866).
Photo: Jamie McKnight.
2015-09-16
St. Jacobs: See "The Pirates of Penzance" at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse October 7-25