Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 2016-2017 Season opens with six performances of Gilbert and Sullivan’s THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE or ‘The Slave of Duty’ The performances are at the St. Lawrence Centre’s Jane Mallett Theatre on December 27, 30 and January 6 at 8 pm and December 31 and January 7, 8, at 3 pm 2017. Derek Bate leads a stellar cast, chorus and orchestra with stage direction by TOT General Director, Guillermo Silva-Marin.
The name of the operetta could easily have been THE PIRATES OF NEW YORK. The British team’s previous hit had been pirated in the United States and by opening the show first in the US, the authors could prevent ‘pirate versions’ from proliferating in America. Thus, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE premiered in New York City at the Fifth Avenue Theater in 1879. Both Gilbert and Sullivan were eager to capitalize on the amazing success of PINAFORE a year earlier – despite the copyright troubles in the US - and lavished their creative gifts on this work to an extraordinary degree. Sullivan deftly honored the music of Verdi and Schubert, while at the same time he gently poked fun at ‘grand opera’ tradition. Sullivan lost not a moment in hoisting high the British dedication to ‘duty above all’ and allows all sorts of disasters to befall the hero Frederic, the heroine Mabel, Major General Stanley, and the duty-bound minions of the law. Gilbert takes customary potshots at the aristocracy, politics and the military, introducing a sheltered male into the company of ladies where the mere sight of an uncovered ankle makes him break out into a sweat.
An unanswered question surrounding PIRATES OF PENZANCE is how the rousing choral number “Come friends, who plough the sea” morphed into the American standard “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here”.
“Gilbert and Sullivan’s world of music and text needs singer/actors of extraordinary talent and I’m pleased we’ve been able to assemble a cast with a talent for both” said Silva-Marin. Headlining the cast is Canadian superstar Colin Ainsworth as Frederic, the apprentice about to graduate to full piratehood. TOT favourite Elizabeth Beeler will be featured as Ruth, a ‘piratical maid of all work’ and in love with young Frederic. Another TOT star, Curtis Sullivan will take the role of Major General Stanley, the ‘orphan boy’ who must care for a host of daughters as a single father. Vania Chan, last heard with TOT as Princess Mi in THE LAND OF SMILES will be Mabel, in love with the ‘poor wand’ring one’. Rounding out the cast are Austin Larusson and Anthony Rodrigues sharing the role of Sergeant whose lot on the police force ‘is not an ‘appy one’, and Nicholas Borg and Janaka Welihinda sharing the Pirate King, Eugenia Dermentzis as Edith, Meagan Larios as Kate and Edward Larocque and Adam Norrad sharing the role of Samuel.
The Toronto Operetta Theatre is generously supported by the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, the Dalglish Family Foundation, the Toronto Arts Council, the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council and supporters who wish to remain anonymous. Media sponsorship courtesy of the Classical 96.3 FM and the EPOCH TIMES. All performances are at the St. Lawrence Centre which is wheelchair accessible and close to public parking and transit. For tickets and information call the Box Office at 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754 or online at www.stlc.com. Group rates for 20 or more. For further information, call TOT at (416) 922-2912.
Photo: Colin Ainsworth as Frederick and unknown pirate in Calgary Opera’s The Pirates of Penzance. ©2013 Stuart Gradon.
2016-11-17
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre presents "The Pirates of Penzance" December 27, 2016-January 8, 2017