Oakton High School’s reenactment of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous comic operas, “The Pirates of Penzance,” proved to be a splendid surprise. This new production, full of shocks, laughter and cheesy-humor, was not what I expected.
Before seeing it, I had many doubts going in to the play. After doing my research and witnessing a very long musical intro, I thought the idea of having to sit through a play full of silliness and boisterous pirates, with no interesting plot at all, would be unthinkable. However, the moment the cast stepped on stage, I could understand all the excitement. “The Pirates of Penzance” had the perfect cast for Oakton’s final play of the school year; each actor or actress fit the role of their character perfectly, making the characters seemingly come to life on stage. I was enraptured by Eric South’s ability to play a wild and dim witted Pirate King; Tommy Wilson’s ability to play a long-standing and honored Major General; Megan Grigg’s ability to sing at the highest vocal range while starring in the role of Mabel, at ease; and Thomas Hind’s ability to play Fredric, a 21 year old bound by his own sense of duty. Even the cowardly cops and cluster of respectable ladies was a perfect fit. To top it all off, the interaction between all characters was incomparable; especially between The Pirate King (South) and second in command (Raphy Ortiz).
Visually, the production encompassed large set pieces that set the mood for the play. From a large ship to the outside patio of the Major General, the set design was far and in between. The simplicity of the plot combined with the complex stage props, made the viewer feel as if they were experiencing a day in the Victorian era (with pirates of course). Trusting the audience to stay put during the Acts, most of the characters interacted with the viewer’s off stage, making the play feel intimate and exhilarating all at once.
Despite my initial thoughts, the company hit every anticipated mark, finishing the play with witty rhymes and memorable tunes, before all is resolved and well. The good-natured play, while not overly imaginative and without a suitable plot, was worth the time to see.
*Four out of Five Stars*
