Playful 'Pirates' Opens in the Ag

The idea of a 130-year old operetta may seem tiresome, but director Allen J. Macleod ’14 promises that Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ “The Pirates of Penzance,” which opened yesterday and will run through Nov. 10 at Agassiz Theater, is ridiculous fun. With its parody of stereotypes and human nature, Macleod says, this century-old tale is anything but out-of-date.

“It’s a balance between big group numbers, witty dialogue, patter songs—which are fast and funny—beautiful ballads, and a couple of dance numbers,” Macleod says.

Gilbert and Sullivan’s unconventional coming-of-age musical follows the journey of the overly dutiful Frederic (Alexander J. Raun ’17) as he turns 21 and is caught between his servitude to the pirates who have raised him and his moral compass, which rejects their brutish ways. “It’s a story about Frederic’s conflicted nature,” Raun says. As in many traditional musicals, love complicates Frederic’s journey as he falls for a beautiful young maiden, Mabel (Allison A. Ray ’14).

“I wanted to go very classic with this,” Macleod says of his take on “Pirates.” But classic does not make the show unrelatable to the modern audience.

“There is the occasional archaic reference, but for the most part it’s a very accessible comedy,” says Amelia H. Ross ’14, who plays Frederic’s nursemaid. “I think the best analogy I can make is it’s like a late 19th-century ‘Lonely Island,’ in a way, very satirical with a lot of social commentary.”

Not only does “Pirates of Penzance” promise to be a relatable operetta, but Macleod describes it as full of fun and hijinks.

“It’s such a funny show!” Raun says, agreeing with Macleod. “I laugh about it to myself all the time.”

Ross even admits to letting a few laughs slip out onstage. “Normally I pride myself on not having a tough time with that, but there are some moments that are so good that I’m losing it onstage.... I know any audience member would get a kick out of it.”