‘Pirates of Penzance’ in the New York Mobster Scene

Knees bounce, fingers snap, and toes tap on a Wednesday night in the Horner Room of Agassiz Theater. Preparing for the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ production of “Pirates of Penzance,” the singer-actresses are full of energy at this late hour. Music director Mateo A. Lincoln ’19 shifts from his seat at the Steinway to his place among the circle of students, encouraging a lively and productive dynamic. All seem to be drawing life from Gilbert and Sullivan’s celebrated, sprightly score.

A unique twist on the original production, this season’s show is to be set in the mobster scene of 1940s New York. Fret not, Gilbert and Sullivan aficionados. “The choice to make it in 1940s New York is almost completely visual—there aren’t many lines being changed and in the music there are almost no changes,” said Lincoln. The set, however, will be updated. Done entirely in gray-scale, the stage pieces are to be given a urban look. “Everyone sets it on a pirate ship,” said Arianna N. Paz ’19, who will play Mabel. However, audiences can look forward to quite a different visual experience from the conventional productions: both the lighting and the costumes will be sources for pops of color.

For many of the cast and crew, “Pirates of Penzance” was an early part of their musical experiences and aspirations. “Mabel in particular was a role I always, always wanted to play,” said Paz, “Now I get to do it, and it’s really special.”

For Lincoln, “Pirates” was one of the first productions he ever saw. For Producer Richard S. Tong ’19, the show marked his introduction into the world of Gilbert and Sullivan. “The people who are in this cast are amongst the most talented of people on campus,” Tong said.

What has contributed to the historic success of “Pirates of Penzance” is its ability to evoke lighthearted laughter from every audience member regardless of age, external circumstances, or political climate. “I want them to leave the building humming something,” said Lincoln. “We need that these days.”

Though the show itself is over 100 years old, productions like the one upcoming on campus have the potential to keep it fresh and relevant. “[We’re bringing] a new breath of fresh air to a production that has been done pretty similarly throughout our history,” Paz said.