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'Pirates' displays talent, humor
 Kristen J. Kubisiak
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It was a cold, long hike to the PAC Friday night for "The Pirates of Penzance." But this was one musical production that was worth the walk.
The auditorium was packed with SCSU students, friends, family, community and staff, including speech professor and veteran actor Bruce Hyde, who starred in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" last fall. Everyone present was in for an aural treat.
The orchestra was the unexpected star of the night. From silly romantic pieces like "Poor Wandering One" to popular favorites like "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General," the orchestra was near flawless. The orchestra members proved to be not only skilled musicians, but formidable adversaries when their captain, Bruce Wood, was in danger.
At one point when the Pirate King, played by Aaron Lahmann, challenged Bruce Wood (who was armed with a sword) in the orchestra pit, some orchestra members raised their instruments and growled to scare him away. The inclusion of this additional, unexpected humor kept the audience guessing throughout the performance.
Anachronistic humor also played a part in this musical. A cell phone conversation sung between two pirates and the appearance of a disgruntled box office employee who extracted the cell phones from their hands comically reiterated a point made in a short intro before the musical started: NO CELL PHONES!
Overall, the way the play, conceived in the late 19th Century, was adapted to suit a contemporary audience was a big success that kept smiles and snickers emanating from the audience. The humor was smart without being arrogant and cute without being cheesy.
The cast was a cornucopia of talent from the leads Frederic (Chris Laumann) and Mabel (Lisa Kapsner-Earl), to the chorus of Major-General Stanley's wards and the chorus of Pirates and Police.
Cheers for Eric Larson, Mike Miller, Trevor Rittmiller and Joshua Swantz who, in addition to the chorus of pirates, played a chorus of police whose antics delighted the audience.
Overall, it was an extremely talented cast who exceeded my expectations in acting, singing and dancing. The extra practice definitely paid off for this hardworking cast.
The visual detail of the costumes, the scenery and the props gave the musical authenticity and added dimension. It was a job well-done by the costume and scene designers.
All together, SCSU's talented students and dedicated staff provided a show that was a treasure for pirates and peers alike.
Kristen J. Kubisiak can be reached at: [email protected]
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