Knoxville Opera presents Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” tonight at 7:30 pm at the Tennessee Theatre and again Sunday afternoon at 2:30 in the same venue. Tickets start at $25. Last presented by Knoxville Opera in October 2016, the beloved opera is one of the most accessible and enjoyed operas by a wide audience. Presented in English with spoken dialogue, the music is great and the lines witty and funny.
The opera debuted in New York City in 1879 and was an instant hit with both patrons and critics. It was the writing duo’s fifth produced work and is one of their most popular works one hundred forty five years later. It was most recently produced on Broadway in the 1980s and was made into a film that same decade starring, among others, Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, and Linda Ronstadt.
The story follows Frederic (Derrek Stark), a hapless fellow unwittingly indentured to a band of pirates led by the Pirate King (Craig Irvin). He awaits his twenty-first birthday, which will free him from his obligation, only to learn that a technicality could extend his “duty” for much longer. Of course, he has fallen in love with the lovely Mable (Hanna Brammer) who agrees to wait for him as long as it may take. Frederic raises a group to attack the surprisingly tenderhearted pirates only rather than bloodshed, hilarity intercedes to save the pirates and the fearful army of constables led to great comic relief by the Sergeant of Police (Allen Michael Jones) sent to their destruction. Love wins the day and all is well.
The most beloved character in the production is the role of Major-General Stanley (Troy Cook) who adds over-the-top whimsy to the proceedings. He also sings what is likely the most well known Gilbert and Sullivan song, “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General.” The song featuring intricate word-play gets sung twice, the second time at much higher speed. It has to be the most dreaded or at least challenging song for a performer to sing onstage.
Joseph Mechavich conducts the orchestra, while Dean Anthony serves as Stage Director and Christy Lee as Chorus Director. Tickets are available here and college students may receive free passes for the performances. A pre-show talk will be offered at 1:30 pm on Sunday.