Our Hometown
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Don't miss 'Pirates'
Over the century, it has become one of the best-known in the repertoire, due in part to the movie version of the 1980 Joseph Papp production starring Kevin Kline, Linda Rondstadt, and Rex Smith. Interestingly, Papp's interpretation of the turn-of-the-last-century material closely mirrored Pultneyville Civic Light Opera Company director David E. Cooper's concept, first performed at Gates Hall in 1963. Performances are July 18 and 19 at 8 p.m; July 20 at 3. Tickets at the Gates Hall Box Office, or call 589.3326 The typical topsy-turvy plot is more convoluted than usual, since main character Frederic (apprenticed to a 'pirate' rather than a 'pilot' due his nurse, Ruth's, hearing impairment) is born on February 29. His release from the 'piratical life of crime' was to end upon his 21st birthday, the paradox ensues. Ruth, wishing to become his wife, has kept him from seeing other women during his life, and Frederic doesn't know whether Ruth is pretty, as she claims. Just as he agrees to marry Ruth, a bevy of young maidens, all wards of Major-General Stanley, enter the scene. Frederic discovers Ruth's deception (she is, indeed, quite plain compared to the young ladies), renounces her and falls in love with Mabel, who returns his favor. The pirates enter, seize the girls and threaten to marry them all. Major-General Stanley arrives, and tricks the pirates into letting his daughters go by telling them he's an orphan. Being orphans themselves, the pirates let him and his wards go free. The Major-General's conscience is troubled by his lie, and the opening of Act II finds him brooding in his garden. His wards leave their beds to console him and Frederic steps in with a band of police to fight the pirates. Meanwhile, Ruth and the Pirate King approach Frederic with the news that his indentured servitude was to run until his 21st birthday. As he was born on February 29, he has actually had only five birthdays. Obeying the dictates of his strong sense of duty, he immediately rejoins the pirates and tells them of Major- General Stanley's deception, and they seize and bind the MajorGeneral. The police come to the rescue and charge the pirates to yield in the name of Queen Victoria, which they do. Ruth explains, however, that these men who appear to be a criminal band of pirates are actually 'noblemen who have gone wrong.' They are pardoned and permitted to marry the Major-General's wards. The cast features Carl Webeck, Ann Rhody, Wayne VanderByl, Michael Mulberry, Michael Gorski, Karen Nail and Paul Henry. New to the Company in the role of Mabel is Karen Karnisky. Production staff includes Nan Hanna-Paquin, director; Jaime Prindle, choreographer; Tom DeWitte, accompanist; Ann Rhody and Wayne VanderByl, vocal directors; and sets by R.L. Markham. Copyright
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