'Pirates' Commandeering the Morgan Theatre at USU

A guest director, direct from London, leads the efforts for the next stage production at Utah State University, Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic comedic operetta The Pirates of Penzance.

“‘Pirates’ is a witty story with superb music and I can’t think of a more enjoyable way to spend an evening,” said Colin Baldy, guest director of The Pirates of Penzance.

Presented by the Department of Theatre Arts, the production runs March 1-3 and 7-10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Morgan Theatre located in the Chase Fine Arts Center on the Logan campus.

Baldy flew in from London and arrived at USU Feb. 7 to begin work on the production. He currently runs an opera touring company in England — Hand Made Opera — and is experienced in performing works of Gilbert and Sullivan.

“Gilbert was a master at exposing the soft underbelly of Victorian society, especially the political and judicial failings,” said Baldy. “Pirates illustrates these failings brilliantly to the audience through both its dialogue and music.”

In the USU production students of all majors participate in the show. Lynn Jemison-Keisker, musical director for The Pirates of Penzance and director of Opera Theatre at the Caine College of the Arts, prepared the cast for Baldy’s arrival.

“Colin Baldy is a Gilbert and Sullivan wiz and an exceptionally gifted director,” said Jemison-Keisker. “The students are excellent, energy is high and they are excited to be working with Colin.”

Rachel ZaeJoDaeus, a USU sophomore majoring in theater, plays Mabel, one of the female leads.

“Although Lynn thoroughly prepared us for Colin’s arrival, we are still having fun getting ready for the performance,” said ZaeJoDaeus. “Now that Colin is here, the show is coming together nicely and we are starting to see Colin’s vision of Pirates come to life.”

Another student in Pirates is Collin Eggertz, a USU junior majoring in piano performance. Eggertz is a pirate and policemen in the show.

“Baldy is an expert at pantomime, which is a way to express meaning through gestures, and he is incorporating it into Pirates,” said Eggertz. “Since there is little dialogue in the show, the acting and music must be exaggerated and pantomime is used to convey the story to the audience.”

In the story of The Pirates of Penzance, Frederic, as a child, was apprenticed to a band of orphaned, tenderhearted pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had mistaken her master’s instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society. Unfortunately, Frederic was born on Feb. 29. As a leap year baby, he must remain an apprentice to the pirates until his actual birthdate passes 21 times.

Frederic, the pirates, a Major-General who apparently knows nothing of military strategy, his large family of unwed daughters, the timid constable and his men take the stage at USU March 1.

The Pirates of Penzance is an operetta — a short opera that is generally light-hearted and comedic. G.W. Gilbert wrote the script and Sir Arthur Sullivan composed the music.

USU has rated The Pirates of Penzance “E” for everyone and it is suitable for children ages 6 and older.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and youth, $10 for USU faculty and staff and free for USU students with ID. For more information and tickets, visit the CCA Box Office located in room 139-B of the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s campus, call 435-797-9022 or purchase tickets online through the Caine College of the Arts website.

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Writer: Kara Rindlisbacher, 432-797-9203, kara.rindlisbacher@usu.edu

Contact: Denise Albiston, 435-797-1500, denise.albiston@usu.edu