A lot of things have changed in the nearly 140 years since theater legends Arthur Sullivan and W. S. Gilbert first premiered “H.M.S. Pinafore,” perhaps the most loved of their creative collaborations.
Though, a lot of things have stayed the same.
A viewing of the comic opera today quickly reveals the timeless troubles of children living with parental pressures, the pangs of unrequited love, ineffectual government leaders and even the existence of a societal class system — both actual and implied — all amidst an infamously catchy soundtrack and most lavish costumes.
Island theater lovers will get just such a chance to relive the classic musical in Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest’s production, opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 17 in the Bainbridge High School theater.
The story relates the mismatched romance between Josephine, daughter of the titular warship’s captain, and humble crewman Ralph Rackstraw. The captain wishes his daughter to marry the visiting Admiral Sir Joseph Porter. Though at first she shuns Rackstraw and intends to do as her father wishes, Josephine eventually admits she also loves the “common” sailor and they plan to elope.
Trouble quickly ensues when the captain is informed of his daughter’s intentions by jaded and malicious crew member Dick Deadeye, and the whole affair culminates in a most ironic and hilarious twist ending finale.
“Everything [Gilbert and Sullivan] wrote about is really relevant today if you kind of nudge it into the 21st Century,” said Ron Milton, Ovation! co-founder and director of the production. “It was written as a farce in its time, and in the past it’s been performed more static, so I really pushed the comedy in it and the farcical nature of it.”
On top of that, Milton said, the whole thing is just really fun.
“It’s hilarious,” he said. “It plays well to modern audiences, and the music also stands on its own really, really well.”
The story relies on several kinds of humor, Milton explained, including some obvious physical comedy and more subtle rapid-fire word play, which makes maintaining the focus of the performers and the audience in the correct spot critical.
“It runs like a freight train,” he said. “It’s quite fun for the audience. I think, for the summer, it’s going to be perfect because it’s kind of like a political satire romp and, if we do our job the right way, the audience will think to themselves, ‘That looks like so much fun. I want to do that.’”
The 24-strong cast includes many Ovation! newcomers; 18 islanders and several emerging new thespians between 8 and 16 years old.
“About half the cast, I’ve never worked with before,” Milton said. “It gives the audience new people to look after and you get different interpretations when your acting pool starts expanding.”
Portraying Pinafore’s colorful characters are Cade Strong, Jacob Cole, Kelli McAuley, Dale Bye, Myriah Riedel, Peter Vosshall, Marijane C. Milton, Terry McAuley, Ross Eide, Thomas Gonzales, Chris Ligocki, Tom Clouthier, Terry McAuley, Austin Smith, Ethan Macey Cushman, Meghan Smith, Margaret Connie Bye, Kay Morgan, Leela Vosshall, Breyanne Michelle Weber, Grace Shaffer, Kylie Turner and Lyra Cromwell.
The show is appropriate for all ages.
“This is a great family show,” Milton said. “It’s got humor for everybody: political humor, social humor and physical, line-of-sight humor.”
Tickets are on sale, starting at $14 at Winslow Drug, at 800-838-3006 and online at www.ovationmtb.com.
All aboard
What: Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest’s production of “H.M.S. Pinafore.”
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Friday, July 17 through Sunday, Aug. 2.
Where: Bainbridge High School theater.
Admission: Tickets start at $14, at Winslow Drug, 800-838-3006, and www.ovationmtb.com.
