Frederic is finally 21 and his time as a pirate apprentice is through. At least that’s what he thinks.
Having been born on Feb. 29 (Leap Year), Frederic has actually only celebrated five birthdays and not the 21 required to be released from his apprenticeship.
Sure the pirates were great, but he had a taste of the real world and found his true love. Now because of his sense of duty, Frederic decides to stay with the pirates.
But what would happen to Mabel? Will she wait for him? How did Frederic get in this predicament anyway? What would come of Major-General Stanley?
Kind of left you hanging there, didn’t we? Well we can’t give away the whole story because then what reason would you have to go check out the Community Players of Concord’s performance of The Pirates of Penzance.
“If anyone wants to know anything else, they should come and see the show,” said director Karen Braz.
It’s the fourth and final show of the Players’ 88th season, and you can only see it this weekend at the Concord City Auditorium. The comedic opera will be performed Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. And that’s it.
“The music is wonderful and the lyrics are amazing,” Braz said.
The Pirates of Penzance is a two act classic from Gilbert & Sullivan, that was first performed on New Years Eve – in 1879.
“It was written more for the masses, for regular folk,” Braz said.
It’s been quite a while since the Community Players produced a Gilbert & Sullivan show, last doing so in 1939. But when Braz brought it to the powers that be when the season was being decided, it was met with a yes.
“I thought no way,” Braz said. “But I happen to love this particular show.”
Braz had been in a dinner theater performance of Pirates a number of years ago at Kimball-Jenkins Estate and had also directed a junior version of it.
The Players held auditions in mid February and have been rehearing three times a week since the beginning of March. And it’s chock full ot great local actors and actresses – way too many to name them all here.
There will be live music accompanying the work being done on stage with a small pit orchestra, and Jim Webber, who was recently named Best Community Scenic Designer at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards, will be putting together the set, which is actually up on the Audi stage as you read this in anticipation of Thursday’s dress rehearsal.
“There’s a great deal of singing, and great singing,” Braz said.
If The Pirates of Penzance sounds familiar, you may have seen the movie created in 1983 – under the same name, of course.
“If anyone saw that, they’d be familiar with ‘Pirates’ on a more general level,” Braz said.
Now you’re probably wondering how you make sure to see one of these performances. You can go to the Community Players website to buy a ticket, communityplayersofconcord.org, or go through the Audi box office. Walk up purchases can be made starting Wednesday, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Phone reservations can also be made by calling the box office at 228-2793 during thos same hours.
Tickets in advance are $16, $14 for seniors and children, and $18/$16 at the door.
