Saltbox Theatre Collective Presents THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE Review – Capturing Gilbert & Sullivan FUN!

Even before the curtain there were signs that a Saltbox Theatre Collective outing was not typical fare for a regular Chicago theater-goer.  This audience was full of families, with many lap-sized children and their more adult 8-year old seeming siblings. The box office had oversold.  (Hint: this is open seating and a very air-conditioned theater.  Get there early and bring a sweater. ) Improvising quickly as he obviously had taught his cast to do,  Saltbox Artistic Director Brian Fruits and team hustled to put in more chairs and then assured us that  his cast could deal with adapting as needed. 

Indeed! Though the performance space was quite small, even before the extra chairs were set, this proved no problem for this spirited cast of more than two dozen.  And, when the young children started to babble, that too was not a challenge but rather an opportunity for the no small talents in this cast, and especially Ryan Smetana playing the lead of sorts (Frederic, a ward of the Pirate band) to weave them into the show.  The toddlers became the actors’ props--  adding to the audience laughter.

And laugh we did—right from the start when the Pirate band makes its entrance to the very end when (SPOILER TEASE!) the import of opening on the same day as the Pride Parade became clear.

The first laugh probably came from realizing that one of the pirates is dressed in a Pirates baseball team outfit.  More traditionally, there is the requisite hook hand and a parrot perched atop the shoulder too.  

Some of the pirate band, and later also in the fluttering General Stanley’s Daughters ensemble,  are fresh faced actors who seem like they just rushed in from High School home room right as the bell rang.

Saltbox Theatre Collective Hits Bulls-eye on Gilbert & Sullivan Classic

You too, as this writer, may notice this one-shade-less-than-pro feel right away, and that some of the band seem a bit dazed to be on stage.  Yet, the ensemble moves as one, and that slight whiff in the air of quasi-stagefright among some doesn’t in any way compromise their tight tight tight delivery.  Add to this the standout performances of the more pro Pirate King (David Burke) and triple threat Ryan Smetana as pirates’ ward and indentured servant, Frederic, among others,  and your attention never lags.  For this writer, it was especially hard to say if Brian Bengston as Major General Stanley did a good job or a great job, because the whimsical touches in his costume and props never stopped failing to charm.  More than anyone though, it is super-sized Charles Howard II playing the police sergeant sent to quell the pirates in a too-small outfit that helps make his disco diva moves a hoot, who threatens to totally steal the show.   Won’t it be even more fun to know he is a police sergeant in real life, which the Saltbox Theatre Collective website says is the kind of casting they seek. 

How perfect! This air of community theater mixed in with the pros does not in any way detract.  Rather, for this writer at least, this adds to the feel of buffoonery so integral to the very soul of this Gilbert & Sullivan farce.  Add to the mix some Chicago circa now improvised libretto add-ins, and your biggest challenge becomes how to give your aching smile muscles a rest!!!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Note: This is now added to the Picture this Post round up of BEST PLAYS IN CHICAGO, where it will remain until the end of the run. Click here to read – Top Picks for Theater in Chicago NOW – Chicago Plays PICTURE THIS POST Loves.

When:

Thru July 15

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays 3:00 PM

Where:

Stage 773
1225 West Belmont
Chicago

Tickets:

$9+

For tickets visit the Stage 773 website.

Photos:  Rachael Nuckles

Note: An excerpt of this review appears in Theatre in Chicago