Music Reviews

Feb 3, 2006 - Nevada Opera's "Pirates of Penzance" strikes gold

By Jack Neal

Sometimes all that glitters is gold.

Gilbert and Sullivan, the word-and-tune smiths of the British Empire circa 1871 1896, discovered gold with the 14 operettas they created for London's Savoy Theatre.

Now Nevada Opera has struck gold itself with two sold-out Gilbert and Sullivan performances. And that's just as it should be. Nevada Opera's new production of Gilbert and Sullivan's delightful play on words, "The Pirates of Penzance," is engaging and entertaining from start to finish.

Undoubtedly the production brain child of Nevada Opera's artistic director and conductor Michael Borowitz, the pirates, cops and damsels Borowitz has encouraged to do their best, do. There isn't a misstep in the show. In addition to Borowitz and a super cast of troupers, much of the credit for this socko show business show goes to Gary Briggle, who not only directs this lighthearted romp, but is one of the most fabulous Major General Stanleys ever.

It's hard to get past Briggle's endearing Major General, the grand master of patter, but the production's pirates, cops and gals - one and all - hold their own with flair and style.

Mark Walters plays the Pirate King with narcissistic swagger, and shows off his powerful voice and physical agility with a quirky sense of humor that sets the tone for a production that never takes itself seriously. Thomas Wazelle is Frederic, the young, handsome ward of the pirates until his 21st birthday. Wazelle has got the kind of young-chap charm that makes his wide-eyed Frederic a pleasure to behold. He also sings well and that's a major plus. Suzette Thoeni plays Mabel, the apple of Frederic's eye, and she does it with a coloratura sense of comedy that sounds as good as she looks and acts. Thoeni's Mabel is a major assist for the show's Pandora's box of shenanigans.

Paula Roediger is Frederic's nurse-maid Ruth. Her avalanche of attempts to win Frederic for her mate rather than her charge is worth the price of admission. Ruth is a delicious part and Roediger makes the most of it.

Matthew Trevino paints a don't-tread-on-me-because-I-don't-want-a-confrontation portrait of Police Sergeant Edwards that's hilarious. Trevino sails through his duties with a sulking dread and the greatest of ease. Likewise Rick Cornell scores as Samuel the pirate aide-de-camp who sets the operetta's high-camp plot in action. Mary Anna Replogle is Edith, Clemenzia Golbov is Kate, and Jean Driver is Isabel. These sisters three are each one just right.

The Nevada Opera Orchestra plays Sullivan's spritely score with cut-glass sparkle. The Nevada Opera Chorus sings this not-easy music - as do all the principals - with care and assurance. To everyone's credit, music never suffers by way of the show's ribald sense of comedy. Arthur Sullivan's majestic score is beautiful and rapid and is a fitting work for any opera company to tackle. W.S. Gilbert's clever and relentlessly witty lyrics are preserved and articulated in all their glory.

All production values are top drawer. Eric Fielding's set - a kind of erector-set conglomeration - lets the action flow almost without hesistation on a wooden Union Jack floor. I'm not sure how good and gracious Queen Victoria would like a bunch of pirates tramping around on her flag, but Nevada Opera is an American company and the Patriot Act and presidential surveillance don't apply. Don Smith's lighting is a rainbow of color as are the costumes by Jasen J. Smith and Josette Miles.

But as grand as this show is in its trappings and execution it's still the wonder of Gilbert and Sullivan's talent that stars and shines over one hundred years after their London triumphs. How thrilled they would be to hear and see their hysterically funny operetta glowing so handsomely, and triumphing once again in the colonies, out west in Reno, Nevada.

Nevada Opera's "The Pirates of Penzance" was presented Friday, February 3 (2006) at 8 p.m. and Saturday, February 4 (2006) at 2 p.m. at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, 100 South Virginia Street, Reno, Nevada. For Nevada Opera performances, tickets and other events call 775-786-4046.