A PEG OF PIRATES, A NUTTY NURSE, AND A BRIG
OF BOBBIES ALL IN A PITCH-PERFECT PARODY
This beloved operetta by the legendary British duo W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan first launched in 1879 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City (the only collaboration of the pair to premiere on Broadway, and not in England). Now, The Pirates of Penzance sails from the Fifth Avenue Theatre and who knows how many voyages hence (27 on Broadway alone, including the current Pirates!) into the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa with a treasure trove of vibrant stagecraft, hearty vocals, Donnie Frank‘s outrageous costumes, and gleefully absurd storytelling.
Drew Bolander as the Pirate King
This raucous, joy-filled adventure has more than a few delightfully misguided pirates plying their trade in Penzance—a real-life, sleepy resort town on the coast of Cornwall, and an unlikely backdrop for swashbuckling chaos. But it’s precisely that incongruity that sets the tone for a show fueled by fantasy and whimsy. The leads are double cast: I caught the “Bones” cast, though a little parrot told me that the “Skull” cast is just as spirited.
The daughters
After the overture, performed by a lively seven-piece orchestra under the baton of Les Pfutzenreuter, we open on a rocky seaside cove (co-designed by Peter Crompton and Aissa Simbulan). A dozen rowdy scallywags burst into song, showcasing a thrilling male chorus that fills the theater with robust harmonies. They’re toasting Frederic (Aidan Cumming), about to be released from his pirate apprenticeship on his twenty-first birthday. The solid bass vocals from the Pirate King (the rakish Drew Bolander) are a stand-out, along with those of his baritone sidekick Samuel (Diego Rodriguez).
The bobbies
Ruth (Ginger Beavers) is Frederic’s well-meaning but dotty nursemaid. She joins the group to correct the truth she’s hidden for years: As it turns out, Frederic’s piratical upbringing was all due to a simple misunderstanding—his father asked Ruth to apprentice him to a pilot, but she heard pirate. That’s just the first of many miscommunications in a zany plot that takes no prisoners and grows more delightfully tangled by the minute, with the hilarity heightened by co-directors Emily Lynn Cornelius and Jonathen Blue.
Caroline Flett as Mabel with Diego Rodriguez, Aidan Pryor, Katie Foster
Frederic happens upon a bevy of young sisters singing and sunning on a nearby beach. Startled, they scatter, with only Mabel (a radiant Caroline Flett, whose crystalline soprano practically floats off the stage) remaining, intrigued by her new love. Joined by Cumming’s vibrant tenor, their duets are breathtaking. You could almost imagine yourself transported from Santa Rosa to the Met.
Ted C. Smith as the Major General
One of the operetta’s crown jewels which has delighted fans for nearly 150 years is the rapid-fire patter song “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” Clad in full feathered regalia, Clad in full feathered regalia, Ted C. Smith barrels through the lyrics with impressive clarity and impeccable timing. One hopes he’s able to sleep after delivering such a verbal marathon of copious lyrics.
The show is peppered with sly wordplay—particularly a running gag involving “often” and “orphan”—brought to life through expressive faces and sharp comedic instincts. The timing throughout is tight, and the ensemble displays the kind of chemistry that makes even the tiniest mishap feel like part of the fun.
When the Pirate King’s scabbard slipped from his belt when he drew his sword mid-song, Bolander scooped it up in stride, never missing a beat. Likewise, when a spotlight lagged behind Ruth, Beavers glided gracefully back into the light, unfazed. It’s these tiny, human moments that remind us why live theater remains so irresistible.
With weekends featuring twice-daily performances, The Pirates of Penzance at 6th Street Playhouse is a witty, tuneful romp that proves there’s still gold to be found in Gilbert and Sullivan’s old chest. Come party with the pirates.
photos by Erika Spears
The Pirates of Penzance
6th Street Playhouse
GK Hardt Theater, 52 W 6th Street in Santa Rosa
Thurs-Sat at 7:30; Sat and Sun at 2
ends on June 21, 2025
for cast, dates, and tickets, ($29-$55.95), call 707.523.4185 or visit 6th St Playhouse
###
Cari Lynn Pace is a voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
