-
1 of 10
-
2 of 10
-
3 of 10
-
4 of 10
-
5 of 10
-
6 of 10
-
7 of 10
-
8 of 10
-
9 of 10
-
10 of 10
H.M.S. Pinafore to set sail at the Morrison Center
Archive
Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1878 comic operetta, “H.M.S Pinafore,” will be presented in a co-production by BSU’s Theatre Arts and Music departments in five performances March 8 through 11 in the main hall of the Morrison Center for the Arts.
The cast of 31 students will set sail in this humorous send-up of the Royal Navy and rank and privilege in Victorian England, with characters such as Dick Deadeye, Ralph Rockstraw, Sir Joseph Porter and Little Buttercup. This is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular operettas, subtitled “The Lass that Loved a Sailor.” Musical numbers include “When I Was a Lad,” “We Sailed the Ocean Blue,” and “Fair Moon I Sing to Thee.”
The production is directed by Richard Klautsch, Boise State theatre arts department chair. Vocal direction is by music professor Lynn Berg, and the orchestra is conducted by music professor John Baldwin. The sets were designed by recently retired theatre arts professor Steven Buss. Boise State student L.J. Demetita designed the costumes.
“The lass that loved a sailor,” is how the story has been subtitled. The story line is a classic tale of forbidden love between the Captain’s daughter, Josephine (played by BSU Senior Elizabeth Joyce Wood), and a scrub-deck sailor, played by Scott Noland, also a Senior. The Captain (Andy Maddox) of the “H.M.S. Pinafore” had betrothed his daughter’s hand to the First Lord of the Admiralty (played by Scott Huntsman,) and becomes furious upon discovering her passions lie with a common seaman.
Klautsch described “Pinafore” as a “parody of British manors and pretensions.” The operetta is very well known with “very infectious music.”
But “Pinafore” is not quite the standard, operatic theme. “This is one of those operas that crosses over into musical theatre,” says Wood, whose major is opera performance. An operetta is a combination of a musical and an opera, in other words, “serious singing,” Wood stated.
The Music and Theatre Arts Department collaborate on a musical every two years, with this year’s choice being a “tradition” among musical comedy. “Very witty,” Klautsch added. Of course the British are known for their wit and their charm, and this play has them both.
Evening shows run at 7:30 p.m. with a morning show Thursday at 10:30 a.m., and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday. The show is free to students.