Gilbert & Sullivan Dock at Lakewood

The cast of “HMS Pinafore,” the current production at the Lakewood Playhouse. Photo by Dean Lapin.
Review By Lynn Geyer

Of the numerous operettas which rolled off the pens of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, “HMS Pinafore; or, The Lass that Loved a Sailor,” is one of the most beloved.

The play’s opening in 1878 extended for 571 performances. Enjoy this comical effort fraught with lightly veiled satire now playing at the Lakewood Playhouse. Pinafore is a direct slap at not only the British social system but even dares to comment on the country’s wont of blithely handing out hierarchical posts to the unworthy simply on name alone.

Thus it is with The Right Honorable Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty “the Ruler of the Queen’s Navy,” who only boards a ship when he is certain it is not going to sea. Sir Joseph has taken a notion to marry Josephine, the daughter of the Commander of HMS Pinafore, Captain Corcoran. The problem is that Josephine is in love with Ralph Rackstraw, a common sailor, who loves her back. Of course, Captain Corcoran could have nothing of this because the boy is indeed a commoner. The only problem is that our courageous captain is himself in love — from afar — with Buttercup, a common bumboat woman who returns his love from even farther — and never a person of station and a commoner shall ever wed!

Throw in a handful of singing seamen and a passel of sisters, cousins and aunts and you have the delightful plot to this charming musical encounter with excellent direction and performers.

Director Jim Brown has cast the show perfectly and moves his actors about the small stage with ease and grace presenting the audience with a well-finished production. Brown uses every inch of the stage as he deftly pulls subtle nuances from his actors, who make well-planned “goofs” for comedic effect.

Brown is aided in his work by Music Director Chris McAvoy, who wields baton over the six-piece orchestra. McAvoy is wise to keep his orchestra controlled enough so they do not drown out the charming lyrics which make most of the play’s dialogue.

Scenic Designer Art Fick has beautifully recreated the stern deck of the Pinafore complete with a starboard-side dinghy to house the orchestra.

G&F operettas have large casts; there are 22 in “Pinafore” including the chorus members, most of whom have no more than one spoken line, if that.

“HMS Pinafore” continues at the Lakewood Playhouse through April 25 at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with  2 p.m. matinees Sundays. There is a Command Performance sponsored by the Lakewood Historical Society on Saturday, April 17th at 2 pm. Proceeds go towards the operations of the Lakewood History Museum. There is an actor’s benefit matinee April 24 at 2 p.m.

For more information or to make reservations call the theatre at (253) 588-0042 or go online to www.lakewoodplayhouse.org.

Gilbert and Sullivan, much like Shakespeare and Moliere and many other playwrights of the past, used tried and true formulae in their writing and, like Shakespeare and Moliere, audiences never tire of those proven themes.