9/25/08

Swashbuckling musical opens NW Savoyards season

The Northwest Savoyards, a community musical theatre troupe, is moving its show across town.

After performing at the PUD Auditorium for the last decade or so, the local group has successfully negotiated to rent the stage at the Historic Everett Theatre, located at 2911 Colby Avenue in downtown Everett, for the 2008-2009 season.

The Everett Theatre will not present its own productions for the upcoming season, but will host the Savoyards and several concerts by the Everett Symphony instead.

The Savoyards open their 16th season of theatre with the swashbuckling Gilbert & Sullivan favorite, “The Pirates of Penzance.” In true G&S fashion, the operetta is full of mistaken identities, misunderstood directions and misguided affections.

Frederic, the tale’s hero, was apprenticed as a child to a band of tenderhearted, orphaned pirates by his nurse who, being hard of hearing, had misunderstood her master's instructions to apprentice the boy to a pilot. Frederic, upon completing his 21st year, rejoices that he has fulfilled his indentures and is now free to return to respectable society.

But it turns out that he was born on February 29 in a leap year, and he remains apprenticed to the pirates until his actual 21st birthday. By the end of the opera, the pirates, a Major General who knows nothing of military strategy, his large family of beautiful but unwed daughters, and the timid constabulary all contribute to a cacophony that can be silenced only by Queen Victoria's name.

“The Pirates of Penzance” will be presented for 3 weekends, October 24-26, October 31- November 2, and November 14-16 at the Historic Everett Theatre. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.  Tickets prices are $22 for adults, $19 for seniors, students and military personnel. For tickets, visit www.everetttheatre.org or call (425) 258-6766.

Photo by Jenni El Fattal. The Northwest Savoyards present Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” at the historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby, for three weekends beginning October 24. The community theatre’s cast members include: (Back, L-R) Laura Abel, Matt Lauckhart, Ila Faubion and Dave Holden; (Front) Anthony Dreessen, Erin Gilbert, Meagan Castillo, Marianna Wilson and Michael Marletto. The NW Savoyards will present all three shows this season at the Everett Theatre, moving from the PUD Auditorium. For tickets, call (425) 258-6766 or visit www.everetttheatre.org.