Arizona State University Lyric Opera Theatre's H.M.S. Pinafore at The Music Theatre
(out of 
)Mark S.P. Turvin
(home office) (602) 912-0117
I can be reached for comment via e-mail at: mspt@goldfishpublishers.com
Reviewed 4/22/00
(out of )Sometimes, a director's contributions can top those of the actors, making a production rise above weak acting and singing performances or general sloppiness of presentation. If that seems difficult to believe, then book a passage at the ASU Music Theatre, as The Lyric Opera Theatre offers one of the best productions of Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore. It is not one single performance that guarantees this, nor any combination of designers, musicians, or chorus, but the fresh takes, amiable self-awareness, and endearing bits that director Dale Dreyfoos has liberally sprinkled throughout this production. Here is one Pinafore that defies stodgy and mocks pretentious. Gilbert and Sullivan have never been more lowbrow, and still remained as courtly as ever.
The Victorian-era story centers on young lovers Ralph and Josephine. Ralph is a lowly sailor on the H.M.S. Pinafore, while Josephine is the Captain's daughter, which puts them into separate, seemingly impenetrable levels of class. Worse, Josephine is betrothed to the Admiral of the British Navy, a social step up that her father so desperately desires. That doesn't stop the Captain from having a weakness for Little Buttercup, a poor saleswoman with a surprising bit of info that will turn the caste system upside down.
Leave it to Mr. Dreyfoos to find a way to make a noose a comedic prop, and toss in a few modern references that jolt the audience in wonderful ways. He has made this production fully aware of being a theatrical presentation, acknowledging its light opera aspects, and allows the performers to raise the evening to melodramatic proportions. While the results are sometimes too hammy, and the actors need to be reigned back just a bit, the overall was engaging enough to keep the rapt attention of the two young boys sitting beside me, a powerful compliment.
Admittedly, there are problems with this production. The men's choir lacks power. The Ralph that played this opening evening performance, Douglas Roth, has a beautiful tenor that cannot project past the eighth row. The hilarious shenanigans of Dick Deadeye (Mark A. White Jr.) often steal focus from the central proceedings. He is not alone in this criticism, as this is the case for many of the actors, who seem to have been given free reign to mug throughout. Despite these and other minor problems, the evening sparkles.
For some of the performer's shortcomings, there are plenty of balances. The Josephine of the opening night (Heidi Yost) has an operatic soprano that is a trilling delight, despite some diction problems. Wonderfully full-voiced and comically-inclined are her father, Captain Corcoran (Michael Cavalieri) and Little Buttercup (Allyson Shumway). While weaker of voice, the hilarious offering of Sir Joseph Porter (Jeffrey Stevens) counters this perfectly.
Returning to the group he created, conductor Kenneth F. Seipp leads a wonderful orchestra that balances perfectly with singers. Gary L. Campbell's set is a great visual cue to the audience-awareness of the evening, while Esther Turner's costumes are effective. Beautiful is Michael Eddy's lighting, which even gets its own moments of comedic use.
I must admit, I tend to forget how much I enjoy Light Opera, and the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. This production does a great job reminding the audience that beneath the perceived pomp, there's plenty of base to entertain on every level.
Production Details:
H.M.S. Pinafore Libretto by
Sir William S. Gilbert, Music by Sir Arthur S. Sullivan
Arizona State University's Lyric Opera Theatre
The Music Theatre, Tempe
(480) 956-6447
April 22nd - 30th, 2000
