Countless Reasons To Enjoy

Richter’s ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’

By Julie Stern

DANBURY — There has always been a sort of loopy, self-mocking strain of British humor, culminating in the 20th Century with groups like Monty Python. Back in the late Victorian era, Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan were knighted for their creation of remarkable comic operas, whose goofy characters and clever lyrics were set to uncommonly beautiful music, which were more memorable than ordinary music hall stuff.

(As the program notes for the current Musicals at Richter production of HMS Pinafore tell us, composer Sullivan studied in Europe under a “Mendelssohn Prize” and the music sounds “very Mendelssohn-like.”)

HMS Pinafore, which was the team’s first big hit, was a satirical dig at both the Royal Navy and politicians. The ship is called the HMS Pinafore after a young girl’s dress, rather than “Semaphore” which would have been a standard naval name. The character of Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the Admiralty, who sings about how he rose to his position by polishing the brass – ending with “stick close to your desk and never go to sea, and you may be the ruler of the Queen’s Navy” – is based on the real naval chief of the time, Sir William Smith, who had gotten the job in the same way.

The story is of love between the ranks in that Sir Joseph wants to marry Josephine, the daughter of Pinafore’s Captain Corcoran, but she is in love with Ralph Rackstraw, a lowly sailor. While both the Captain and Sir Joseph are very democratic in theory, they are outraged when they discover the lovers planning to elope.

Before they can throw Ralph in the brig, however, Little Buttercup, the popular seaside vendor who sells the sailors food and trinkets when they are in port, reveals her own dark secret: Many years ago, she ran a baby farm (what we call day care) and for no good reason, switched two babies around…

What makes the show such a classic treat is the combination of silliness with beautiful music. The songs are truly memorable, from the opening “We Sail the Ocean Blue” and Buttercup’s “I’m Called Little Buttercup” to Josephine’s lament “Sorry Her Lot” and the contrapuntal “Things are Seldom What They Seem” and Buttercup’s closing confession “Many Years Ago…”

Kyle Minor has done a fine job directing it for Musicals at Richter, despite the vagaries of this summer’s weather, and he has a good solid cast to work with. In particular, Cidalia Alves, as Buttercup, has such an incredibly powerful and rich voice that you could listen to her all night and never get tired of hearing it.

She is joined by equally solid performers: Jerrial Young as the bemused Captain Corcoran, Meric Martin as the stalwart sailor, Ralph, Debra Siberon as Josephine, and Steven Grover as Sir Joseph, who manages to be both pompous and simpering at once.

In addition, Joseph Etcheto does a lot with the character of the unpopular Dick Deadeye, who resents the lovers’ happiness enough to betray them to the Captain, and Wendy Falconer brings a lot of presence to the role of Cousin Hebe, the leader of Sir Joseph’s gaggle of sisters and cousins and aunts who follow him everywhere.

Other strong points include the chorus of sailors, a hearty bunch of tars in lovely striped shirts and neckerchiefs, that includes Newtowners Dick Zang and John McMahon (of Newtown Choral Society). I also liked some of the little touches wherein Director Minor moved his characters about the stage – when Sir Joseph’s female entourage arrives by boat, it is very funny. Similarly, the ensemble of sailors and ladies creeping across the deck to help Josephine and Ralph escape “Carefully, on Tiptoe Stealing” is done very well.

Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first big hit, and it made their reputation. It was later followed by others, including Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Patience, and what is probably the greatest and best known of their shows, The Mikado. If you are familiar with any Gilbert and Sullivan work, and enjoy it, this is a great one to see. If you’ve never seen or heard any, but you like satire and English humor, that’s another reason to go. But above all, go for the music.

(Performances continue Friday through Sunday evenings at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road in Danbury. Call 748-6873 for curtain and ticket details or reservations.)