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player ready...The ship has sailed on a wave of entertainment when Metea Valley High School students present “The Pirates of Penzance” April 30 through May 2.
“We went with this show because it’s an operetta, which is a style of musical we have yet to do at Metea Valley,” said Jay Fontanetta, who is co-directing the show with choir director Nathan Bramstedt. “We thought it would be an entertaining challenge for us and to the kids as well.”
Fontanetta said their version of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic is presented in “a comedic-melodrama style,” much like it would have been presented when it first came out more than a century ago.
More than 80 students in the cast, crew and orchestra bring the story to life.
“They have risen to the challenge of performing in a show that is almost entirely sung,” said Fontanetta.
Senior Emilija Morkunaite plays Ruth, the only female that hangs out with the band of male pirates.
“I love that Ruth is the only girl that hangs out with the pirates,” said Morkunaite. “Because of this, she isn’t restricted by the expectation to be a ‘real lady’ so she gets to do whatever she wants. It’s fun to be ridiculous on stage and to make her as outrageous as possible.”
Ethan St. Germain, 16, said audiences may leave with a stomach ache from laughing so hard, as “Pirates of Penzance” is full of hilarity. The sophomore plays the character Samuel, which is his first lead role at Metea.
“I love playing Samuel because it is also a role of leadership, leading my pirate counterparts as well as being hilarious alongside them,” said St. Germain. “It has been so rewarding to learn from the talented upperclassmen in the show; it is an honor to have the privilege to act alongside them.”
The show takes place at 7 p.m. on April 30, May 1 and May 2. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at . Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the box office one hour prior to each performance.
Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter.
What: ‘The Pirates of Penzance’
When: 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 30, May 1 and 2
Where: Metea Valley High School Auditorium, 1801 N. Eola Road in Aurora
Tickets: Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at meteamusical.brownpapertickets.com
Remaining tickets will be available for purchase at the box office one hour prior to each performance.