THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409150430
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Don't look for a professional approach to ``H.M.S. Pinafore,'' the initial offering of the Albemarle Community Theater, formerly the Perquimans Players.
What you get, for the most part, is a group of hard-working, attractive teenagers who manage to make an enjoyable evening of the classic Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.
About 75 percent of the production is music, most of it nicely done. There are even a few standouts.
David Shaffer, one of a handful of adults in the cast, has a good voice and does a nice job of introducing his character as he sings, ``I am the Captain of the Pinafore.''
He is accompanied by the ``sailors,'' who seem to be everywhere. On their own they hold audience attention doing the ``Sailors Hornpipe.''
One of the operetta's lesser-known songs is one of its best in this production - Shaffer again along with Rusty Boyd as Dick Deadeye, doing ``The Merry Maiden & the Tar.''
An attention-getter whenever he shows up, Boyd does well handling the comedic role.
A lot of youngsters also showed up for this production, many of whom probably did not know Gilbert and Sullivan from third base.
Now they know - some of the songs are difficult, fast-moving patter pieces that help tell the G and S story which mocks, supposedly gently, Her Majesty's Navy.
It is a 360-degree turn from ``Mutiny on the Bounty.'' The ``Pinafore'' crew, from the captain down to what are referred to as the common sailors, is a big, happy family, the envy of any business establishment.
There is, of course, the pecking order that says romance between one of those tars and the daughter of the captain is a no-no.
Kristen Cox and Cindy Rayburn are alternating in the daughter's role. Cox handled it charmingly and impressively during the opening night performance.
Everyone did well. There seemed to be no mishaps or missed lines. Special congrats to Special Olympian Harold Dagenhart.
And more special congratulations - to the Albemarle Community Theatre - for giving some area kids a wonderful performing opportunity. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
THEATER REVIEW
Albemarle Community Theater presents ``H.M.S. Pinafore'' at 8
p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Lions Club, Don Juan Road, in
Hertford. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for students. Advance
tickets are available at Woodard's Pharmacy in Hertford. A dinner
theater performance will be presented Oct. 6 and 8 in the American
Legion Hall, U.S. 17, Edenton. The meal will be served at 6:30 p.m.;
the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 for adults, $10 for
students, $7 for children under 7. A location for advance tickets
will be announced later. For details, call 426-7952 or 426-5140.
by CNB