THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603140112
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
If you're a frequent flier of USAir you will feel at home at the Commonwealth Musical Stage's presentation of ``The Pirates of Penzance'' today and Saturday at Pavilion.
The familiar face of the comedy's female lead is none other than Virginia Beach resident and flight attendant Elizabeth Evans, a local musical stage talent. Evans, who plays Mabel, has given up her vacation this year in order to go through the three weeks of extensive rehearsing needed to bring off the show.
And, she's delighted to do it.
``For me it's definitely not work. The time just flies by,'' said the smiling brunette.
Evans, 32, began her adventures on the stage with a production at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach when she was only 15. A veteran of many local productions, Evans crossed paths several times with Penzance director Mark Hudgins, also a Beach resident.
She studied for a time at East Carolina University's School of Music but this is her first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.
The actress said the part is the most challenging she has ever sung professionally, but she is confident things will go well. She received acclaim locally for her rendition of Hope in ``Anything Goes'' and Marian in ``The Music Man.''
Joining Evans in the cast are several members of the recent Broadway revival, including Larry Asher as the Pirate King and Ginger Riley as Ruth.
Portsmouth's Lynn Summerall, who should be familiar to local audiences, is cast as Major General.
Penzance is a frequently revived, popular comedy that skewers the dramatic conventions of opera at every turn and is sung entirely in English.
There's a leap-year twist to the story line that may have influenced some companies to stage the production this year. Set around 1856, Frederic, the protagonist, is indentured to the Pirate King until his 21st birthday. When he attempts to take his leave, at age 21, he learns that, since he was born on Feb. 29, he has had only four birthdays and must stay for 17 more. Mabel, his intended, tells him she'll wait for him ... until 1940.
The show has an updated small orchestration but is true to the original score. This adaptation will attempt to bring forth a witty new perspective. Music director R. Mark Snedegar previously created orchestrations and conducted the national tour of ``South Pacific'' and the European tour of ``The Best of Broadway.''
The show is produced by Commonwealth founder Jeff Meredith.
Commonwealth, in its sixth year locally, has stocked its playlist this season with audience favorites such as ``Oklahoma'' and ``Can Can.'' The company has gained national attention among professional musical theater groups and was recently designated as the ``Official Musical Theater of the City of Virginia Beach.'' MEMO: The limited engagement plays today at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 2 and at 8
p.m. Ticket prices are $7.50 for students and $10 through $20. Tickets
are available through the Pavilion box office, TicketMaster, and
branches of First Virginia Bank. For reservations and information, call
340-5446.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by RICHARD MORTON
Portsmouth's Lynn Summerall, left, plays the Major General, and
Virginia Beach's Elizabeth Evans is Mabel in the Commonwealth
Musical Stage's presentation of ``The Pirates of Penzance.''
GREEN RUN PIRATES
The chorus and drama departments of Green Run High School, 1700
Dahlia Drive, are also staging a production of ``The Pirates of
Penzance'' April 10 to 13 at 8 p.m. For more information, contact
Susan Mitchell, drama director, or Ruby Allen, music director, at
431-4040.
by CNB