Albuquerque Little Theatre brings comedic opera 'Pirates of Penzance' to stage

They are the very model of a modern major opera.

Albuquerque Little Theatre hoists the anchor for “Pirates of Penzance” on Thursday, July 17.

According to the ALT website, “Pirates of Penzance,” follows “young Frederic, a duty-bound apprentice, finds himself caught between a band of tender-hearted pirates, a troupe of proper maidens and one very modern major-general.”

Giacomo Zafarano, who plays the Major-General, finds that the play educates people on musical theater and says that is why people should see this comic opera.

“It’s important for people to be educated about the whole history of musical theater, and not just necessarily learn about the most recent things that are playing on Broadway,” Zafarano said.

This is Jack Litherland’s fourth time performing in “Pirates of Penzance,” the second time in the ensemble and he has found that not one character is really the brightest.

“I would actually remark more on the similarities between playing a pirate and playing a major-general and playing a policeman, they’re all a little bit incompetent at what they do,” Litherland said. “So they’re all very friendly, very happy people, the pirates, the policemen, and none of them are the best example of their role.”

The main character, Frederic, is played by Alex Harden who said he loves the character because Frederic is slightly on the dumber side.

“For myself as a character, I particularly love this character because he’s honest to a fault, and he’s also not cunning, which is funny for a pirate,” Harden said. “He’s also, perhaps you could say, not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”

While the characters are not the brightest, director Russ Sype has found that the whole cast and crew have worked to bring fresh ideas to the classic characters, and the “choreographer has been remarkable at framing episodes in convincingly appropriate ways.”

According to Sype, the show takes the content seriously, despite its absurdity.

“Yes, the plot is absurd, and the characters can be cartoonish … but neither I as director, nor the actors, can treat the characters as cartoons,” Sype said. “They must be taken seriously, and the actors must believe in them as real people.”

The play has been around since 1879 and is by playwrights W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, whose work the cast hails as comedic and has lived on due to its sheer absurdity and hilarity.

“It’s great that Gilbert and Sullivan have survived the test of time because everything they write is really funny,” Aspen Desilets, an ensemble member, said. “Some of it is a little outdated, but seeing more classical productions can help kind of connect you to the past.”

Litherland finds that this play, in all its hilarity, is perfect for multiple performances and to be a part of.

“It’s not the longest play in the world. It’s not the most intense play. It’s just everything is a good time if it feels good to be a part of it,” Litherland said. “The music is challenging, but not impossible, right? It’s kind of the perfect play to do over and over.”

Albuquerque Little Theatre brings comedic opera 'Pirates of Penzance' to stage

20250711-venue-v08pirates

20250711-venue-v08pirates

20250711-venue-v08pirates

20250711-venue-v08pirates