Mar. 7, 2012:  Unlike the pirates who rampage along the coast of Africa, a group of tender-hearted pirates will romp across the stage at The Bronxville School this week in a production of the hilarious Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty.

The production opens at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 7, with a dress rehearsal to which seniors are invited without charge.  Performances for the public will be held at 5:00 pm on Thursday and 7:00 pm on Friday and Saturday.  Tickets are $10, the proceeds from which will kick-start funding for the renovation of the high school auditorium.

The production has been marked by a coincidence and an unfortunate illness.  Peter Royal, the school's drama director, relates, "When we chose the Pirates we didn't realize that 2012 is a leap year, and leap year is a decisive factor in the life of the operetta's hero.  He has been apprenticed to a group of pirates for five years, until his 21st birthday.  But born on February 29, he believes that his apprenticeship must stretch to another 63 years.  Another comic twist is that he was supposed to be apprenticed to a ship pilot, not pirates."

The coincidence added a note of levity to the production, but that was offset somewhat by the illness of Jack Harris, the senior who was to play the role of the hero, Frederick, and who had to be hospitalized because of an attack of mononucleosis.  Mr. Royal, who has a wide knowledge of the theater, was able, through his son, a professional singer, to find a professional who was familiar with the role to serve as a substitute.  Nonetheless, the spirits of the other cast members remain high.

The show was choreographed by Helen Coope, a professional dancer and choreographer who has continued working on school productions even though her two sons have graduated from the high school.  The musical director is Pamela Simpson, choral director for the middle and high schools.

Working in the production must be a labor of love.  The cast, which numbers 42, has rehearsed three hours a day for ten weeks, along with a crew of 15 and an orchestra of 15.  For example, Ruth Dowe, who plays Frederick's nursemaid (who, because she was hard of hearing, mistook "pirate" for "pilot"), has been in theatrical productions since sixth grade and enjoys Pirates because of the sharp musical change of pace from that of last year's production, The Sound of Music.  She is planning to attend the College of Charleston.

Nikola Balac, who plays the Pirate King, switched from operating sounding boards for the school's musicals to playing an acting role.  Nicholas Proios, who plays the Major General, last acted in the school's fall production of All in the Timing, by David Ives.  He plans to pursue engineering or acting.  He admitted to being nervous, which did not show in his performance, but also "excited."

Sarah Hunke, a senior who plays Mabel, the Major General's daughter, with whom the hero falls in love, enjoys the variety of the Pirates music compared to the music of other productions in which she has acted.  She looks forward to a career in the arts, although not necessarily acting.

Peter Royal was featured in a major profile, titled "Musical Mentor," in the March 4 edition of the Journal News.

At the end of the rehearsal he paid tribute to members of the community for their support of the production, including "drama mamas" Mirjana Balac and Elizabeth Geiling.

Pictured here:  Members of the cast of Bronxville High School's production of The Pirates of Penzance.

Photo by Mirjana Balac