Pirates of Penzance

Pirates of Penzance, the frothy, fanciful Gilbert & Sullivan musical produced by Opera Providence; stage director, Nathaniel Merchant; and Artistic Director, Rene de la Garza. There will be moments here and there of tenderness, poignant romance and wry humor.

For the most part this farce is a madcap ballet of Victorian characters, props and set pieces zipping on, around and off the stage, keeping your eyes open in delight and giving a relentless momentum to the playfully jabbing social satire. The demanding score will have our conductor’s baton looking almost like another blade thrusting and parrying amid the shipboard swordplay.