We fans welcome the return to the stage of Troupers Light Opera Company!! It was their 74th year of performing the light operas of William S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan (plus one or two notable others). The Gondoliers, scheduled for performance in the spring of 2020 was a victim of the pandemic, I remember setting up the first interviews of the cast already in late January that year…Last year never happened either. But happily, this season they regrouped and were back on stage with the rollicking Pirates of Penzance! Each Troupers production is a labor of love, from sets and costumes, to orchestra, music director and stage director, to board and staff, and of course to the artists, 2022 being no different.

Rachael Anacker as Mabel and Elias Levy as Frederic declare their love for each other in Act I of *Pirates of Penzance*

As in performances past, this Pirates is a merging of the veteran Troupers with new artists. Making her debut with Troupers, Rachael Anacker as Mabel was both thrilling vocally and sincere dramatically. Mabel is Major General Stanley’s daughter who takes Frederic, a pirate, under her loving wing. Equally so was Elias Levy as Frederic. His youth and pleasing tenor voice made him a perfect match. Bravi! Welcome!

The Major General’s other daughters were wonderfully portrayed: Jennifer Wallace returned to the Troupers to perform Edith, Ayla Shively sang the role of Kate, Mira Singer was Isabel. Other daughters form the Chorus: Maribeth Johnson, Miki Nakahata, Marisa Schafer, and Lea Kessler Shaw.

Veteran Trouper Marian Shulman took on the role of Ruth, commanding the stage with each appearance. Ruth was Frederic’s nursery maid, as we learn in her first song, who apprentices him to a pirate, not a pilot. She is the Pirate Maid of all Work when we meet her.

Jordan Fenster, in his Troupers’ debut, was a sharp Major General Stanley: articulate, humorous, creative and responsive to each situation.

The challenge in staging The Pirates of Penzance is that it calls for two men’s choruses: the Pirates, of course…can’t run a pirate ship without a crew…and the Police, who, by Frederic’s initiative, are summoned to arrest the pirates, who are, let’s face it, criminals. Each group has its leader, but the men in the cast divide themselves in half to fill the two ranks!

Veteran Trouper John Matilaine sang the Pirate King with swagger and panache; Robert Santoli, in his Troupers debut, was an active and resourceful Samual, a key member of the crew. The Sergeant of Police was Bob Scrofani, who spent much of the time fainting, being revived, and recovering. Whether Pirates or Police, the Trouper’s Men’s Chorus consisted of William Abbot, Jim Cooper, Mark Callahan, Aron Hedberg, John Hoover, Bill Kenyon, Jeff Rossman, and Rob Strom.

A creative touch: Aniyah Atwater and London Dazlyn Diaz were dancers during the Major General’s dreamy revery in Act II.

Wendy Morgan Hunter direction of the cast emphasized movement among her players, often coordinated, but sometimes creatively at odds. The choruses always moved well with the principals. The tender relationship between Mabel and Frederich was well drawn; the comic characters were indeed humorous. Neil Flores was the Stage Manager.

Eric Kramer, Music Director, led the Troupers’ Orchestra; the Orchestra Manager was Kate Altman.

The sets were designed by Carl Mezoff, Lighting designed by Arnold Feintuck, Costumes are by Lea Kessler Shaw and Marian Shulman. Total team effort.

All in all, it was a welcome return to the stage of the Norwalk Concert Hall. Welcome newcomers to Troupers! Welcome all returning Troupers! On to 2023!!!

Performance date and time: April 9, 2022, matinee at 2:30.

Like H.M.S. Pinafore or The Mikado, Pirates of Penzance is one of the operas that unlocks the door of the Gilbert and Sullivan repertory. At least it was so in my case: Pinafore on TV, Mikado on stage at the City Center, and Pirates on LP, strongly recommended by my dear mother’s boss. It’s a slippery slope! But a happy one!