Pinafore Comes to Kings Theatre

G&S celebrate navy’s 100th with Pinafore tour
Revamped show set in 1910
By ANDREA NEMETZ Entertainment Reporter
Sat. May 1 - 4:53 AM


Justin Gavel is Ralph Rackstraw and Sarah Langley is Jose­phine in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of HMCS Pinafore, which begins its provincial tour tonight with a 7:30 p.m. show in Wolfville. (INGRID BULMER / Staff)



HMCS PINAFORE

SETTING: 1910 Halifax in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy.

WHEN: Tonight, 7:30 p.m., Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax, with Symphony Nova Scotia; May 8, 3 p.m. ,Marigold Centre, Truro; May 15, 7:30 p.m., deCoste Centre, Pictou; May 22, 7:30 p.m., Kings Theatre, Annapolis Royal.

STARRING: Duncan Miller (Wolfville, Halifax May 5, Pictou); Brian King (Halifax May 6, Truro, Annapolis Royal) as Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B.; Tim McClare as Capt. Corcoran; Justin Gavel as Ralph Rackstraw; Alan Manchester as Dick Deadeye; Russell Storer as Bill Bobstay; Roger Bowman as Bob Becket; Kara Morris (Halifax May 5, Truro, Annapolis Royal) and Sarah Langley (Wolfville, Halifax May 6, Pictou) as Josephine; Caroline Whelan as Hebe; Megan Johnson as Little Buttercup

MUSIC: Symphony Nova Scotia, conducted by Earl Fralick, Halifax performances; Leon Cole on piano, all other performances

TICKETS: Gilbert & Sullivan Society, 429-1287 or www.gandsnovascotia.ca; Cohn box office and at

individual venues for Truro, Pictou and Annapolis Royal.






Audience members expecting to hear the familiar strains of For He Is An Englishman may do a double take when the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Nova Scotia presents HMCS Pinafore in several Nova Scotia venues this month.

"It’s heard twice, but the first time it is For He Is Canadian," says musical director Earl Fralick.

That’s because this year is the 100th anniversary of the Canadian navy and the society decided to revamp and rename the opera HMCS Pinafore in honour of the historical event, says director Jolene Pattison.

Shows are slated for 7:30 p.m. today at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, Wednesday and Thursday at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax at 7:30 p.m., May 8 at 3 p.m. at the Marigold Theatre in Truro, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the deCoste Centre in Pictou and May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at King’s Theatre in Annapolis Royal.

The Halifax shows will feature Symphony Nova Scotia, conducted by Fralick.

"The uniforms are Canadian, we’ve costumed it in 1910 and we changed a few lyrics, surprisingly not that many," Pattison says.

HMS Pinafore was first produced in 1878 and she says there isn’t a huge leap when setting the show in 1910.

"If we set it in modern times, it would be a much bigger jump; the big thing is the shift to Canada."

Fralick says the change is more visual than lyrical and musical.

But one thing Pattison noticed is how far women’s rights improved in a short period of time.

"We’ve added suffragettes . . . and the women’s costumes are freer and easier to move in, more comfortable."

This is at least the third time the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Nova Scotia has staged the opera.

Fralick, a keyboard player and longtime member of the Stadacona Band, was musical director for the HMS Pinafore production in 1994, his first year with the society. He has been musical director for every Gilbert and Sullivan show since.

Pattison was a member of the chorus for the next production in 1999.

"It’s marvellous with the orchestra, but the show with just a piano, no costumes and barely any set holds up," Pattison enthuses. "It’s truly a gem in the G and S archive."

Fralick says the show’s popularity is due to the fact it is chock-a-block full of good tunes that everyone can hum.

"It also has a couple of very big arias for the lead soprano that are used often as audition pieces, they are so good. There’s a variety of music you don’t find in another show. Two hours goes by very quickly."

Fralick also stresses the fact the story is universal.

"It hinges around the navy but it’s a story of class difference and unfulfilled love affairs because of class distinctions. It’s been done in plays, operas and musicals. You can transfer the story to any setting. That’s a good part of its appeal."

The shows feature a cast of close to 50, aged 25 to 70 from all over the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Kara Morris and Sarah Langley share the role of Josephine, the Captain’s daughter, while Duncan Miller, a retired admiral, and Brian King share the role of The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter, K.C.B, First Lord of the Admiralty. All are from Halifax.

About half the cast is new, particularly in the chorus and Pattison notes the strength of this year’s show is the male chorus.

"It’s the star of the show. It’s almost like a character when onstage. Its presence is felt.

"I love the opening men’s chorus when they sing We Sail The Ocean Blue, it’s a great song and the sound is so rich and so energized."

Probably as many people work behind the sets, making costumes and building sets, says Fralick. He is particularly thrilled with the work of lighting director Sean Burke in the Cohn.

The Cohn shows, with the entire symphony, are the highlight of the run.

However, the society has increased the number of road shows which has helped increase the number of people auditioning and joining the society.

"They hear the music and they want to be part of it," Pattison says.

Pattison, who began choreographing for the society in 2001 and directed her first show last year — Cinderella — recalls coming to Gilbert and Sullivan as a seasoned musical performer.

"But the feeling when you hear the strings coming in for the first time is magic."

( anemetz@herald.ca)