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Ogden • What if you are asked to stage a musical and the actors you want to cast can't sing, while the singers you have can't act and have no charisma?
It sounds like a director's nightmare, but Jim Christian faced that problem once when doing a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance." Converting life into art, he used the situation as inspiration to create his zany musical comedy farce, "Pirated!"
The show is getting a riotous revival outdoors at the Ogden Amphitheater courtesy of Good Company Theatre. In addition to being able to sing and dance and act, the large cast overflows with Weber State University students and graduates and gives them a chance to celebrate director Christian's retirement as longtime head of Weber's musical-theater program, an opportunity they take hilarious advantage of.
Christian sets the show in 1933 Hollywood, when talking pictures are in their infancy. Egocentric, flamboyant movie mogul Roger Marshall is attempting to film "The Pirates of Penzance." Since his silent film stars have terrible voices, he has hired singers, including his daughter, Constance, and her nerdy boyfriend, Daniel, to be their offscreen voices.
Christian's plot then becomes an ingenious mirror image of the "Pirates" plot, and much of the fun comes from seeing how they connect. Like Frederic in "Pirates," the singers are truly indentured, since they are getting neither billing nor a decent wage, and taking his cue from the show's line "always act in accordance with the dictates of your conscience and chance the consequences," Daniel leads a revolt. The singers invade the film and drag off the actors, and any semblance of order dissolves into frantic and funny chaos.
Christian has lifted songs from other Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and cleverly rewrites the lyrics. "Poor Wandering One" becomes "Poor Squandered Ones," and the famous Major-General song morphs into "He is the model of a modern major criminal."
Act I is slow getting started because Christian sticks with the real "Pirates" a little too long, and cramming the singers into such a small space on the side conveys their victimization but makes it hard to see the gradual evolution of their rebellion, but he diverts us with filmmaking sight gags like a technician placing a box beneath the Pirate King's feet because he's short. Once the revolt begins, the show acquires the momentum of a runaway freight train.
As we expect from Weber State singers, the cast has wonderful voices. Gary Pimentel primps and poses outrageously as the bullying Marshall, and Mary Anderson-Bailey creates a sassy, smart-talking Gloria. Kaitlyn Hipwell and Sean Bishop are perfectly matched as Constance and Daniel, shy and self-conscious when they take off their glasses to kiss. Liz Corona is deliciously sleazy and snoopy as Rita, the Hollywood reporter. Christian Johnston's police sergeant is affable and ambitious, and Patrick Kibbie has some memorable musical moments as Samuel.
Christian's choreography is catchy and inventive; the tap-dancing policemen are a highlight of the show. Nicholas Maughan's musical direction is crisp and clear, and Chamber Orchestra Ogden contributes live musical accompaniment.
Brad Shelton's multiplace set avoids lengthy changes, and Amanda Shaffer's period costumes are a potpourri of styles and colors.
Christian's eminently theatrical farce combines film, musical comedy, operetta and life into a unique and entertaining kaleidoscope. Knowing the Gilbert and Sullivan original just adds to the humor. —
Poor squandered one
Good Company's lively outdoor revival of "Pirated!" gives Weber State University actors and singers an entertaining chance to celebrate Jim Christian's multifaceted contributions to musical theater.
When • Reviewed Aug. 15; plays Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday at 8 p.m. through Aug. 22. Gates open at 7 p.m.
Where • Ogden Amphitheater, 343 E. Historic 25th St., Ogden
Tickets • $20 reserved; $10 general admission; goodcotheatre.com
Running time • Two hours and 15 minutes (including an intermission)