THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

COMPOSED BY ARTHUR SULLIVAN • LIBRETTO BY W.S. GILBERT

HILARITY ON THE HIGH SEAS
Performed In English

“Don’t even try to resist: you will go home humming its tunes.”
– Georgia Straight

“[Roger] Honeywell offers charm — boyish, of course — a hint of knowing irony, and stylish singing from opening scene to the obligatory happy ending. He’s perfect.”
– Vancouver Sun

“[Rachel] Fenlon trills like a bird, virtuosically yet hilariously, through her first-act coloratura sendup”
– Georgia Straight

► READ THE FULL REVIEWS in The Georgia Straight, The Vancouver Sun

► A tropical coastline. Frederic has turned 21 and has reached the end of his apprenticeship to a band of hopelessly inept pirates. But wait: he was born on February 29 in Leap Year, so in fact he’s only five! Bound by his principles, he must remain indentured and forfeit both his new-found love for Mabel and his plan to lead a squeamish squad of police against the pirates.

It all works out, though. Frederic is freed and the pirates are revealed as noblemen and therefore suitable husbands for Mabel’s sisters.

The Pirates of Penzance is a wonderfully witty satire of cherished institutions and attitudes. Bumbling police, a pompous military and slavish devotion to duty are all skewered with rapier wit by Gilbert and Sullivan. VO brings together two legendary performers – Christopher Gaze and Judith Forst - in this uproarious, absurd, and hugely pleasing comic opera.

► READ THE FULL SYNOPSIS

► APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 30 minutes, including one intermission

NOW CLOSED

All performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre

FAMILY PACKS ► Purchase 2 matinee tickets and get up to 2 children's tickets for $35 each. Call the VO Ticket Centre at 604-683-0222 to purchase Family Packs. Family Packs are only available for matinee performances. Children must be 18 years old or younger. Available for seats in sections A through E. If you're a subscriber and would like to switch your tickets to a matinee, you can also purchase up to 2 children's tickets for $35.

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CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Conducted by	JONATHAN DARLINGTON JONATHAN DARLINGTON MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR Lapworth, England Last VO Appearance: Aida, 2012 Recent Appearances: Vanessa with Oper Frankfurt Street Scene with Staatsoper Dresden The Rake's Progress at Opéra National de Paris Upcoming Engagments: Orlando and La clemenza de Tito with Staatsoper Dresden Tea with Vancouver Opera Mr. Darlington, BA (Hons) Durham University is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. Mr. Darlington’s appearance is supported by a gift from David & Manjy Sidoo More about Jonathan Darlington
Directed by / Major-General Stanley	CHRISTOPHER GAZE CHRISTOPHER GAZE, O.B.C. DIRECTOR / MAJOR-GENERAL STANLEY Surrey, England Vancouver Opera Debut Recent Appearances: Host, Tea and Trumpets with VSO Upcoming Engagements: Host, VSO Traditional Christmas Concerts Christopher Gaze is the Artistic Director of Bard on Beach Shakespeare Festival. Recently, he was awarded the Order of British Columbia in recognition of his role as a leader in the arts, his community work and the ongoing success of Bard on the Beach.
Associate Director / Choreographer	ALLISON GRANT ALLISON GRANT ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR / CHOREOGRAPHER Toronto, ON Last VO Appearance: Director/Choreographer, Roméo et Juliette, 2011 Recent Appearances: Director, The Auction with Westben Arts Festival Choreographer/Actor, The Great Gatsby with The Grand Theatre, London Director, Die Zauberflöte with Sarasota Opera Choreographer, Die Fledermaus with Canadian Opera Company Upcoming Engagements: Lucia di Lammermoor with Canadian Opera Company More about Allison Grant Ms. Grant teaches, directs and choreographs with the opera program at the University of Toronto.
Frederic	ROGER HONEYWELL ROGER HONEYWELL FREDERIC Stratford, ON Last VO Appearance: Jimmy in Lillian Alling, 2010 Recent Appearances: Aegisth in Elektra with Chicago Lyric Opera Antonio in The Tempest with Opéra de Québec Cavaradossi in Tosca with Fort Worth Opera Festival Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Portland Opera Upcoming Engagements: Peter Grimes with the Des Moines Metro Opera Captain Vere in Billy Budd with The Teatro Municipal of Santiago, Chile Mr. Honeywell’s appearance is supported by a gift from Drs. Alastair & Jean Carruthers
Mabel	RACHEL FENLON RACHEL FENLON MABEL Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Mimi (Understudy) in La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Finalist, Inaugural COC Ensemble Studio Competition Adina in L’elisir d’amore with Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) Mimi in La bohème with Opera and Arias at Bard on the Beach Lisa in Das Land des Lächelns with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Upcoming Engagements: Nannetta in Falstaff with Pacific Opera Victoria Handel’s Messiah with the Victoria Symphony Ms. Fenlon’s appearance is supported by a gift from Moh & Yulanda Faris
The Pirate King	AARON ST. CLAIR NICHOLSON AARON ST.CLAIR NICHOLSON THE PIRATE KING Abbotsford, BC Last VO Appearance: Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, 2011 Recent Appearances: Escamillo in Carmen at Opera Coeur d’Alene Pooh-Bah in The Mikado with Virginia Opera Upcoming Engagements: Papageno in The Magic Flute with Opera Tampa Count Almaviva in Le nozze de Figaro with Virginia Opera Mr. Nicholson’s appearance is supported by a gift from Tony and Reet Kana More about Aaron St.Clair Nicholson
Ruth	JUDITH FORST JUDITH FORST O.C.; O.B.C RUTH New Westminster, BC Last VO Appearance: Irene in Lillian Alling, 2010 Recent Appearances: Herodias in Salome with Opéra de Montreal and Manitoba Opera Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia with Houston Grand Opera Upcoming Engagments: Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des Carmélites with the Canadian Opera Company Anne’s Mum in The Two Boys with The Metropolitan Opera Mrs. Forst’s appearance is supported by a gift from Martha Lou Henley, C.M.
Sergeant of Police	GILES TOMKINS GILES TOMKINS SERGEANT OF POLICE Toronto, ON Last VO Appearance: Dr. Grenvil in La traviata, 2011 Recent Appearances: Colline in La bohème with Kingston Symphony Orchestra Mother in The Seven Deadly Sins with Against the Grain Theatre Oberto with Opera In Concert Basilio in The Barber of Seville with Opera Hamilton Upcoming Engagements: Superintendent Budd in Albert Herring with Pacific Opera Victoria Black Bob in The Little Sweep with Pacific Opera Victoria/Belfry Theatre More about Giles Tomkins
Samuel	AARON DURAND AARON DURAND SAMUEL One Hundred Mile House, BC Last VO Appearance: Schaunard in La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Marullo in Rigoletto with Vancouver Concert Opera Society Nuit d’amour: French Opera Highlights with Opera and Arias at Bard on the Beach Danilo in Die lustige Witwe with UBC Opera Ensemble Game Keeper in Rusalka with UBC Opera Ensemble Upcoming Engagements: Soloist, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Vancouver Academy Orchestra Speaker and Second Priest in The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera
Edith	CASSANDRA WARNER CASSANDRA WARNER EDITH Milton, ON Vancouver Opera Début Recent Appearances: Soloist, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Messiah with Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra Soloist, Milton Concert Presentations Soloist, Ritornello Chamber Music Festival, Saskatoon Upcoming Engagements: Second Lady in The Magic Flute with Opera Atelier The Messiah with Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
Kate	SYLVIA SZADOVSZKI SYLVIA SZADOVSZKI KATE Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: Musetta (Understudy) in La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Rosina in Der Barbier von Sevilla with Theater Hof, Germany Mercedes in Carmen with Pacific Opera Victoria Hansel in Hansel & Gretel with Vancouver Opera In Schools Cendrillon with UBC Opera Upcoming Engagements: Papagena in The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera
Isabel	MELANIE KRUEGER MELANIE KRUEGER ISABEL Abbotsford, BC Last VO Appearance: Annina in La traviata, 2011 Recent Appearances: Soloist, Preludes with Ethos Collective Sharon in Master Class with Arts Club Theatre Soloist, Les Noces and Catulli Carmina with the Vancouver Bach Choir Lillian Alling with Banff Centre for the Performing Arts Upcoming Engagements: Messiah with The Handel Society More about Melanie Krueger
Frederic (Understudy)	MARTIN SADD MARTIN SADD FREDERIC (UNDERSTUDY) Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Rodolfo (Understudy) in La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Rodolfo in La bohème with Burnaby Lyric Opera Messenger in Aida with Calgary Opera Male singer in The Inventor with Calgary Opera Upcoming Engagements: Handel's Messiah with Victoria Symphony Orchestra First Armed Man and First Priest in The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera
Associate Conductor / Chorus Director	LESLIE DALA LESLIE DALA ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR / CHORUS DIRECTOR Toronto, ON Last VO Appearance: Conductor, La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Suor Angelica with Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI) Here to Stay: The Gershwin Experience with MusicFest Vancouver Die Schöpfung (The Creation), Les noces and Catulli Carmina with Vancouver Bach Choir Upcoming Engagements: The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera Albert Herring with Pacific Opera Victoria El Niño with Vancouver Bach Choir More about Leslie Dala Mr. Dala is the Music Director of the Vancouver Bach Choir and the Music Director of the Vancouver Academy of Music Symphony.
Principal Répétiteur / Assistant Chorus Director	KINZA TYRRELL KINZA TYRRELL PRINCIPAL RÉPÉTITEUR / ASSISTANT CHORUS DIRECTOR Victoria, BC Last VO Appearance: Chorus Director / Assistant Conductor / Principal Répétiteur, La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: Soloist, The Four Temperaments (Hindemith) with Edmonton Symphony and Calgary Philharmonic Conductor, Le nozze di Figaro with Vancouver Summer Opera Studio Piano Soloist, Les noces with Vancouver Bach Choir L’amour de loin with the Canadian Opera Company Upcoming Engagements: Guest Conductor with Vancouver Bach Choir Chorus Director / Assistant Conductor / Principal Répétiteur, The Magic Flute with Vancouver Opera Dr. Tyrrell is the Music Director of Vancouver Opera In Schools and Vancouver Summer Opera Studio, and Répétiteur at Opera Nuova, Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI), and Opera As Theatre at The Banff Centre.
Fight Director	NICHOLAS HARRISON NICHOLAS HARRISON FIGHT DIRECTOR Tsawwassen, BC Last VO Appearance: Roméo et Juliette, 2011 Recent Appearances: Fight Director, The Taming of the Shrew, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Macbeth and King John with Bard on the Beach Upcoming Engagements: Fight Director, Hamlet and Twelfth Night with Bard on the Beach Dr. Harrison is a member of Fight Directors Canada.
Lighting Designer	HARRY FREHNER HARRY FREHNER LIGHTING DESIGNER Calgary, AB Last VO Appearance: Lillian Alling, 2010 Recent Appearances: Moby Dick with Calgary Opera Don Giovanni with The Banff Centre Otello with Calgary Opera Don Pasquale with San Diego Opera Upcoming Engagements: La traviata with Calgary Opera God of Carnage with Theatre Calgary
Stage Manager	SHEILA MUNN SHEILA MUNN STAGE MANAGER Vancouver, BC Last VO Appearance: La bohème, 2012 Recent Appearances: The Merry Widow and Albert Herring with UBC Opera Ensemble Aida, The Barber of Seville, Roméo et Juliette, La Traviata, La Clemenza di Tito, Lucia di Lammermoor, Lillian Alling, Madama Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, Nixon in China, Norma, Salome, Rigoletto, Carmen, Eugene Onegin, La Boheme, Fidelio, The Italian Girl in Algiers, Cavalleria Rusticana/I Pagliacci, Tosca, Ariadne auf Naxos, The Magic Flute, and Macbeth with Vancouver Opera. L’Orfeo and L’Incoronazione di Poppea with Festival Vancouver Upcoming Engagements: Tea: A Mirror of Soul with Vancouver Opera Dialogues of The Carmelites with UBC Opera Ensemble Ms. Munn is please to be joined by Assistant Stage Managers Theresa Tsang and Beth Grieve.

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