Special Sections - WHIDBEY XTRA June 10 2015

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015 | Vol. 1, No. 6 | WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM | FREE

Playhouse brings back ‘Pirates of Penzance’ By RON NEWBERRY Staff reporter

In search of a crowd-pleasing show with low production costs, the Whidbey Playhouse pulled a fan favorite out of its archives. “Pirates of Penzance” is closing out the playhouse’s 2014-15 season and will continue until its final show on June 21. Sarah Russell is directing the popular comedic operetta written by W.S. Gilbert and composed by Arthur Sullivan. She said the playhouse board was looking for a production that would appeal to a wide audience and would come without steep copyright fees, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s work fit that bill. “This is one that was a favorite of mine,” Russell said. “Pirates of Penzance” is appearing for the second time at a playhouse. Russell also directed it the first time in 1985. One of the biggest voices involved with this show belongs to Taylor Berthiaume, whose father, James Pruss, played the role of the Pirate King in the production 30 years ago. “I remember exactly where I was sitting,” said Berthiaume, a 1999 Oak Harbor High School graduate who recently returned to her hometown and teaches elementary school music. “I came with my mom and I was, I think, 4 or 5 years old. I can

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Ron Wohl, left, plays the Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance, his first performance at the Whidbey Playhouse. remember watching it. It was fun memories. I think it was my first time watching a live performance.” “Pirates of Penzance” is not only an audience favorite but is alluring to performers as well. Ron Wohl, founder of the Skagit Opera and a resident of Anacortes, is performing in the show for the fourth time but it’s the first time as the Pirate King. It’s also his stage debut at the Whidbey Playhouse.

“It was sort of on my bucket list,” he said of the role after playing the Major-General Stanley once and Sergeant of Police twice. Landing the role of Major-General Stanley this time was Nate Edmiston, who has become a familiar sight on the Whidbey Playhouse stage with nine performances to his credit. Several newcomers to the Whidbey stage are part of the production, including Berthiaume.

However, some bring rich musical backgrounds to the audience, which is able to experience the intimacy of the performances because of the set’s thrust stage seating. Tickets for are $20. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Call the box office at 360679-2237 for more information, show dates and reservations or go to www. whidbeyplayhouse.com

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