'HMS Pinafore' done justice in performance

On May 28th, 1878, Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" opened in London at the Opera Comique. Gilbert and Sullivan had four successful shows before, but "HMS" shoved them into the world spotlight and was their first blockbuster hit, and no wonder.

Critics around the world have toasted "HMS" as the most popular of all their shows because, they say, of its infectious tunes and remarkably constructed libretto. After having just sat through The Theater At Monmouth's brilliant production, I can understand the acclaim.

The Theater At Monmouth's current presentation of this hugely comic operetta is one of the best shows the company has ever staged, and that's saying a lot. "HMS" is Gilbert and Sullivan lovely and sweet satire that pokes their finger in the eye of England's grand aristocracy and class distinctions. The whole great cast of characters blows onstage in a great sweep of colored wind and vocal talent.

I've said it so many times about this group, I must say it again: "Where do they get these people?"

David Dotterer plays the sorrowful Captain of the Pinafore, a man so gentle he would never swear at his crew. (What, never?)

The Captain is unaware that his lovely daughter Josephine (Robyn Kemp) has fallen in love with one of his crew, the common sailor, Ralph.

This is a troubling event, because the Captain has sworn her love and hand in marriage to Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, a comic fey buffoon, who unbeknownst to most, comes from lower stock himself, risen to his prestigious rank through political shrewdness and, given to seasickness, has never sailed the seas.

Thrown into the dilemma, the captain himself is in love with a common woman, a dock peddler named "Buttercup" (Elisabeth Kisselstein).

First we must insist, having seen one or two lesser productions of this comic opera, it's clear that any company must first have a brilliant master of melodrama and vaudevillian comic gifts to play Sir Joseph.

The Theater At Monmouth has Quinn Michael Mattfeld, a recent graduate of Penn State School of Theatre.

Mattfeld has the magic touch of a Nathan Lane and the physical moves and feather light touch of the great Ray Bolger. OK, we've got our Sir Joseph.

Add to this two incredible sopranos in the lead roles of Buttercup and damsel in romantic distress, Josephine.

Robyn Kemp is a startling talent, new to The Theater At Monmouth. Kemp has delighted audiences at the Boston Pops, the Pasadena Symphony and in New York as Miranda in "The Tempest." Kemp has movie star beauty and an opera star's tonsils. Her Josephine is a pure crystal carving of work.

Elisabeth Kisselstein, fresh from starring roles with the Syracuse Opera Ensemble, has the lungs and piquancy of a Dawn Upshaw. The Theater At Monmouth should book both of these incredible voices for an entire season.

David Dotterer is a seasoned actor with remarkable deftness, moving from slouching sadness to light footed dancing tricks in his duet with Sir Joseph, one of the dozen or two highlights of this production.

Of course, how do you do HMS without the young lover Ralph the seaman, who must be fair and handsome, charming and tender, light-footed and pure of heart?

You hire Andrew Chariter away from The Goodspeed Opera House, that's what you do.

Chariter has a light but soaring tenor that floats around the balcony like a bird. He has the requisite looks and touch. And when he appears (a surprise I can't give away) at the very end in quite a different costume, he rings bells in all the young hearts in the house.

Marcia Gallagher's musical direction does Gilbert and Sullivan proud. Rew Tippin's set is pure 46th Street and Barbara Grant's costumes? Go and see for yourself what Renoir might have done with a needle and thread and pair of scissors.

All of this didn't happen by accident. You snatch someone like Matthew Kaylor Toronto from Penn State and the Radio City Rockettes to direct your show. His direction is clean and precise, not a piece of dangling thread. It's HDTV for the theatre.

Kaylor brings magic dust and a Broadway director's eye. The magic wand is extra.

We must add kudos for two extra special performances by Hallowell and The Theater At Monmouth's old standby, William "Bill" Haley. Haley's sly and slippery "Dick Deadeye," the "ugliest" member of the crew, is a comic gem, the best portrayal of a one-eyed ship's grunt since the late and fabulous Robert Newton. You can Google him.

And Rebecca Lynn Miller as Cousin Hebe, who flits and flirts herself into a romance with ... I can't tell you that. She's delightful, sassy and sexy.

When you're weary of leaf peeping and raking the lawn, do yourself a favor, give the family, and I mean the whole family, a treat.

"HMS Pinafore" plays Oct. 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 2, 7 and 8 at 2 p.m. Box office tickets at (207) 933-9999

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