Forget what you are thinking. There were no raging animitrons terrorizing the general populous with rubber chickens and whoopee cushions. There was no Johnny Depp stumbling about sucking rum like a Hoover vacuum. And there were absolutely no restaurant peg-legs with stuffed birds trying to convince you to order the $14.99 shrimp scampi.
Instead, the Veteran’s Memorial Theatre was plundered by ETSU and Milligan College students more fierce than any Blackbeard or Hook that ever sailed the seven seas.
And the booty wasn’t gold or fair maidens; the only real treasures were the hearts, smiles and laughs of an enthralled audience.
On April 1-4, through a partnership between the ETSU theater, the ETSU department of music, Milligan College, and the Milligan College department of music, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance was performed before excited audiences made up of the general public and college students alike.
Directed by Richard Major and musical direction by Oliver Lo, the operetta tells the story of a young man born on February 29 of a leap year. Much to his chagrin, he is indentured to comically inept pirates. On his 21st birthday, he believes his contract with the pirates is finished, so he tells the “Pirate King” that he has decided to leave and integrate himself back into civilized society. Later, however, the pirates refuse to release him from his agreement, telling him that he’s only five-year-old due to his unfortunate birthdate. From here, the plot gets even wackier as the young man must stay with the pirates against his will.
“It was a great ending to my four years at ETSU,” said Mary Blair, a performance major who will be working in professional theater after graduation, “What better way [to] end my time with my friends from both departments and being able to work with a variety of talented people?”
Blair played a police officer, a role which required a great amount of comic talent.
Major lent his considerable amount of knowledge to the production, inspiring his actors and actresses to perform at their highest level.
“I learned quite a bit from Mr. Major about acting and playing a lead role. …,” said senior Zach Marshall, who played Frederic, the young pirate born in a leap year.
“Also, I learned from my fellow castmates. Everyone had things about them that stood out and I enjoyed the teaching that went on unknowingly,” he said.
As a vocal performance major preparing for graduate school, Marshall thought that Pirates was a worthwhile experience.
Sara Brimer, a junior who played Mable (Frederic’s love interest), discovered “how much fun it is to flirt with the audience.”
Like Marshall and Blair, Brimer also enjoyed working with the great variety of people.
“It was so great, I didn’t know half the people [that] went here and now we are great friends.”
Brimer became involved with Pirates after her voice teacher, who happens to be musical director Lo, suggested she look into it. The experience has changed her life.
“It was wonderful,” said Brimer, “I hadn’t planned on pursuing performance but now I might.”
See? Just because something is different and unknown to you doesn’t mean it’s intrinsically bad.
Blair, Marshall, and Brimer are normal individuals who decided to do something extraordinary with their lives – even though the preparation was intense.
Nearly three months of weekly practice went into Pirates, and all of the cast made many sacrifices for the production.
“We began rehearsing in late January and took a three week break in late February and early March to accommodate ETSU and Milligan’s spring breaks,” Marshall said.
“Everyone put in countless hours at organized rehearsals not [including] time spent home memorizing music and dialogue.”
“[I put in] more than my job hours,” Brimer said.
Despite the practice, the limitless run-throughs, and tedious tech runs, everyone in Pirates could not help but smile when they saw they’re pain turn into profit.
The audience enjoyed the show, and let their satisfaction be known through laughs, giggles, and thunderous applause.
And as a performer, what more can you ask for?
Marshall said, “There were so many memorable things that occurred … My personal favorite was in Act II when I sang a duet with Sara Brimer.
“But overall, I would say the organization and hard work by everyone involved is what I will take with me – from Mr. Major, to the orchestra, to the crew, to the set-builders, costumes, lighting, and sound.

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