Adapted by Sean Graney from W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. At: The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: www.the-hypocrites.org; $36-$50. Runs through Feb. 7
Librettist W.S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan collaborated together on 14 operettas in the late 19th century, though nowadays they're best known by their most-produced "Big Three" works: The Mikado ( 1885 ), The Pirates of Penzance ( 1879 ) and H.M.S. Pinafore ( 1878 ).
The latter operetta has just been adapted by The Hypocrites, and it's clear that they're trying to build upon on upon their previous acclaimed Gilbert and Sullivan successes that have taken the company to major regional theaters around the country.
Previously with The Pirates of Penzance, director and adaptor Sean Graney capitalized on the work's public domain status to reimagine it as a roving beach party for actor-musicians. That wildly popular environmental and promenade production was revived a few times and subsequently spawned Graney's revisionist circus approach to The Mikado.
So now with H.M.S. Pinafore, Graney has rejiggered its nautical romantic tale of British class divisions into a band camp pajama slumber party. That conceptual approach doesn't entirely make dramatic sense, especially with Graney swapping all of the characters' genders around.
No doubt many Gilbert and Sullivan purists will be angered or aghast, especially with so many rewritten lyrics to match the gender switch and the vastly reduced orchestrations by music director Andra Velis Simon to suit the needs of the very talented troupe of 10 roving actor-musicians. But if you're looking for another silly and self-aware staging that matches up to The Hypocrites' previous Gilbert and Sullivan shows returning in repertory, H.M.S. Pinafore definitely fits the bill.
The fun begins before the show starts with set designer Michael Smallwood providing a series of bunk beds, a slide and a "pillow pit" for adventurous audience members to try out. But don't worry. There are stationary seating areas for audiences who don't want to be poked and prodded to move throughout the production.
This playful promenade staging of H.M.S. Pinafore doesn't allow for much dramatic tension, sometimes giving an impression that the performers are just hitting their marks. For instance, there isn't much doubt that Dana Omar's lowly "sailress" Ralphina Rackstraw will end up with the high-born captain's son Joseph, played by Doug Pawlik. Nonetheless, the performers provide much to admire, from their multi-instrumental skills to their comic timing.
Many veterans of past Hypocrites Gilbert and Sullivan productions are back, and it should be fun to see the ensemble take on other Gilbert and Sullivan roles as The Hypocrites becomes its own repertory D'Oyly Carte Opera Company for the season.
Most importantly, the overall sense of play keeps everything buoyant and cheery for H.M.S. Pinafore. And even in its drastically altered state, Gilbert and Sullivan's score still proves to be timelessly tuneful.
