Musical pirates

Havre High School Theatre will host a musical this week. "The Pirates of Penzance" uses the same script as the Gilbert and Sullivan Broadway production.

The play was also adapted to the big screen in a film that starred Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline.

The play will run Thursday through Saturday in the Havre High School auditorium. The play begins at 7:30 p.m. all three nights.

Jay Pyette, who heads the theater at Havre High, said the play has something to appeal to everyone.

"It tells a very basic story. It's a humorous musical with a little love twist," Pyette said.

"Every several years we perform a musical. The public tends to really enjoy them," Pyette said. "They require an immense amount of work, and this was no exception."

The play follows the adventures of Frederic, a retired pirate, played by sophomore Eric Moog. Frederic leaves his swashbuckling family and aging sweetheart Ruth played by senior Swen Porter in a quest to find true love.

During the course of the story, Frederic encounters a bevy of beautiful maidens, an elderly ex-soldier, and an inept police force.

More than 40 high school students are involved in the production. The musical score will be performed by a pit orchestra consisting of nine students with various instruments.

"The Pirates of Penzance" is the first musical the high school has hosted in three years.

Participants expressed their enthusiasm about the production.

"The crew works really hard. Everyone involved has taken a personal investment in the play," stage manager Ryan Widdekind said. "We've been working on this for a couple months, and now it's about to pay off. I'm excited. The play is going to be great." Widdekind is a senior at Havre High School.

"The play is totally tubular, and my costume is awesome," senior Zach Crossley said. "Plus my stage girlfriend is smoking."

Crossley plays a pirate who wins the hand of a fair maiden played by KatieB' Jarvis.

Students also talked about the effort and energy required for the play.

Amy Allison, one of 12 police officers in the musical, said cast members have devoted a substantial amount of time to the production.

"We have been working late every night. We practice at lunch, practice after school, and practice at night. We do our homework at 11 at night," Allison said.

"I have been pushing everyone really hard. I'm a slave driver," she said.

Heather Sienkowski, who also plays a police officer, said the play is the hardest she has ever done.

Silver Banks described the role of the police officers as "the comic relief. We are the bumbling idiots."

At a dress rehearsal on Tuesday night, students made their final preparations. Actors performed some vocal warmup techniques to establish timing and rhythm.

As Pyette looked on, he added some words of encouragement.

"It's do-or-die time, people. I prefer to do."