Toledo Opera on Wheels: Pirates of Penzance on 5/11!

Each year the Toledo's Opera Residence Artists go on the road, bringing the experience of opera to children grades K-6 in elementary schools in northwestern Ohio and southeast Michigan.

The program is called Opera on Wheels, and on Thursday May 11 at 7pm adults will also have the opportunity to attend the performance by four singers and a pianist of The Pirates of Penzance, the 2022-2023 season production. It will be held at St. John Lutheran Church at 207 Adams Street in Port Clinton.

The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council is presenting the 40-min production at no charge for the public to attend.

Set in the 19th century, the story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his 21st year, is released from his apprenticeship to a band of tender-hearted pirates. He meets the daughters of Major-General Stanley, including Mabel, and the two young people fall instantly in love.

Frederic soon learns, however, that he was born on the 29th of February, and so, technically, he has a birthday only once each leap year. His contract specifies that he remained apprenticed to the pirates until his "twenty-first birthday," meaning that he is 5 "and a little bit." Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic's only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully.

This version of The Pirates of Penzance will explore growing up, duty, conflict resolution, and the acceptance of people as they are. A popular question and answer session will follow.

The Pirates of Penzance is by Gilbert & Sullivan, adapted by Joshua Borths, and directed by James M. Norman.