LOCOS Presents Pirates of Penzance

The Light Opera Company of Salisbury presents Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta Pirates of Penzance in the Walker Auditorium at Hotchkiss School in Lakeville on Saturday, August 31 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, September 1 at 2 p.m.

Pirates of Penzance is the tuneful and amusing tale of Frederic, who was indentured to become a pirate by mistake. (He was supposed to become a pilot, but his nurse was hard of hearing.) Released from his indentures on his 21st birthday, he falls in love with Mabel, a ward of Major-General Stanley, but returns to the pirates out of a sense of duty when he discovers that he was born on February 29, leap year day, and so has had only had five birthdays.

The operetta contains some of Gilbert and Sullivan's best loved patter songs and most beautiful tunes as well. This year the leads will be played by returning LOCOS veterans (and nationally known Gilbert and Sullivan specialists) Keith Jurosko, Steve Quint and Louis Dall'Ava, and is being directed by Paul and Harriet Tomasko, who also play Frederic and Ruth. The Tomaskos have performed every year with LOCOS, and live nearby in Saugerties.

Other major roles are played by area residents, including Trish Hochstetter of Sharon, who last year appeared as one of Tri-Arts' "divas" and this year plays Edith in Pirates; Roy Patterson of Lakeville as Samuel; and Sophia Christina Zimmerman of Hartford as Mabel. The chorus of pirates, police, and Major-General Stanley's wards include many area residents—your pediatrician, your lawyer, your veterinarian, your teacher, and many others are probably in it!

Advance tickets will be available at Oblong Books & Records in Millerton, Potpourri in Lakeville, Salisbury Pharmacy, Mountainside Cafe in Falls Village, Bob's Clothing in Canaan, Sharon Pharmacy, House of Books in Kent, and E. Caligari & Son in Great Barrington. Phone reservations may be arranged with Wendy Hamilton at 860-435-6268. General admission for Saturday has been set at $20, or $15 for seniors and students; tickets are $15 and $13 for the Sunday matinee.

This year, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest CT will be the beneficiary of these performances. Habitat has been actively engaged for the past ten years in building and repairing affordable housing in Salisbury, Sharon, Cornwall, Canaan, Falls Village and Norfolk. The group recent completed construction of its second affordable home in Salisbury.