Adaptation in Action: The Pirates of Penzance

By Nóra McIntyre

Colorful beach balls, putt-putt golf, inept security officers on scooters, swashbuckling pirates, and… opera?

I had the opportunity to attend a performance of FLOT’s unique adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance. This fun spin on a classic operetta was directed by Tekla Butcher-Monson, with musical direction by Phil Heilbron. The show ran two weekends at the UAF Salisbury Theatre from October 4th to October 13th, 2024.

The production was chock full of surprises. While much of the original dialogue, lyrics, and music were preserved, the main action was transported into a 90s-era boardwalk town with a fully decked-out set and costumes to match. This made for an engaging, technicolor visual experience. 

Much like the original, Penzance's story is hilarious, so lots of laughter could be heard throughout the audience (and it appeared that those onstage were having fun as well). However, the show didn’t only rely on laughs to carry it. Instead, the actors and musicians showcased immense talent, highlighting the operatic form's artistic nature. 

I am also grateful to have had the chance to chat more with the two directors of this production, Tekla and Phil, and to learn a bit more about the process of adapting this show and bringing it to life on stage. I was certainly curious about how and why the adaptation came to be and the overall role of adaptations in the musical theatre world. 

Tekla described an open approach to the process, stating that they listened to the music, thought about the story, and “let their brains go wild.” This is how the idea of a quintessential 

‘90s boardwalk vibe came to be, and the script was adapted from there.

Phil also highlighted the importance of taking time on the project, which began to form over a year before being brought to the stage. As it turns out, the casting process was also vital, as the performers themselves informed how some of the characters were imagined, leading to various tweaks in the script. 

Both directors emphasized the importance of collaboration and how fun it was to continue making changes to the script throughout the process, including changes from team collaboration with the entire cast and crew. It was essential to them that everyone felt that their ideas would be heard and considered. The script existed as a living document that evolved up until opening night. 

As for the role of adaptation, Phil described how a work sets out to meet and exceed audience expectations. With a traditional work, a creator has to consider those who know the show well and those who are unfamiliar, attending to both. A successful adaptation should be familiar but with a new sheen. Tekla added that a successful adaptation can also entertain and bring in new audiences.

As someone unfamiliar with opera and musical theatre, I was also curious about the place and role of operatic forms in contemporary times. Phil explained that the form itself is in decline, that some have a great reverence for the form and those who feel a distance from it, especially since there is the presence of gatekeepers. 

Tekla and Phil see the value in blending genre and form (such as opera and musical theatre) and throwing out the labels altogether. They are more concerned with creating compelling art and an excellent experience for those on and off the stage. Their dedication to fun, collaboration, and process-based creation was evident in their production, which was refreshing, zany, and talent-driven. I, for one, am excited to see what they come up with next.