‘Pirates of Penzance’ in Hibbing

If you’re looking for a great piece of escapist art I strongly recommend Hibbing Community College Theater’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance” playing this weekend and next. We caught the show last night. Though the show relies on a much more benign perception of pirates than seen in the news lately, it’s a great example of classic musical theater and whisks the audience out of the problems of the day to another time and place.

Having never seen the show before, I was most amazed at how many recognizable tunes originated from this play. The research I did for my book, “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” led me to learn that the Browns came from Cornwall, England, where the play is set, which also made the play a fun chance to imagine. I didn’t see any pasties in the show, though, which struck me as inauthentic.

As always, my friend director Mike Ricci has produced a professional-level product on a small town stage. This is your last chance to see a Ricci musical as Mike will be leaving for the Twin Cities next year. We’ll miss him but he’s leaving on a high note.

The show is tonight at 7:30, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and then next Thursday through Saturday, April 30-May 2, at 7:30 with a closing matinee next Sunday, May 3 again at 2:30. The Hibbing Community College Theater is located on the 23rd St. side of the college along Highway 169 in Hibbing.

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