Pirates set to invade with a swashbuckling musical

Pirates are getting ready to invade Crawley Down Village this month for COS Musical Theatre’s version of The Pirates of Penzance (May 28-30).
Pirates Of PenzancePirates Of Penzance
Pirates Of Penzance

The group is very excited to be venturing into new territory with a change of venue as members prepare to perform at the Haven Centre, Crawley Down.

This is the first time COS has done a major show outside of Crawley.

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“We thought it was time that we looked at other ways of reaching new audiences and hopefully new members,” said Jo Tuck, chair of the company.

Pirates of Penzance is classic Gilbert and Sullivan, a comical operetta that aims to have audiences roaring with laughter.

COS have assembled a great cast, with a band of sentimental, tender-hearted pirates lead by the hilarious swashbuckling Pirate King.

Along with them is the ‘very model of a modern Major-General’ and his young, innocent daughters, not forgetting the bumbling Policemen.

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Pirates tells the story of the noble but slightly dim Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed by his slightly deaf nursery maid to the notorious (and broke) Pirates of Penzance who can’t make crime pay.

They are all orphans and cannot bring themselves to rob other orphans. Strangely enough, every ship they capture is manned entirely by orphans. Frederic leaves the pirates on his 21st birthday, his sense of duty making him determined to expose their wickedness to the local police. On the way, Frederic sees the lovely daughters of a local Major General and falls madly in love with beautiful Mabel.

But can true love survive the complications of a leap year birthday, a deceitful Major General, a vengeful Pirate King, a rejected Piratical Maid of All Work and policemen who make Inspector Clouseau seem like Sherlock Holmes?

The COS cast have been working hard for the past five months on this show, not only rehearsing on stage frolics, but behind the scenes too. They have welcomed some new members for the production, one being David James.

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David said: “I have sung the show a few times as a part of a choir but I think every man or boy longs to be a pirate and every girl or women secretly loves a pirate.

“This production ticks all the boxes.”

The Haven Centre is on Hophurst Lane, Crawley Down. The show starts at 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £13 (adults), £11 (concessions) or £9 (children) from www.ticketsource.co.uk/cosmusicaltheatre.

Visit www.cosmusicaltheatre.com to find out more about the group. The next COS production is Hairspray from October 28 to 31.

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