In my original review of the 6th Street Playhouse production of The Pirates of Penzance (running in their GK Hardt Theater through June 21), I noted that the five principal roles were double-cast. The performance I originally attended and reviewed featured the “Bones” cast – Aidan Cumming, Caroline Flett, Drew Bolander, Ginger Beavers, and Ted C. Smith. The alternate “Skull” cast has Andrew Cedeño, Nicole Stanley, Skyler King, Laura Downing-Lee, and Tim Setzer.

I stated in the review that the caliber of talent in both groups would lead one to assume a similar high quality of performance. I am happy to report that, after attending a second performance that featured the “Skull” cast, my assumption was correct.

The two casts are not carbon copies of each other. Each of the five principal performers put their own stamp on their characters without wildly diverging from the characters’ core.

Cumming and Flett played Frederick and Mabel with more British ‘stiff upper lip’ stodginess, while Andrew Cedeño and Nicole Stanley were a bit more playful with the characters. Both approaches work for their own reasons. Flett’s take reminded me of the great Carol Cleveland’s work with Monty Python, while Stanley’s had shades of Madeline Kahn. All four bring excellent voice to their characters and songs.

Skyler King’s Pirate King was more physically imposing and “pirate-like” and came off as slightly less inept than Bolander’s, but for the young folk in the audience looking for a pirate, they got one.

Laura Downing-Lee took a less ‘Yosemite Sam’ approach to the character of Ruth than Beavers but still earned her laughs.

Smith’s Major-General Stanley came off as more of a teddy bear while Tim Setzer’s was more of a bulldog. Again, both worked.

The ensemble is more-or-less the same with both casts. It’s a good group. Of particular note was the fine vocal work done by Katie Foster and Molly Larsen-Shine as two of Stanley’s daughters, and keep your eye on Jefferson Nix. This rubber-faced and rubber-limbed young actor absolutely entranced a group of younger audience members seated behind me with his facial contortions and John Cleese-like silly walks.

My second trip to Penzance was just as enjoyable as the first. With its amusing intentionally-anachronistic bits of humor and the cleverness of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic score, attending a performance featuring either of its hard-working and talented casts and orchestra is a great way to theatrically kick off the summer season.

‘The Pirates of Penzance’ runs through June 21 in the GK Hardt Theatre at 6th Street Playhouse, 52 W. Sixth Street, Santa Rosa. Thurs-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. $29–$56. 707.523.4185. 6thstreeetplayhouse.com

Photos by Erika Spears