Much Ado About Feckin’ Pirates! is at The Gladstone until March 29.
The fun starts as soon as you enter the theatre lobby. One of the jolly staff (everyone associated with this production seems to be having a grand old time) directs you to a table where you must find your very own pirate name. Perhaps you’ll be Swarthy Chumbucket. Or Creeper Pegleg. Or Ahoy Tuna Breath. Then it’s over to a selection of themes to vote for your favourites – what will the pirates talk about tonight? Last but certainly not least – over to the bar to get a tot of rum or other liquid refreshment, so you can drink a toast with the 2 cast members – Margo MacDonald and Richard Gélinas – before everyone heads into the theatre for the play.
“Play” is a good description for what happens next.
MacDonald and Gélinas, under the direction of Al Connors, treat the audience to a fine display of long form improvisation theatre. Long form improv starts with a basic narrative. In this case, 2 pirates have been banished by their captain to the crow’s nest for fighting, and can’t come down until they’ve settled their differences. The cause of their fight is that she thinks he has murdered her parrot. Then the actors improvise their dialogue based on the words suggested by the audience. On opening night, these words included “art”, “diddling”, “legends of the sea”, “religion” and “zen Buddhism”.
So we got everything from “the elaborate hunting strategy” of the Kraken sea monster that involves levitation in a silk cape, to childhood memories of being an altar boy and of a girlhood crush. And terrible puns such as “Aspersions? Is that a Persian donkey?” And occasionally one actor getting the other to break up. Plus much much more.
Laughter ensued. Repeatedly.
Each night’s Pirates! performance is different, since each uses different words suggested by the audience to trigger the improvisations. There’s a special deal: you’ll get in for free for another performance if you bring back your ticket stub and a paying guest.
Much Ado About Feckin’ Pirates! is on at 7:30 from Tuesday – Saturday and 2:30 on Saturdays and Sundays until March 29. Regular admission is $25. Students, artists and seniors pay $20. Tickets can be purchased online.
