“Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King!” makes its worldwide debut at HFC

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The first weekend is sold out! Seating is limited, so please purchase your tickets now for the second weekend.

The HFC Theatre and Music programs have teamed up to present a new, original musical called Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King! The play will make its worldwide debut in five performances April 3-12 at the Adray Auditorium (Room F-100) of the MacKenzie Fine Arts Center (Building F on the main campus).

Performance dates and times:

• Friday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. [sold out]
• Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. [sold out]
• Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 12, at 2:00 p.m.

Based on Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1879 comic operetta, The Pirates of Penzance, the new adaptation Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King! is a family–friendly, swashbuckling musical. HFC Director of Theatre Dr. John-Michael Sefel adapted, wrote, and directed it, while HFC Director of Music Anthony Lai adapted and arranged the music.

"We are planning what will easily be our biggest show since I joined HFC in 2022," said Sefel. "This is going to be one really fun and funny show!"

Honoring the source material

Sefel emphasized that this production is not a radical or unrecognizable modernization.

"Fans of Gilbert and Sullivan's original should easily recognize the overall arc of the plot, Sullivan's musical themes, and Gilbert's madcap 'patter' lyrics," he said. "The songs audiences expect are all still there, if somewhat modified, and every decision we've made has tried to honor the approach and humor of the original. Anthony and I are both huge fans of The Pirates of Penzance, and we approached this project with love and respect for the source material. We also repurposed songs from other Gilbert and Sullivan shows and other public domain music from the era. They fit in so cleanly, it's impossible to tell if you're not familiar with the originals, but devoted Gilbert and Sullivan fans will recognize songs adapted from H.M.S. Pinafore, Ruddigore, and The Mikado."

Freddy, Mabel, & the Pirate King! begins on a pirate ship off the Mid-Atlantic coast of the United States, where the pirates hold a birthday celebration for Freddy (Khalil Al-Rayyes), a young man apprenticed to the pirates when his father died. The Pirate King (Adam El-Zein) promised Freddy's father he’d raise the boy until he turned 21. Now, as Freddy has reached that age, the pirates proudly celebrate his graduation from apprentice to full-fledged pirate. Freddy surprises them, however, by announcing that, despite his many years of service to them, he hates being a pirate. With his father's wish fulfilled, he plans to leave the pirates and devote himself to a more proper life.

Though saddened by the news, the pirates wish him well and let him go ashore at the nearest beach, near the campus of the Penzance Women's College for Modern Arts & Sciences. Soon thereafter, Freddy finds new companions in Mabel (Meriam Jerardi), her fellow students, their professor (Mohammed Albaiaty), and the members of the local constabulary, led by their earnest sergeant (Mike Knight). However, the pirates are not ready to sail away just yet, and they soon look for ways to get Freddy back into the fold.

"What follows is all the farce, innocent romance, swashbuckling, and absurd musical comedy one could ask for," said Sefel. "This musical is appropriate for all ages. The humor is zany, the action is fast-paced, the romance is G-rated, and the songs are silly. Each act is only about an hour, there's a break mid-way, and even if kids don't get every bit of dialogue, there are pirates, dancing, and live music happening right in front of them! As a dad myself, I can say, this is the sort of play that will excite a lot of kids!"

“In the round”

The production brings its audience close to the action through on-stage "in the round" seating, where the audience surrounds the performers. The staging is designed to ensure that every seat has a great view, but Sefel stated that it also encourages patrons to attend multiple showings, seeing the story from another perspective.

"I love going to see plays in the round," he said. "It feels so much more intimate and so much closer to real life. When you see something on a traditional, proscenium stage, everything has been framed for a single point of view, but in the round, it has to look good in 360 degrees. That means each side of the audience is getting its own unique show. Watching it from a different angle can bring in all new perspectives, reveal additional jokes, and so much more."

The only caveat is on-stage "in the round" seating greatly limits the number of available seats, which is why Sefel encourages people to order their tickets in advance. With limited seats and such a big cast and crew, there's a good chance they will sell out. Order tickets at the link above.

Ticket prices:

• $10: General admission
• $5: Students and employees of HFC, Dearborn Public Schools, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn with valid photo IDs
• $5: For people younger than 18 and older than 60

For questions and more information, contact Sefel at jsefel@hfcc.edu.