2 stellar comedies, drama at Randall Jones

CEDAR CITY — A classic operetta, a 1937 comedy and a contemporary drama are being staged in the Utah Shakespearean Festival's Randall L. Jones Theatre.

"H.M.S. PINAFORE," running time: two hours (one intermission).

Directed and choreographed by Brad Carroll, this delightful piece of Gilbert and Sullivan musical whimsy fits perfectly into a Shakespearean festival. The legendary British collaborators toss in romantic mix-ups and mistaken identities the same way Shakespeare did in many of his comedies. It's also a tongue-in-cheek parody of the British class system, touching ever so gently on social issues that are still relevant today.

Combining Maxwell's bright and colorful set, Bill Black's splendid costumes — and Utah Shakespearean Festival founder Fred C. Adams in a featured role — this amounts to two hours of frothy fun.

Adams plays Sir Joseph Porter, "ruler of the queen's navy" — a post he acquired with no seafaring experience. He's also betrothed to Josephine, the beautiful daughter of Captain Corcoran, commander of the Pinafore. Age difference is not a major point in these relationships. But social status is. There are romantic complications, though, because Josephine finds herself drawn to handsome young seaman Ralph Rackstraw, despite the serious problem that he is far below her socially.

The ship-shape set is packed with dancing sailors and Sir Joseph's boatload of attractive young women (described as his cousins, sisters and aunts).

The key players are terrific, especially Eric Van Tielen as Rackstraw and Jane Noseworthy as Josephine, the young couple whose romance is in jeopardy. Victoria Adams-Zischke is also perfect in the pivotal role of Little Buttercup, a sort of boat-to-boat saleswoman who harbors an interesting secret, and Mark Light-Orr is in fine form as Josephine's father, the ship's captain.

Buttercup's secret, which results in happy endings all the way around, will have you wondering a bit about some strange age discrepancies — but don't do the math.

Peter Sham also stirs things up a bit as the not-quite villainous Dick Deadeye.

But it is Adams, who may be the only founder of a major repertory company still appearing occasionally on one of his own stages, who grabs the audience's attention as the delightfully absurd Sir Porter. He gets names all mixed up —referring to Capt. Corcoran as Cornwall, Cornflake and Corncob, and seaman Rackstraw as Rickshaw.

"ON GOLDEN POND," running time: 2 1/2 hours (one intermission).