Rodgers Memorial Theatre's 'Pinafore' not yet polished

"H.M.S. PINAFORE," through April 24, Rodgers Memorial Theatre (801-298-1302); running time: 2 hours (one intermission)

CENTERVILLE — Gilbert and Sullivan's "H.M.S. Pinafore" is one of the duo's most popular musicals, and it has become a common staple in theaters everywhere.

Filled with trademark silly and absurd humor and a classical score, a Gilbert and Sullivan show is a heftier undertaking than many people realize.

The production requires wonderful singers who are trained and blessed with operatic ranges. The production also requires a sure-handed director and experienced actors who can really mine the script for all of its comedic moments.

Rodgers Memorial Theatre just opened its production of the classic, and there is some good news and some bad news.

The bad news: Though it is a good attempt, a few missteps keep it from being a great one.

The good news: Many of Saturday night's glitches will settle down as the run progresses.

There is plenty that works in this production, directed by Anthony T. Buck. First the sailors: There are lots of them, filling the stage with energy; they're very fun to watch. Second: The leads all have wonderful singing voices.

Venicia Stolworthy-Wilson (Cecily Ellis-Bills, double cast) has a lilting soprano perfect for Josephine, and Kevin Golub (David K. Martin, double cast) has a tenor voice that also hits the many G&S notes.

Also enjoyable are Jeffery Parry (Chuck Gilmore, double cast) as Captain Corcoran and Dave Hill (Russell Brown, double cast) as the surly and grizzly Dick Deadeye. And Gary Pimentel is outstanding as the Sir Joseph Porter (Breck England, double).

It is nice to see Rodgers ditch the body microphones, especially for such lyrical singing, and opt, instead, for trusting its performers to project — which they did in spades. I heard every word; bravo!

But, on Saturday night, I couldn't help feeling like I was sitting in on a rehearsal. A lot of the harmonies were sketchy, the chorus seemed unsure of exactly where they were supposed to be or which arm movement they should be doing, and most were tentative about the lyrics — of which there are a lot.

Plenty of sideways glances to fellow cast members revealed a lack of confidence more on par with an early off-book rehearsal than a performance.