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About The Southwest Portland Post. (Portland, Oregon) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2016)
4 • The Southwest Portland Post FEATURES June 2016 Operetta ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ sets sail for Multnomah Village By KC Cowan The Southwest Portland Post s 1 00% Clea Only n G & t ree s F ir n ary ens sp D i T he N a tio n If you’ve heard any songs by Gilbert and Sullivan at all, you will likely recognize the music that will soon fill the auditorium at the Multnomah Arts Center. “We Sail the Ocean Blue,” or the commentary on politics, “When I was a Lad,” and perhaps the best known song of all, “I’m Called Little Buttercup.” All of these and more will be sung in June when Light Opera of Portland performs “H.M.S. Pinafore or The Lass that Loved a Sailor.” Light Opera of Portland is the creation of Dennis Britten. He has a 60-year history of performing, from a national tour of the Broadway show, “My Fair Lady,” to singing with the Lamplighters in San Francisco, the oldest resident Gilbert and Sullivan company in the country. Britten came back to Portland to care for his aging parents and missed the theatre “family” he had known, so he decided to create his own. Portland also didn’t have a Gilbert and Sullivan company, and when Britten learned of the old opera house at the Alpenrose Dairy, it all came together. He launched the Dairyville Players in 2012. “We began with condensed versions (of the plays)” he explained. “Only seven people. Then we moved with the shorter ‘Trial by Jury’ and ‘Cox and Box’ to complete shows, and then ‘Ruddigore’ was our first full-length show. It was such a huge success.” But the Alpenrose Opera House was only available in the summer. “It has no restrooms, it has no air conditioning, and we performed there in August, which is a problem,” Britten said. “At the end of the production of ‘The Mikado,’ we were applauding the audience for sitting through the heat!” “HM S P i n a f o re ” w ill p la y a t Multnomah Arts Center. Dairyville Players had already transplanted single performances from Alpenrose to MAC for two fundraisers, but this will be the first time all six performances of a show will be held there. It may signal a shift from Alpenrose to the MAC and from summer-only shows to winter ones. “Because we really want to show them we can have standing room only,” said Britten. “We hope. And if that works, we will be partners from here on out.” Hence the name change f ro m t h e D a i r y v i l l e Players to Light Opera of Portland. Though small, the company has built a solid reputation for Sir Joseph (Dennis Britten), Josephine (Lindsey Lefler) and Captain Corcoran (Ron Swingen) sing together good performances, with in "H.M.S. Pinafore." (Photo courtesy Light Opera of Portland) talented singers, many of which are from the Oregon Chorale. today, Britten said. emotions beautifully. It still resonates.” “ W h a t w e a re i s u n u s u a l i n “Gilbert’s humor is hysterically Britten has stepped down from community theatre,” Britten said. funny,” he said. “Gilbert was the first producing, directing and acting in his “We’re a little theatre, but we are a absurdist. I’ve always said, this is company’s shows to just directing resident repertory company. Right now absurdity done in complete sincerity and acting. With new blood to help we only do Gilbert and Sullivan. And and that makes it funny. It’s still produce the shows, a possible new full- so much of the company stays with us.” topical.” time home, and a new name, Britten The shows are also royalty-free, Unlike a recent Portland Opera said Light Opera of Portland plans to which helps the small-budgeted performance of “Pinafore,” where they entertain audiences for many years to company. “H.M.S. Pinafore” is set added calypso, Elvis impersonators come. aboard a ship and tells the story of the and even Verdi to “update it,” Britten “H.M.S. Pinafore” plays at the captain’s daughter, Josephine, who is said he doesn’t think that is necessary. Multnomah Arts Center on June 17, 18, in love with a lower-class sailor. The original is best, he said. 24 and 25 at 7:00 p.m. and June 19 and Her father wants her to marry Sir “We get comments like that all the 26 at 3:00 p.m. Suggested donation at the Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the time,” he said. “People write on our door is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and Admiralty. “H.M.S. Pinafore” debuted Facebook page: ‘I never knew this stuff $10 for youth. For more information visit in 1878, but the humor is still relevant was so funny.’ And Gilbert captures www.lightoperaofportland.org. OHSU FAMILY MEDICINE OHSU brings family medicine to the heart of our community. 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