The ferocity of seafaring marauders was rendered cute somewhere between the
The Pirates of Penzance and
Pirates of the Caribbean. These days, maritime reaving is associated less with raping and pillaging than with jokes about peg legs and perhaps a friendly “Arrr.” Compass Theatrical continues this proud, silly tradition in
Nightfall on Miranga Island, a swashbuckling musical that is equal parts Gilbert and Sullivan and
The Princess Bride. Sporting an impressively persistent spit curl, Travis Nilan stars as Declan Bruntfodder, a dashing hero on a quest to wrest his long-lost sister from the clutches of an evil pirate captain. Along the way, he meets the usual rogues' gallery of allies and foes, all with tragic backstories—and jokes about balls—to spare. Sibling composers Adam and Matt Pond and writers Justin Moran (who directs) and Jonathan Roufaeal (who costars) honed the songs and the laughs in a run last year at the Magnet Theater; their catchy show tunes and gag-a-minute script are now carried off by a solid cadre of performers.
Nightfall could stand to lose a reprise or two, but excess is kind of the name of the game in this particular species of campy adventure. (Visit the
FringeNYC Encore Series website for more information.)—
Jenna Scherer