I didn’t know what to expect as I stood in line last Friday night at the Whittier Community Theater, to watch the Gilbert and Sullivan musical “Pirates of Penzance.”

Not only was I impressed with the actors, but also the way the story progressed.

The opera is about a 21-year-old pirate named Frederic (David Farkas) who falls in love with Mabel (Hailey Villaire) and in addition has to impress her father Major General Stanley (Eric Cajiuat).

Ruth (Candy Beck) tries to convince Frederic that she is the one for him and that she is really 17 years old.

Frederic has been indentured to the pirates until he is 21. He therefore rejoices that he can leave the pirates, now that he has turned 21.

However, Frederic was born on Feb. 29, in a leap year. He will not be 21 for another 50 years and must stay true to being a pirate; stay true to Samuel (William Crisp) until then.

One of the highlights of the musical is the song “Oh False One, You Have Deceived Me,” when Frederic realizes that Ruth has lied about her age.

Farkas has a great range for this song, as he sings, “You have deceived me.”

Both characters come face to face with each other, and Ruth tries to explains that she didn’t mean to deceive him.

Major General Stanley, in the patter song “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General,” repeats the line very fast. He was brave to come out and sing this song in his pajamas.

Cajiuat is terrific has he brings his personality out in the character.

At the end of Act I the song, “Oh Men of Dark and Dismal Fate” brings out the talent of William Crisp.

It received the loudest ovation. The funniest moment was when the Queen appears and the pirates mob her to have their picture taken.

One of the police officers held up a sign that read, “Hi Mom.”

Overall, it was a great play with wonderful acting. I would say that the play had a lasting impression on me.