Yas! Pirate Queen!

If you’re Irish, or want to be Irish, or remember that cool “Manly yes, but I like it too” Irish Spring commercial, you will love Appleton North’s energetic production of the Pirate Queen.

If you love fight scenes, or sword fighting, or lush backdrops that make you think you’ve woken up on the Emerald Isle, you will enjoy this show.

If you love an adventure, a love story, or a musical, you will enjoy Director Ron Parker’s exciting rendition of the Pirate Queen.

Mostly, though, if you like Irish dancing, you’ll love the Pirate Queen.

As always with a Parker Production, it’s difficult to remember that the cast is made entirely of high school students. In this case, it is astounding to think that most of the large cast had never even seen an Irish dance prior to rehearsing for this play. Led by North Junior Will Scheffler, a World Class Irish Dancer, the dance corps stomps and whirls with impressive precision.

I felt my toes tapping along as the dance scenes filled the auditorium with energy and joy. In the case of this particular Broadway show, the feet tell the story.

This show, which opened last night, could not have been timed better with the March juxtaposition of St. Patrick’s Day and the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. It celebrates the true story of an Irish Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley, who ruled the land and sea of Western Ireland and fought bravely for Irish independence against the British crown in the 16th century.

Eventually, she scores an audience with Queen Elizabeth I (at which Grace first refuses to bow down, because she, too, is Queen of her own lands.)

I’m not going to give away the ending, but I will say that I took great pleasure in seeing two powerful women portrayed with such dignity and strength.

Sláinte and Yas Queens!!

My friend Catherine McKenzie let me borrow some of her gorgeous pictures.

Enjoy them and then go see for yourself! You can get your tickets HERE.