Avast me hearties! Pretty girls, tender-hearted pirates and a man who’s the very model of a modern major-general: all will appear on stage – along with a pirate ship, no less – when the Greenville High School Old Gym Players brings its latest musical production to the stage of the GHS Auditorium.

“The Pirates of Penzance,” one of the legendary Gilbert & Sullivan’s most popular creations, is under the direction of husband-and-wife team, GMS band director Chris Pryor and Naomi Pryor, drama teacher at GHS. Choral instructor Millie McDonald is also working with the cast of nearly 20 students.

“This show is one of my favorites,” Chris Pryor said. “I do tend to pick comedies, and this is a very funny show and a standard that a lot of people know.”

Auditions were held prior to the Christmas break, and rehearsals got underway in January.

“We have several good male singers and this production lets us showcase them along with lots of good female roles,” Pryor said.

The story revolves around young Frederic, who is about to celebrate his 21st birthday and earn his freedom from an apprenticeship to a band of kind-hearted orphan pirates. He meets the lovely Mabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley, and they fall in love at first sight. However, Frederic, whose birthday falls on February 29, is told he must serve another 63 years of indenture due to his birthdays only falling on leap years. Mabel promises to wait for him. The pirates plan to marry Mabel’s sisters, they clash with the police, plot twists ensue and it all ends quite happily ever after.

Students are constructing papier-mache rocks, a cave and even a pirate ship on wheels to use in the production. Fabulous costumes are also promised in a show that will leave the audience laughing and humming along.

Performances are slated for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 9. Tickets are $5 and will be available after April 19 from any cast member or through the GHS front office.