Pirates, policeman and Major-General Stanley’s many daughters appear in the musical “The Pirates of Penzance, Jr.” featuring the music and lyrics of Gilbert and Sullivan. It is being staged in the Naselle School Commons with evening performances April 26-27 and May 3-4.

“I am the very model of a modern Major-General,”

I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral,

I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical

From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical …”

NASELLE — Lewis Hoff is more confident than fearless.

He is about to demonstrate his skill in performing Gilbert and Sullivan’s most memorable tongue twister.

Hoff, a senior at Naselle High School, has been cast as Major-General Stanley in the spring production of “The Pirates of Penzance, Jr.”

If You Go

If You Go

Naselle Drama Club

“The Pirates of Penzance, Jr.”

By Gilbert & Sullivan

Naselle School Commons

7 p.m. April 26-27, May 3-4.

Tickets $10 for adults, $5 for students, at the door, cash or check. Children under 10 admitted free.

For Hoff, the joy in his role is the whole show, not just one moment.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” he said, embracing his character. “He has a few songs where he is weeping and he’s sad, so I have enjoyed that, and also being very pompous on stage — and melodramatic.”

As an award-winning science student, his approach to performing the “Major-General’s Song” was methodical. “It is the most fun to do,” he said. “First you memorize the words, then get the pace and cadence, then the singing part — the delivery, how to say every word.”

Naselle Drama Club will present “The Pirates of Penzance, Jr.” at 7 p.m. April 26-27 and May 3-4 in the Naselle High School Commons. Tickets, cash or check, are $10 for adults, $5 for students at the door; children under 10 are admitted free.

Stepping up

The original “Pirates” opened in New York 1879, the only G&S show to make its debut in the United States. The Naselle production is directed by Karli Nelson, with Kayti Updike as assistant director. The “junior” in the title simply signals a slightly scaled down script more suitable to a high school cast.

Arin Sabey appears as the Pirate King who leads his “rollicking band of pirates.” Roman Cousineau plays Frederic, the heroic and innocent romantic lead who is about to embark on adult life after serving as an apprentice to a band of pirates.

Nelson noted that neither was originally cast as the leads. “Arin said, ‘I will be a pirate, but I don’t want a big part,’” she said, recalling auditions. “We had people drop out, and he came up confidently and said he would do it. The same with Roman. I asked him if he would be the understudy … and then he took over.”

She said the two boys are not alone in stepping up. “All across the board, I have been very impressed with the kids that are now in the program,” she said, mentioning Romain Garcia, a member of the ensemble who crafted a skull-and-crossbones flag.

‘Fabulous’

Kamilla Lozano plays the pivotal character of Ruth, a lady pirate who has helped with Frederic’s upbringing. Her song, “When Frederic was a little lad,” reveals that years ago she apparently misheard instructions for Frederic’s apprenticeship — it was supposed to be with ship pilots not pirates!

Lozano is relishing the role amid a busy senior year which includes serving as spring season softball team manager. “My approach to Ruth has been trying to be like a very fabulous grandmother,” she said. “She is trying to watch over the pirates and not caring what others think — I am getting in touch with my ‘inner grandmother!’”

Alia Lebovitz plays Mabel, one of the daughters of the major-general, who becomes Frederic’s love interest. Other daughters are portrayed by Kate Johnson, Avalon Sullivan and Violet Normand.

Milo Schell is Samuel, right-hand-man to the Pirate King, and Karsen Green appears as the police sergeant, who leads some not-so-brave officers ordered to capture the pirates.

Student actors in the ensemble, who play other daughters, pirates and police include Mae Bryson, Alexa DePaul, Ashlyn Eastham, Lilianna Ford, Caesar Garcia, Elisabeth Green, Hannah Haataia, Hannah-Grace Hansen, Riley Jacobson, Kenzie Larson, Avery Normand, Adelynn Ruch, Rex Stalcup, Lauren Steenerson and Dakotah Williams. Backstage helpers include Kiada Williams helping with costumes.

For Nelson, the reward of directing her troupe is evident. “They are just flat-out fun,” she said, “but it shows the importance of arts in education. It produces things for kids to understand and learn, along with what is in the classroom. Responsibility. Empathy. Perseverance. There is so much that they learn.

“I like that they can jump in and find their ‘thing’ and say, ‘I am willing to be bold.’”