Children’s Theatre presents ‘The Fearsome Pirate Frank’

The pirate craze isn’t just a modern phenomenon. It dates back to Shakespearean times, according to two witty narrators in a snappy comedy being performed by the Newton Community Theatre’s Children’s Theatre playing this week at the community theater.

As the story goes, the star of a popular pirate play, “The Fearsome Pirate Frank,” is the teenage heartthrob of every girl in Shakespearean England, even though he can’t remember his lines for the life of him.

However, when the actor playing Frank and his supporting cast, including prima donna Esmerelda, get kidnapped by real pirates during one of their productions, it’s good-bye stardom, hello servitude on a real pirate ship.

The narrators and a stream of hilarious sign-carriers keep the show moving as we see the pirate actors swabbing the decks under the orders of the real pirate Frank, who happens to be a woman. But pirate actors are not the only ones hijacked in this comic romp ...  so is the plot from a particular popular pirate flick.

In a chilling flashback sequence, the tale of how Captain Frank received the “Blackmark” comes alive as we see her send her crooked captain to walk the plank.

Nightmare sailors, zombie pirates and hypnotizing mermaids fill this zany spoof with pop culture.

Thirty-one youth are participating in production, which will play at 7 p.m. on Friday and the community theatre. Tickets are available at the box office for $5 the night of the production.