Playwright brings swashbuckler’s life to stage

By Shari Goldstein Stern

Who ever heard of a grownup wishing to become a pirate? Don’t only lads and lassies fantasize about that? Aren’t pirate babies born that way? When you see Theatre Three’s (T3’s) hilarious new musical, “Stede Bonnet: a F*cking Pirate Musical,” running at T3 through May 1, you will discover how that wish comes true for one mature, aspiring swashbuckler. 

In 1694, the actual Stede Bonnet inherited his moderately wealthy English family’s estate on the island of Barbados. He tragically lost a child, which clouded his life with sadness and grief since. The landowner came to be known as “The Gentleman Pirate,” while turning to a life of crime. Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! 

Playing Stede with over-the-top, blow me down humor, Parker Gray shared: “I think it’s safe to say that I wanted to be a pirate at some point in my life, mostly just to experience what it would be like to be on a ship like that. However, like Stede, I think I wouldn’t last long.” 

Gray had the audience laughing non-stop while he delivered Nicole Neely’s clever script with constant physicality. From his poorly fitting wig, exaggerated facial expressions, self-deprecating, shiver me timbers, and impeccable timing, it’s hard to imagine anyone else delivering the role with such believability and humor. 

The talented actor said: “I wasn’t playing a pirate, but more just an incredibly lost individual who wants to be one and enjoy his life. I think by the end he succeeds, of course, but along the way you have to play the individual and not the label.” 

According to Gray: “Stede appeals to me on an emotional level. I know what it’s like to lose someone and the loneliness that creates. Where we differ is how we chose to deal with that grief.” He added, “Unfortunately, Stede chose to do some terrible things to combat his feelings, and that catches up with him.” He continued, “I could listen to a Clint sea shanty or exercise ballad forever,” Gray said, and then he quipped, “Nicole may write whatever she wants for me for as long as she wants. Her words and I get along very well.”

Clint Gilbert is the composer and lyricist. Also an actor and music educator, he holds a BFA in music education and a master’s degree in vocal performance from SMU. He has been seen in shows at Theatre Too, Circle Theatre and Uptown Players. He said he always wanted to score a musical after seeing one with a score he didn’t like. This was his first shot at it, both music and lyrics. Each number was ideally suited for the scene.

Natalie Rose Mabry’s sets were an innovative success. With wooden slats built into a ship, galley, plank and dock, and a room of Stede’s family estate elevated over the stage, the story was complete. To add functionality, sections of the set were on wheels for the cast themselves to batten down the hatches. That and the stage’s layout gave an opportunity for patrons to see the Galley and its characters from changing directions.

When Christopher Llewyn Ramirez opened the show, he immediately established a tone of excitement. Ramirez is a director and a member of Dallas Theater Center’s Hal Brierly Resident Acting Company. His exceptional performance as Israel Hands shows his wide range of ability.

Laura Lyman Payne was flawless as Blackbeard. She’s a natural who shows off her wide range. She’s comfortable in her skin in a challenging role.

Cherish Love Robinson is an award-winning actor and singer and as Pirate 3, she was a joy to watch. On a national level, she has sung with professionals like Elle King and Dallas’ Erykah Badu. Locally, she’s given standout performances, like this one, and at WaterTower Theatre, Casa Manana, ICT Mainstage and more. She is a teacher who coaches voice and piano.

If you’re producing a piece with substantial dance that is significant to the heart of the story, follow the lead of T3, who chose the highly sought-after, award-winning  choreographer and performer, Dr. Danielle Georgiou. She is also a fight, movement and intimacy director at many area theatres. 

Training swashbucklers to duel believably, David Saldivar, as fight choreographer, did his job well. The well choreographed sword fights are exciting. 

Nicole Neely, a Dallas playwright, discovered that the 18th century pirate, Stede Bonnet had an interesting story. “I was listening to an episode of “This American Life” called ‘I am not a Pirate.’ They were discussing Stede’s story. I just found him fascinating,” the playwright said.

Neely, Parker and Gilbert commented on Stede’s life and motivation: “Stede is not a hero. He is an almost 30-year-old who is both bold and naïve at the same age. He is not brave or inherently good, and he is not admirable, and he changes his life on a whim,” Gilbert said, “No one in this story is truly ‘good,’ and Stede walks a path of spectacular failure and unbeatable depression.”

Neely graduated from Midwestern State University with a BFA in acting/directing. 

Among Neely’s earlier Among Neely’s earlier works are “I am Drunk and You are a Sandwich,” which was performed at the Guinea Pig Festival in 2018 and at Collin County College in 2019. “Marilyn, Pursued by a Bear” was produced for T3’s FIT Festival in 2018. T3 produced “The Loss of Jane” in a series of short plays in 2020. 

It took about five months for Neely to write the musical. Regarding the collaboration on the score with her newlywed husband, Clint Gilbert, Neely explained the mechanics like this: “I would write the scene and when I reached a moment that needed a song, I would communicate to Clint what was happening in the scene and why I felt they would be singing. From there, Clint wrote what he wanted to write. For a few of the songs, I had certain phrases that I wouldn’t be able to keep out of my head and he would incorporate those.” When we asked Parker if he is a naturally funny fellow or, like Lucille Ball, a serious person “in real life,” the landlubber’s retort was, “Who’s Lucille Ball?” 

“Stede Bonnet: a F*cking Pirate Musical,” continues at T3 through May 1.  

For ticket information, visit tickets.theatre3dallas.com.