Tacoma Musical Playhouse sets sail with an all-male cast in a musical based on Kipling's Captains Courageous and the classic 1937 film of the same name. Music by Frederick Freyer; book and lyrics by Patrick Cook. Under the heading of Tacoma Children's Musical Theater, TMP produces a play suitable for children with many of the actors that grace their main stage productions. 

Captains Courageous follows the fishermen aboard the trawler We're Here as they work to haul in their catch and make it back to New England ahead of the diesel fishing ships. While they are busy at work a luxury liner steams by and the owner's son Harvey, played by Calvin Hedman, falls into the sea. He is rescued by Portuguese fisherman Manuel, played by Tacoma theater regular Michael O'Hara. Manuel takes Harvey aboard the We're Here and the captain decides they will keep the boy for the next three months as they finish the fishing season and contact his father once they return to New England. There is a mixture of emotions and Harvey's snobby, entitled behavior fails to endear him to the crew.

Act I is slow going, focusing mainly on the character development of Manuel, Harvey and the other fishermen. Act II is more lively as conflicts begin to develop between a portion of the crew who claim Harvey is a "Jonah" and Manuel's growing fatherly fondness of the boy. Tension also builds around the captain's determination to beat the other fishing vessels back with a full catch.

The all-male cast is quite talented and do well with the slow (at times) plot. Some of the songs seemed a little low and it was difficult to hear some of the singers, but that may have been due to an imbalance between the accompaniment and the singers. 

O'Hara and Hedman make an endearing pair and were well-cast in the lead roles. Hedman was the most interesting actor to watch. His facial expressions, gestures and movements match his well-delivered lines. He handles the arc in his character well as he transforms from a brat to a young man with a "fisherman's heart." 

The technical aspects of TMP's production were some of the best of the season. Creating a ship on stage complete with mast, rigging and movable sail is no small feat, and the result was beautiful and believable. The props were well-done; the fish and cleavers added a great touch to the scenes. One of the highlights was a slimy squid that Doc was cooking up in the galley during Act I.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse markets their Tacoma Children's Musical Theater productions to ages 4 and older, but Captains Courageous is more suited to elementary-school-age children and older. Younger children may like the set and singing but may have trouble during the slow start of Act I.

Tacoma Musical Playhouse, Captains Courageous, through April 22, 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, $12-$17, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.565.6867